Divided GOP waits to hear from Rand Paul
BANGOR, Maine (AP) — Unity is the theme for the state GOP’s annual convention, but it’s a divided party that waits to hear from U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, a potential 2016 presidential candidate trying to bridge divisions between the establishment and tea party wings.
Many view the invitation for Paul, R-Ky., to speak at the gathering Saturday as the party’s attempt to reach out to libertarian-leaning members. They were angered by their treatment in 2012 after they took over the state convention and elected a majority slate of delegates for Paul’s father, Ron, a former GOP congressman from Texas and presidential candidate.
Establishment Republicans challenged that decision and the national committee voted to replace half of Maine’s delegates for Paul with supporters of Mitt Romney, the party’s presidential nominee.
Rand Paul’s White House ambitions for 2016 — and Maine’s Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s re-election prospects — may depend on whether the freshman senator can help mend internal divisions.
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