Fresh from the second GOP presidential debate, underdog candidate Senator Rand Paul swung through the Silver State yesterday (Thursday) on a multi-leg tour. Our reporter Julia Ritchey covered his rally in Reno and has more.
Paul spoke to a crowd of about 250 mostly college-aged students at the University of Nevada, Reno.
The Kentucky senator hit the highlights of his libertarian platform, including limiting U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts and decriminalization of marijuana.
The marijuana issue is especially pertinent in Nevada, where voters will decide on whether to allow recreational use in a ballot referendum next year.
"I'm really the only one saying we don't need to be putting our kids in jail for marijuana."
Noticeably absent from Paul's speech was any mention of GOP frontrunner Donald Trump, who took several jabs at Paul during Wednesday's GOP debate. Paul says that was intentional.
"I think America's about done, and I'm pretty much done with him," he says. "Do we want somebody who calls, like Carly Fiorina, calls them ugly? Is that the kind of person who would be having diplomacy with other world leaders?"
Political analysts say Paul has underperformed in the last two debates and consistently polls near the bottom of the crowded field, finding it hard to connect to older voters.
Students are critical to Paul's campaign. He says their goal is to recruit 3,000 college students before Nevada's caucus next February.
