America has a short history of father/son presidential duos, including John and John Quincy Adams, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, as well as grandfather and grandson William Henry and Benjamin Harrison. But never before have we faced the prospect of a dad and his son going head-to-head for their party’s nomination. Last time around, rabble-rousing Republican Ron Paul became the king of the “money bomb” when his hyped-up supporters made him an unlikely (though short-lived) contender for the Republican presidential nomination.
Paul’s repeated calls for fiscal sanity at the time are starting to sound a bit less out there in light of our impending government shutdown, but is it time for the old man to step aside and give newbie Senator son, Rand Paul, a shot?
The Daily Beast chronicled libertarian hero Rep. Ron Paul’s seeming intention to give it another go in 2012. As enthusiasm for Paul’s insistent message of limited government has only grown since his failed 2008 bid, the Republican has headlined stand-room-only events over the past month and quietly raised $3 million in the first quarter of this year, blowing past potential rivals Mitt Romney and Michele Bachmann. His national campaign infrastructure, in fact, has only grown since his last attempt, with more than 200 college campus outreach organizations and volunteers in all 50 states.
But after more than 20 years in Congress, Paul said he’s torn about running, not least because of his traditionally uneasy relationship with the Republican mainstream, with which he has butted heads many times over the years.
And then there’s the possibility that his son, Rand, the newly elected senator from Kentucky – who also happens to be pappy’s roommate in a condo outside Washington – is considering his own run after just a few months in office. Rand has said he would gladly step aside if dad wants to run, but he made one thing clear: there will be a Paul on the ticket in 2012.
Should Ron step aside and let Rand run?
Poster Comment:
Yes he should.
