Rand Paul announces campaign manager for likely 2016 campaign

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Tuesday announced the hiring of a campaign manager for his likely 2016 presidential bid, part of an aggressive effort to build a national political team as the race for the White House heats up.

The hiring of strategist Chip Englander, who recently guided a gubernatorial candidate to victory in Illinois, marks a clear step forward for the Kentucky Republican as he prepares to transform his cadre of loyalists into a full-scale campaign.

Doug Stafford, Pauls longtime confidant, will remain as his chief political adviser. In an interview Tuesday, Stafford said he will rely on Englander for the day-to-day execution of Pauls operation.

The move underscores Paul's unorthodox approach to presidential politics and his expected candidacy, with plans to put an emphasis on outreach to the poor and younger voters while also courting conservative activists in early-primary states.

In an interview Tuesday, Englander argued that Pauls unconventional positions would lay the foundation for a potent Republican coalition. Paul has articulated mostly non-interventionist views on foreign policy, while taking hardline stances against tax hikes and President Obamas health-care law domestically.

America has intractable problems and its going to take a transformational leader to fix them, Englander said. Senator Paul is going to be the bold, transformational figure in this race.

The hiring of Englander comes as former Florida governor Jeb Bush and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney are moving closer to launching their own 2016 campaigns and connecting with donors and Republican officials.

Rather than bringing on a consultant well-known in Washington or one with ties to his father, former Texas congressman Ron Paul, the Kentucky Republican has enlisted a youthful outsider to coordinate his efforts.

Englander, 33, who spent much of his early career working in California politics, last year managed Republican Bruce Rauners campaign for governor in Illinois, guiding the wealthy businessman through a competitive primary and then to a decisive win in the general election - in part by outpacing Democrats in some urban areas and steering clear of hot-button social issues.

Stafford cited the work of Englander in helping Rauner win a blue state where Republicans have had scattered success as a key reason why Rand Paul settled on him. He also focused on Englander's management of Rauner's sprawling network of volunteers and a campaign budget of nearly $70 million.

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Rand Paul announces campaign manager for likely 2016 campaign