Is Paul plausible in 2016?

Can Sen. Rand Paul really become the 45th president?

His curly hair and slight frame arent a Hollywood casting agents idea of a commander in chief. But the freshman Republican senator from Kentucky rejects established norms; hes on a declared mission to redefine the presidency and his own party.

Many other Republicans are nervous about Pauls rising stock, much more than they were about the presidential bids of his father, former Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas).

A CNN/ORC International poll last month showed Paul leading a field of Republican presidential contenders among Republicans and independents who favor the GOP nationwide. He garnered 16 percent support among those groups, compared to Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who garnered 15 percent and 11 percent, respectively.

Paul won the presidential survey at the Northeast Republican Leadership Conference in New Hampshire and the straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington.

Even so, there are some in GOP circles who say they dont take Paul seriously.

Conservative commentator Ann Coulter said Paul, whos about 5 feet 8 inches tall, cant be president because hes as tall as my iPod.

Generally, the taller candidate wins, said Robert Denton Jr., an expert in political communication at Virginia Tech.

But Denton added that voters criteria have evolved over the years and now a candidates ability to project empathy is as important as radiating authority and competence.

He actually does have kind of an everyday-person appearance about him, he said.

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Is Paul plausible in 2016?