Paul, Cruz fight over ‘liberty’ mantle
Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul accused rival Ted Cruz of failing to “show up” for the “liberty movement” Thursday night as the two sparred over who is the rightful heir to the libertarian GOP segment once dominated by Paul’s father.
“I think what’s interesting about where that liberty vote goes that my father brought to the Republican Party is, I don’t think they are necessarily going to go for Ted,” Paul said during the Republican debate on Fox News.
{mosads}”Ted didn’t show up. We had an ‘Audit the Fed’ vote, which was the biggest thing my father had advocated for 30 years, Ted didn’t show up. He was the only Republican who didn’t show up for it. I think that vote is going to stay in the Paul household, more of it is coming.”
Cruz struck back, noting that he was an original sponsor of the bill and questioning Paul’s characterization.
“I am strongly supportive of it, but it didn’t have the votes to pass and I had commitments to be at a town hall in New Hampshire,” the Texas senator said.
“But I look forward to signing that bill into law as president and auditing the Fed and providing needed accountability at the Federal Reserve.”
Paul’s father, former Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, had been seen as the flag-bearer of the libertarian movement during his previous presidential bids.
Rand Paul had been counting on that segment to carry his presidential bid, but the Kentucky senator has languished in the polls. Cruz has made a push to snatch up that electorate and has been performing much better than Paul at the polls.
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