Rand Paul Makes A Smart Move, Files For Re-Election -- In 2016!

Rand Paul files for reelection race five years away
By JENNIFER EPSTEIN

Barely into his first term, Sen. Rand Paul has already filed for reelection, signaling that he won’t run for president in 2012 but does plan to stick it out in Washington.

The Kentucky Republican filed for reelection — in the 2016 race — on March 21, just 11 weeks after he was sworn in, an unusual step for any candidate.

The Associated Press first reported on the filing, and Paul’s office did not immediately respond to POLITICO’s request for comment.

Paul, an ophthalmologist and a son of Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), defeated Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson less than a year ago to win the Republican nomination for the Senate seat. In November, he beat Democratic state Attorney General Jack Conway by more than 11 percentage points.

Since arriving in Washington, Paul has not shied from media attention and has flirted with a presidential bid, saying that if his father decides to run for president in 2012, he won't. The elder Paul has launched a “testing the waters” account to begin raising money toward a presidential bid and has said he will make a final decision on whether to run in May.

But even after the younger Paul filed for reelection last month, he’s shown signs of looking toward the White House. Just as his reelection papers were filed, he visited with Republicans in the key primary state of South Carolina and, two weeks ago, he met with top Iowa Republicans.

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