Rand Paul begins his presidential journey by lighting the fuse on a money bomb.
"On April 7th, I'm launching a 'Stand with Rand' Money Bomb," a pledge page for one of his political action committees reads. "So I'm counting on you to stand with me by pledging your most generous contribution to this effort. The political world’s eyes will be trained on me and it’s crucial I make a statement no one can ignore."
This is a familiar playbook. Flash back to August 20, 2009. Paul, an ophthalmologist with a famous libertarian father, began his long-shot campaign for a U.S. Senate seat by asking supporters to contribute small amounts online. He sought additional online help a few weeks later, as his Republican primary opponent Trey Grayson held a $500-per-plate fundraiser in Washington, filled with sitting senators and blessed by Republican leadership. "This deck stacking favoritism in a highly contested GOP primary is unacceptable," Paul wrote on Kentuckyfight.com, the website promoting the fundraising match.
