Capitol Report: Ron Paul supporters turn their backs on Rand Paul

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) Rand Paul is facing defections from an unexpected quarter: the idealists who powered his father Rons presidential campaigns.

Instead of embracing the younger Paul as he pulls together his expected presidential campaign in Iowa and New Hampshire, many of the grass-roots activists who backed Ron Paul are turning their backs on his son. The problem, writes Politico, is their disillusionment with Rand Pauls concession to mainstream politics. The chairman of Ron Pauls 2012 Iowa campaign, for example, says the younger Paul is moderating on many key stances.

Hillary comes down to earth: Also in Politico on Friday: what Hillary Clinton will do immediately after she kicks off her own presidential campaign. According to several people familiar with the planning process, the former first lady will embark on a short tour that will almost certainly include Iowa and perhaps other states to interact with voters in a series of events. Most of them will be in what Politico called low-key settings.

Ryan open to budget deal: Rep. Paul Ryan, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said Thursday hes open to another bipartisan budget deal to alleviate sequestration before it returns in October. Ryan, writes the Huffington Post, cautioned his ability to bring along other House Republicans is more limited now that he no longer leads the House Budget Committee. But he said he was willing to support a deal that raises spending caps, as in the deal he brokered two years ago with Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington.

Budget clears Senate: The Senate adopted a Republican budget for fiscal year 2016 just before 3:30 a.m. Friday, with no Democratic support. As The Wall Street Journal writes, it marked the first GOP budget to clear the Senate in almost a decade and brought Republicans closer to passing a budget through both congressional chambers. Republican Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Rand Paul of Kentucky voted against it. Cruz has announced his presidential bid, and Paul is expected to do the same soon.

Guess whos coming to dinner: If its Iowa, it must be campaign season. The Des Moines Register reports nine Republican presidential contenders have told Iowa GOP officials they intend to speak at this years Lincoln Dinner fundraiser, scheduled in May. Confirmed guests are Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina, Lindsey Graham, Bobby Jindal, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, Donald Trump and Scott Walker. None have announced their candidacy yet.

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Capitol Report: Ron Paul supporters turn their backs on Rand Paul