Some GOP operatives and media analysts question whether Paul’s choleric approach to the press, and his apparent desire to teach reporters a lesson, will benefit him in the campaign to come. Democrats have already used the fact that both Guthrie and Evans happened to be women as ammo for their “war on women” attacks. And while Paul’s fights with reporters could give him a boost among conservative voters skeptical of mainstream media outlets, they will also necessarily cost him an opportunity to push his message as pundits instead focus on his temper.
“Rand Paul is a very smart guy, but, I think people — especially right now and especially given how unpopular Congress is — people want to see a happy warrior,” says CNN contributor S. E. Cupp, who provided media training to Republican candidates in 2014. “Whether you think those questions are right or wrong, they really want to see a politician who believes that it’s part of his job to answer questions.”

Paul acknowledged one risk to his approach. “It may gear ‘em up even more if they see it annoys me,” he said Wednesday…

“People don’t always talk in a monotone and sometimes they talk like real people; I just don’t think it’s a problem,” says Stuart Stevens, who advised Mitt Romney during the 2012 election. “In all these things you have to ask yourself: Is this something you’ll be talking about while waiting for votes to be counted? And I think the odds are, while waiting for votes to be counted in the Iowa caucuses or the New Hampshire primary, I doubt this will be a subject of discussion.”