Sen. Rand Paul, the Republican Kentuckian currently running for president, says he is the best positioned GOP candidate to take on presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the general election because he has formed a tight alliance with the holy grail demographic: independents.
"I think in order to win these states that President Obama you got to attract independents and consistently in at least five states we're leading her - in states that were won by President Obama, we win the independent vote," Paul told Breitbart. "I think that's an important feature because people want so badly to have somebody who can beat Hillary Clinton. I think it's one of our strongest calling cards right now: We're the only one beating her in all five of these states."
A record high 43 percent of Americans identify politically as independents, according to a 2014 Gallup poll. When compared to the 30 percent of Americans who say they are Democrats, and the 26 percent who say they are Republicans, it's not hard to see why Paul believes he is the best choice to go up against Clinton.
"We are the most credible candidate and the polls seem to be indicating that this is true as well," said Paul, who polls best against Clinton among the rest of the GOP field.
"So we will keep trying to get the independent vote because ultimately that's how the Republican Party is going to have to win these difficult states," he said. "Those are really tough states for us, but so are Michigan and Illinois. As Republicans know, I've been working very hard to try to attract the African American vote and that's a big reason why we don't win a lot of these states is because we haven't done very will with the African American vote."
He also shared his opinions on former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's long expected presidential campaign announcement, which came Monday, saying he would "be shocked" if another Bush - or Clinton - was elected to the Oval Office.
"I think there is some Bush-Clinton fatigue and I really sense that people are looking for something new - something this century kind of stuff. I think there's a hunger for something new out there," Paul said. "I would be surprised really if we end up with a Bush or a Clinton. I will be shocked to tell you the truth."
