In recent weeks, the Kentucky Republican announced political hires in quick succession in Iowa, New Hampshire and Michigan— states key to winning his party’s nomination. Staffers mention a future campaign headquarters in Louisville and claim an email list of one million supporters, details most potential presidential hopefuls keep quiet. A super PAC launched by backers shortly before the 2012 election offers a repository for big donors.
On Monday, Mr. Paul begins a three-day, 10-stop swing through Iowa, marking his 10th visit in this election cycle to one of the first three states on the traditional nominating calendar. Only Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) has made more trips, at 11…
Sen. Paul’s inner circle includes about a half-dozen veterans of his Senate campaign and the presidential campaign of his father. Sen. Paul’s leadership PAC has hired three veterans of presidential campaigns in Iowa, New Hampshire and Michigan, a step toward a national campaign that no other 2016 hopeful has taken. “We’re trying to have a basic infrastructure in place before the general election, so if he formally announces after November we’re ready to go,” said Steve Grubbs, a former Iowa Republican Party chairman running Mr. Paul’s leadership PAC in that state.
His counterpart in New Hampshire, GOP strategist Mike Biundo, called what he is doing “intel work”—culling information about the environment and political players that could be parlayed into a statewide campaign. He is setting up fundraisers for the New Hampshire Republican Party and House Republicans, as well as reaching out to voters who helped Mr. Paul’s father come in second in the state’s 2012 primary.
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