Rand Paul mum on Trump's immigration stance

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. – Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul declined on Monday to venture an opinion on the incendiary comments of fellow Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on immigration.

"I've tried to talk about what my plan is for immigration so I don't get trapped into talking about what 20 other people are saying about immigration," Paul said at a stop in Elizabethtown. "As far as I'm concerned I think most people come to this country in search of the American dream. It doesn't mean you can have a lawless border, though."

After speaking to about 25 constituents at the Lincoln Trail Area Development District in Elizabethtown, Paul repeatedly avoided giving reporters an opinion of Trump's immigration comments, which have drawn criticism from some of his GOP presidential rivals.

When asked if Trump's remarks have hurt the Republican Party, Paul said, "I've got to stick with my message. There's 15 other people, if I spend all my time on other people's message …"

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It was more of the same in Louisville, where Paul fielded questions from the media after having lunch with children at the Plymouth Community Revival Center in western Louisville, and then spoke with high school students who attend a summer tutoring program there.

"I just have to keep talking about what I'm talking about and not be distracted by others," he said there.

Paul emphasized in Elizabethtown that he has recently proposed legislation to require that if federal immigration authorities have a detention order on an inmate in a local jail, that the inmate be turned over to federal authorities when his or her local sentence is completed.

This, he said, would avoid a repeat of the recent murder of a woman in California. An immigrant who was under a federal detention order has been charged with the murder.

"So, with regard to the sanctuary cities I'm trying to come up with solutions rather than 'who said this,' 'he said this,' 'she said that.'"

Trump kicked off his presidential campaign last month with allegations that undocumented immigrants crossing the border from Mexico were "people that have lots of problems. … They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."

Paul also declined to weigh in on the ongoing battle in Kentucky between Gov. Steve Beshear and some county clerks who have declined to issue marriage licenses because they disagree with last month's U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage. The clerks have argued that they have a First Amendment right not to issue the licenses since they argue gay marriage runs counter to their religious beliefs.

Beshear has said the clerks are in violation of their oaths of office if they don't issue the licenses.

In Louisville, Paul, who often speaks about the constitutionality of things, demurred. "You know, I'm just not a legal authority and I really don't know."

On other matters, Paul said he did not think he would be able to attend the annual political speaking at Fancy Farm on the first Saturday in August. "I think right now, it looks like they've got me in New Hampshire (home of the first presidential primary election) that weekend, but I do love Fancy Farm and I was there last year and I'll be there next year," he said.

And Paul said that leaders of the Republican Party of Kentucky are talking about holding presidential caucuses in the state on March 5.

The party is considering the caucuses, rather than the traditional presidential primary, at Paul's request. The caucuses would allow Paul to file for re-election to the U.S. Senate next year, while also pressing forward with his quest for the party's presidential nomination.

Kentucky law prohibits a candidate's name from appearing on a ballot for two different offices.

Paul, who is running in seventh place in Real Clear Politics' compilation of Republican Party presidential polls, said he was optimistic about his chances, noting that he does well against Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton in a number of polls.

"I think that we've had a great response and one of the things that probably the best indicator of how we're doing is that we lead Hillary Clinton in public polls in five states won by President Obama," he said. "I think that shows our ability to reach out to independent voters."

He noted that he has led Clinton in polls in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Colorado, New Hampshire and Iowa. In all but Colorado, however, Clinton has led in most polls.

Reporter Tom Loftus can be reached at (502) 875-5136. Follow him on Twitter at @TomLoftus_CJ.