Even though a majority in both parties oppose his position to kill the PATRIOT Act outright, Paul is poised Sunday to do something that once seemed unthinkable: Force at least a brief expiration of a law that had just one dissenting Senate vote in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. Such a move would make him a hero of his supporters who fear the reach of government into their lives — but could prompt a sharp backlash from the intelligence community and reignite criticism from his 2016 rivals that the libertarian-minded freshman is unfit to be commander-in-chief…

Republican hawks are nervous that Paul could win.

“To say that he’s on an island is an understatement,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who plans to jump into the presidential race Monday. “Very few people who understand the world as it is believe it’s a good idea to repeal the PATRIOT Act in its entirety.”

“I don’t know who Sen. Paul listens to,” said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). “It certainly isn’t the same people I listen to.”