Fox News host Bret Baier pointedly asked Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) if he’d failed to properly grapple with the legacy of his father, former Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), during Thursday’s Republican presidential debate.
“Senator Cruz is out with a video saying Cruz is the political heir to your father’s 2012 campaign and the liberty movement and your father now says it’s realistic that Donald Trump will be your party’s nominee,” the moderator said. “Did you make a mistake by not more fully embracing your father politically at the beginning of this campaign?”
Paul defended himself by saying he had “a great deal of respect” for his father, but wanted to stake his own ground in the 2016 race.
“So in no way have I ever said I don’t embrace my father or appreciate everything he’s done for the country,” he said.
He then pivoted towards attacking Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)’s record, faulting him for missing a vote for Paul’s bill to audit the Federal Reserve.
“They want to say they’re getting some of the liberty vote. But we think we’ll do very well in Iowa with the liberty vote,” Paul said to loud applause from the audience.
