Rand Paul Drops Out of GOP Primary

2 minute read

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul is calling quits on his presidential bid Wednesday, according to two people familiar with his plans.

Paul, who finished in fifth place in the Iowa caucuses and picked up a single delegate to the Republican National Convention, has struggled with money and for voter attention for most of the last year of his candidacy.

He is getting out of the race to focus on winning re-election to his Senate seat, a race for which he just received a challenger last week.

“It’s been an incredible honor to run a principled campaign for the White House. Today, I will end where I began, ready and willing to fight for the cause of Liberty,” Paul said in a statement.

Rand Paul's Unusual Fashion Sense

Rand Paul Kentucky Senator Fashion Washington Politics
Politicians love to roll up the sleeves on their button-down shirts while out campaigning, but Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul is one of the few to head straight for the short-sleeve shirt when on the stump.Win McNamee—Getty Images
Rand Paul Kentucky Senator Fashion Washington Politics
Paul is also comfortable with a short-sleeve shirt and khakis, a more casual look also favored by his father, at right.Charles Dharapak—AP
Rand Paul Kentucky Senator Fashion Washington Politics
While out campaigning, Paul also sometimes goes for a more Western look, pairing blue jeans with cowboy boots. Charles Ommanney—Getty Images
Rand Paul Kentucky Senator Fashion Washington Politics
He's also been known to use jeans to make a more classic political combo of button-down shirt and power tie seem less formal.Richard Ellis—Getty Images
Rand Paul Kentucky Senator Fashion Washington Politics
At other times, he'll make his outfit less formal by skipping the tie...James Crisp—AP
Rand Paul Kentucky Senator Fashion Washington Politics
…or wearing a tie with a bold, fun pattern...Scott Olson—Getty Images
Rand Paul Kentucky Senator Fashion Washington Politics
…or by going with a more daring color of shirt...Sonia Moskowitz—Getty Images
Rand Paul Kentucky Senator Fashion Washington Politics
…or wearing a sweater on top...Stephen Lance Dennee—AP
Rand Paul Kentucky Senator Fashion Washington Politics
…or just wearing a turtleneck.Tom Williams—CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images
Rand Paul Kentucky Senator Fashion Washington Politics
At times, Paul has been extremely casual. Hunter Wilson—AP
Rand Paul Kentucky Senator Fashion Washington Politics
But at other times, he dressed in the standard Washington fare.Mark Wilson—Getty Images
Rand Paul Kentucky Senator Fashion Washington Politics
And he's been known to favor a formal winter coat too.Win McNamee—Getty Images
Rand Paul Kentucky Senator Fashion Washington Politics
But even when he does dress up, Paul often finds a way to make the look his own, such as with a pair of sunglasses.Bill Clark—CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images
Rand Paul Kentucky Senator Fashion Washington Politics
Sunglasses may also just be a favored accessory because he is an eye doctor.Melina Mara—Washington Post/Getty Images
Rand Paul Kentucky Senator Fashion Washington Politics
But whatever he's wearing, Paul finds a way to make it his own. Washington Post/Getty Images

“Although, today I will suspend my campaign for President, the fight is far from over,” Paul continued. I will continue to carry the torch for Liberty in the United States Senate and I look forward to earning the privilege to represent the people of Kentucky for another term.”

Paul’s campaign struggled to get off the ground as his libertarian message proved ill-timed amid new fears surrounding international terrorism and the rise of ISIS.

Paul had sought to expand on his father, Ron Paul’s, bloc of libertarians by bringing new voters into the Republican Party, but watched as a better funded and organized Ted Cruz managed to pull many of them toward his campaign.

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