Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) dismissed claims on Sunday that his Tea Party response to the State of the Union will divide Republicans.
With Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) handling the GOP address, Paul was asked by CNN State of the Union host Candy Crowley if that gives "aid and comfort" to Democrats who see a split Republican Party.
Paul felt otherwise, labeling his speech as an "extra response" supporting the Tea Party's mission.
"I don't see it as necessarily divisive," Paul said. "You know I won't say anything on there that necessarily is like Marco Rubio is wrong. You know, I don't always agree, but the thing is this isn't about he and I. This is about the Tea Party, which is a grassroots movement, a real movement with millions of Americans who are still concerned about some of the deal making that goes on in Washington."
Paul's comments come days after TIME Magazine chose Rubio for its cover, naming him as the "new voice of the GOP." Rubio humbly shrugged off that accolade on Thursday, in a tweet saying "There is only one savior, and it is not me. #Jesus."
Weeks after the 2012 presidential election was held, Paul set himself as a possible 2016 candidate, telling ABC News that he was "not going to deny that he was interested."
Rubio's name is also out there, with the Associated Press reporting on Sunday that the senator has "bolstered his political action committee, Reclaim America PAC, to help him raise money, elect fellow Republicans and essentially create a campaign-in-waiting."
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