Paul Promises to Break the Washington Machine

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) “officially declared himself a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination on Tuesday, promising a crowd of cheering supporters that he is ready to shake up Washington and disprove those in his own party who doubt that a fiercely libertarian conservative can be a serious contender,” the New York Times reports.

Said Paul: “The Washington machine that gobbles up our freedoms and invades every nook and cranny of our lives must be stopped. I want to be part of a return to prosperity.”

Politico: “Paul took aim at his fellow Republicans as he formally launched his presidential bid on Tuesday in Louisville, railing against his party for succumbing to special interests and framing himself as a fiercely anti-establishment figure who would appeal to a broad swath of the electorate.”

Washington Post: “Paul’s announcement makes him the second major Republican candidate to officially jump into the 2016 race, just the first of a string of campaign debuts slated for this month.”