Get up, it’s time to stand with Rand.

Sen. Rand Paul (R- Ky.) formally announced his candidacy in the 2016 presidential race last week. This comes as no surprise, considering the rumors that have been circulating for the past year that Paul would run.

Out of all of the candidates, Paul has the most stable support base. The Kentucky senator, and son of former Texas Rep. Ron Paul, has proven victorious for the past three years in the Straw Poll and according to a Quinnipiac University study has recently polled close, if not better than, Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a few swing states, such as Pennsylvania. With his and his father’s supporters, Paul has a chance at winning the Republican nomination, and ultimately the presidential election as a whole.

Paul, who’s an ophthalmologist and Libertarian favorite, has a real shot at winning in 2016. He is different from many of his Republican counterparts, as he supports the decriminalization of marijuana and strongly believes in the preservation of civil liberties. His style, both in rhetoric and fashion, also sets him apart from the rest, as he gets up to podiums in a blazer and jeans, and isn’t afraid to speak his mind. If Republicans want to take control of the White House, supporting Paul is the best option.

In Paul’s announcement, he told a relatable story about his experience attaining the American dream and how that has inspired him to run for president. His strategy to humanize himself in this crucial speech was a smart move, as Paul has been receiving criticism for coming off as too cold and overly defensive. Recently, Paul has gotten in a few tiffs with news anchors, such as Savannah Guthrie of “Today” and Fox News’ Megyn Kelly. Television and news pundits on both sides of the spectrum have made one thing clear: Rand Paul must learn to keep his cool if he wants to run a successful campaign.

But does Paul have to be cool, calm and collected in order to win in 2016? Many of those who #StandWithRand appreciate the fact that he is outspoken and isn’t always staying within the politically correct norms set in place. However, there are boundaries. If he wants to run our country, he might need to tone it down just a smidge. Personally, I too appreciate the fact that he calls it like he sees it. In his announcement speech, he didn’t play the blame game, but rather he said that “both parties and the entire political system,” are the cause of our government’s current status. He has time to figure out if he wants to change his public persona, although I highly doubt he will.

It’s early in the campaign season, as the prominent contenders to announce so far are: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Sen. Marco Rubio (R- Fla.), Paul and Clinton. There’s plenty of time for the candidates to change tactics, make enemies and gain supporters. If we used 2011 and early 2012 as a predictor of the 2012 election’s outcome, we would have assumed someone like Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul or Newt Gingrich would be our president. Man, would we have been off.

Paul offers voters an alternative to the stereotypical crony career politicians, or as Paul puts it, “the Washington machine.” This has enticed young liberty lovers to give him their full-fledged support. If Paul increases this energy and momentum, he could continue do what many others in his party have yet to: persuade young voters to do what’s best for our country and vote Republican.

Vanessa Salman is a sophomore policy studies major. Her column appears weekly. She can be contacted at vksalman@syr.edu or on Twitter @VanessaSalman.

Published on April 14, 2015 at 9:15 pm