Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky says he is considering a presidential campaign in 2016 but will not make a decision before next year.

Paul says at a breakfast sponsored by The Christian Science Monitor that he wants to be part of the national debate and being considered a potential candidate gives him a "larger microphone" on issues.

Paul plans to travel to early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire this spring and South Carolina this summer as part of the process.

He says he is "considering it" but "we won't make a decision before 2014."

Paul is the son of former Texas Rep. Ron Paul, a libertarian Republican who sought the presidency in 1988, 2008 and 2012.

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