Politics

Rand Filibuster Keeps Rivals From Speaking At Southern GOP Confab

Kerry Picket Political Reporter
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OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul’s filibuster may have actually kept Paul’s GOP rivals in the upper chamber from attending a popular annual conservative conference this weekend.

The Daily Caller learned that Paul had no intention of going to the Southern Republican Leadership Conference,but his fellow GOP senators, who are also vying to be president, were already confirmed to speak in person. The campaign told SRLC organizers he would not give remarks at the event because “he doesn’t do cattle calls.”

However, Republican senators Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and Lindsey Graham cancelled their plans to speak in person at the SRLC, opting instead to give their speeches via video transmission to the crowd. Paul’s campaign did not send pre-taped video remarks.

One campaign political insider at SRLC wondered aloud to TheDC that Paul’s timing with his Wednesday 10-hour filibuster of the USA Freedom Act conveniently threw a wrench into the schedules of each Republican senator seeking the presidency.

As a result of Paul’s Wednesday filibuster, the vote on USA Freedom Act became delayed, moving scheduled votes further back and stranding all Senators in Washington between the filibuster and the weekend. SRLC began Thursday and runs through Saturday.

Rubio spokesman Alex Conant confirmed that votes kept the Florida Republican from attending.

TheDC sent an inquiry to the Paul campaign and did not receive a response on the matter before posting.