Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul is taking his libertarian-leaning message to one of the most liberal campuses in the country.
After giving a speech to the historically black Howard University last year, the Republican lawmaker is now scheduled to give an anti-NSA spying address on March 19 at the University of California at Berkeley.
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Paul, considering a run for president, suggested the trip is part of his effort to appeal to voters who aren’t traditionally Republican. Paul told host Chris Wallace that NSA spying is “something that attracts new people to our cause.”
“I think there’s a real opportunity for Republicans who do believe in the Fourth Amendment to grow our party by attracting young people and bring that energy into our party,” he said.
Added Paul: “The president won the youth vote 3-1, but his numbers have dropped 20 percent, 30 percent among the youth. Really the public at large is less trusting of this president, but the youth in particular have lost faith in this president.”
According to the university’s website, the address is set to take place at the Berkeley Forum.
“The event is a talk by, and discussion with, Senator Rand Paul about the recent class-action lawsuit filed by himself and former Virginia attorney general Ken Cuccinelli against the Obama administration and the National Surveillance Agency,” the website stated. “Senator Paul will discuss domestic security, the NSA’s collection of telephone metadata, and public debate regarding privacy and its Constitutional implications.”