Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) told Breitbart News on Wednesday that he will soon be heading to South Carolina for an event to support Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC), one of the most conservative members of the House.
Paul will also be joining Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) at the event.
Paul said that Duncan is “one of the best conservative members, if not in the top tier or very top tier of conservative members, in the House.”
South Carolina is one of the early primary states during presidential years and Paul hinted that this may be another step towards a potential presidential run in 2016. “I think people pay attention when you go to early primary states, and if you’re trying to do anything nationally such as grow the party, or travel to early primary states, this is one way to do it,” he said.
He also noted that the entire House delegation from South Carolina apparently share his opinion about the NSA spying scandal as evidenced by a vote in the House on an amendment that would provide more oversight of the agency. “One interesting thing is when you look at the NSA spying scandal and whether there should be more oversight on the NSA, interestingly the entire South Carolina delegation voted to have more oversight on the NSA surveillance program of Americans. All Republicans and the one Democrat voted for restraining the NSA.”
Interestingly enough, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) will not be attending the event with Scott, Duncan, and Paul. “No, I don’t really know why,” Paul said when asked why Graham will not be attending. “Congressman Duncan just invited me and I’m happy to go. There’s a big Tea Party faction in South Carolina, so I happen to know a lot of the Tea Party folks down there and I think a lot of them are supportive of Jeff Duncan and so I’m looking forward to it.”
Paul concluded the interview by stating he still hopes to bury the hatchet with New Jersey GOP Gov. Chris Christie. “If you see him, will you tell him the beer is still on me?” Paul joked. “I’m willing to have a beer summit. Let bygones be bygones. There may come an opportunity.”
“We’ll see what happens. But no, the invitation still holds, but I haven’t heard anything positive,” he explained.
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