Rand Paul leads “The Chase”

Chris Christie’s not gonna like it.

Neither is Jennifer Rubin.

And Peter King would object too.

But Rand Paul is now the leader of the herd of Republicans who covet the 2016 GOP nomination for president, placing the Kentucky senator at the top of The CHASE this month for the first time.

(What is The CHASE? Read up HERE.)

Of course it is arguable whether he can ultimately ascent to the nomination — but he’s largely owning the summer of 2013, especially July.

Let us count the ways:

• He chose to engage Chris Christie’s broadside and **at least** matched him punch for punch, yet also showcased his willingness to deescalate by proposing a beer summit.  This continuing fisticuffs raised Rand’s stature and vindicated him as a mover of opinion inside the wayward Republican Party.  Oh, and there’s the polling that shows R’s moving in Rand’s direction on the substance of the foreign policy fracas.
• He’s atop polls everywhere.  Nationally — and fighting Marco Rubio to a virtual draw in Iowa.  Conservatives are flocking towards Paul while punishing the Florida senator for his involvement in the immigration bill. Women dig him — and he’s basically performing as well against Clinton as Marco is.
• He’s owning the media cycle — becoming a ubiquitous presence on television — mostly FOX — while traversing the country — Iowa, Nevada, Tennessee — earning headlines and local chits along the way.

Whether there’s really a true Republican front-runner is a fair argument to wage — but The CHASE is here to help answer that reoccurring question.

For the past five months, Rubio has tenuously held the top slot.

But he’s diminished recently, not only because of the thorny immigration thicket, but due to the sense that he’s been relatively sidelined from the 2016 conversation, due to Paul, Ted Cruz, Christie and even Rick Perry.

Rubio’s loss is Rand’s gain — and this is not to say it’s a permanent switch, but it’s certainly a notable one.

Read the entire Republican CHASE list HERE.

Not sure what The CHASE is?  Click HERE.