Rand Paul: The GOP Brand is Broken

Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union With Candy Crowley,” Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) said if the focus is on “issues, Republicans have a chance but our brand is so broken we can’t even break through.”

Paul said, “I think what’s interesting about this is when I say the brand sucks, and that we need to recognize it, it’s that certain segments of our population, if I came up to you and you were an African-American young woman in a college, what are the chances you’ll see republican, I want to join immediately. Our brand isn’t so good. If you get to our policies, for example, I have a policy to rejuvenate our inner cities by leaving $1 billion in Detroit and if I can get to that young person and say it.” 

He continued, “If I can talk about the issues republicans have a chance but our brand is so broken we can’t even break through, you know, the wall that’s out there. And this is the same with Hispanic voters, it’s the same with young people in general. I think there are a lot of avenues for republicans to break through. I’ve talked a lot about the right to privacy. I think universally resonates with young people. I want more people to vote, not less. I’m a person who believes what we’ve tried for our cities isn’t working but I want to try something new. I’m someone who cares about poverty and long-term unemployment and I have an idea different than the democrats, will you listen to me?”

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