Rand Paul Campaign Inexperience Shows Just As Grayson Grows A Pair

The Courier Journal is reporting that Rand Paul and Trey Grayson locked horns a bit today.  Trey Grayson has been relatively quiet thus far in the campaign while Rand Paul has been attracting a lot of attention.  But today Grayson finally fired a shot at Paul who made a rookie mistake that could cost him.

It seems that Grayson scolded Paul for a position he took on his website which was contrary to a position he openly asserted at a forum in Louisville.  Paul then told Grayson maybe he better learn to read, insisting that the website contained no such language.  However, when he was confronted with a "screenshot" from his website confirming Grayson's claim that Paul had taken inconsistent positions, Paul retreated.

The Paul campaign has been sending out numerous press releases and other information on a daily basis.  Both old media and new media sites were getting very little from the Grayson camp.  The net result was that Paul got all the attention.  Some wondered when Grayson would finally strike a blow which would "leave a mark".  Today he may just have done that.

Granted, Paul's explanation is that someone else put the material on his site and that he has never held the position that the web site seemed to suggest.  In fact he said that somebody was going to be in big trouble.

What this little dust up reveals is a serious weakness in Paul's admittedly novice campaign.  No doubt his success to date is the result of a unique combination of timing and skill.  But now that he is leading in the polls and headed into a battle which will be orchestrated by the much more experienced Mitch McConnell, Paul needs to plug up holes, shore up his weaknesses and get ready for a bloody fight on a much more difficult battlefield than the easy ride he has had to date might have lulled him into thinking he might never have to face.

Comments

[Noah Meeks]

Just to clarify, I'm not saying Grayson has been clear on all his issues or entirely substantive. But in the end, I will go with a better-known who has twice been able to win statewide, than an unknown who refuses to engage on real substantive issues.

[Noah Meeks]

Another real problem Paul will have is his over-reliance on being against the bailout. He's going to have to beef up his stump speech if people are going to care about him 5 months from now. So far he rails against out of control spending but refuses to name even ONE item of federal spending he would cut, except the bailout and TARP money. He also needs to really clarify his stance on international free & fair trade. He's got real potential but 6 months out he really looks like an empty suit.