Sen. Rand Paul takes his minority outreach to Shelbyville - WDRB 41 Louisville News

SHELBYVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Kentucky U.S. Senator Rand Paul says he'll announce next spring whether he'll run for president. But Kentucky's junior senator already looks like a man on the run.

Senator Rand Paul brought his all-but-announced campaign for the presidency to Shelbyville.

Paul appeared at a ceremony marking the historic home of Dr. Maurice Rabb - noted African American physician and civil rights leader.

It's part of Paul's ongoing effort to broaden the Republican base.

Earlier he told the Shelbyville Rotary Club that the GOP must reach out - or die.

"If we're going to be the white party, we're going to be the losing party," said Paul.

Paul's message; a kind of conservative populism - pushing issues such as criminal justice reform, school choice and job creation that resonate with many minority voters.

"I think you'll find nobody in Congress doing more for minority rights than me, right now. Republican or Democrat," Paul told reporters.

Maurice Rabb's son, Chris, says he's willing to give Paul a hearing.

"If there's something that is meaningful and substantive that the senator brings forth, we're going to listen to it. And labels are far less important than substance," said Rabb.

But Paul is still hedging as to whether he wants to be the 2016 GOP standard bearer.

"I jokingly say there are two votes in my household, and at least one of them is uncommitted," said Paul.

Though Paul says he's not ready to announce his decision, all signs right now point to a run for the White House.

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