Kicking off his presidential campaign in Louisville, Senator Rand Paul told supporters that "we've come to take our country back."
The Bowling Green Republican Tuesday formally declared his White House bid. A tea party favorite and frequent contrarian against his party's establishment, Paul is promising to continue his approach to politics.
During his speech, Paul pledged to scrap "the Washington machine that gobbles up our freedoms." He said his message of liberty is for all Americans.
“Whether you wear a suit, a uniform or overalls. Whether you’re white or black or rich or poor," Paul insisted. "In order to restore America, one thing is for certain, though: we cannot, we must not dilute our message or give up on our principles.”
Paul becomes just the second major candidate to declare a presidential bid, but he could face as many as 20 rivals for the GOP nomination. Each is trying to win the right to go head-to-head with Democratic front-runner, Hillary Rodham Clinton.