AARON KLEIN, WABC-AM HOST: There has been speculation, in the past, different politicians who visit Israel are, among many other things, have presidential ambitions. So I have to ask you about 2016, any big plans to run as of now?



SEN. RAND PAUL (R-KY): We have decided. We will continue to pursue and try to make that decision over the next two years, or so. One of the main reasons for going to Israel, though, was to learn more about it. I'm going to be on the Senate Foreign Relations [committee] now, for the first time, and I wanted to learn more first-hand information about problems in the Middle East.



Whether or not I am going to run for president, that decision will come probably in two years and we'll in the meantime try to be part of the national debate. We think the Republican Party needs to evolve and adapt, or we are going to become a permanent minority party.



We're not popular and we have not been competitive out in California, the west coast or New England. So we think a little more of a libertarian Republican, someone who is a strict Constitutionalist, but also believes in a strong, defensive military, but not necessarily overly aggressive or bellicose -- let's get involved in everybody's civil war military. I think that has more appeal to independents and some people who have given up on the Republican party. (WABC-AM, January 20, 2013)