Could Rand Paul simply not join the Kentucky primary?

[Lyin' Steve]

The state law says that the same name can't appear twice on a ballot.  So presumably that would prevent Rand from running for both Senator and GOP candidate, which is why he wants the party to switch from a primary to a caucus.  But the Kentucky primary is on May 17.  That's not going to be make-or-break for Rand.  Why doesn't he just keep his name off the presidential ballot in his home state?  If he somehow gets the nomination for president he can always just withdraw from the Senate race, they'll write the ballots long after the GOP nomination is clear.

[Negusa Nagast 🚀]

In a primary that has the highest chance of going a brokered convention since 1976, forgoing any delegate advantage would be political capital suicide.

[Clark Kent]

In a primary that has the highest chance of going a brokered convention since 1976, forgoing any delegate advantage would be political capital suicide.

Rand Paul has no chance of being a compromise candidate. A compromise would be someone like, say, Marco Rubio, who isn't really disliked by any faction of the GOP except Donald Trump. Rand Paul really only appeals to libertarians.

[Krago]

Why doesn't he just have his father enter the Kentucky primary as his stand-in?

[Mister Mets]

In a primary that has the highest chance of going a brokered convention since 1976, forgoing any delegate advantage would be political capital suicide.

Rand Paul has no chance of being a compromise candidate. A compromise would be someone like, say, Marco Rubio, who isn't really disliked by any faction of the GOP except Donald Trump. Rand Paul really only appeals to libertarians.

So he would still have incentives not to lose any delegates, lest that be the dffference between narrowly winning the nomination, and entering a brokered convention.

[Negusa Nagast 🚀]

In a primary that has the highest chance of going a brokered convention since 1976, forgoing any delegate advantage would be political capital suicide.

Rand Paul has no chance of being a compromise candidate. A compromise would be someone like, say, Marco Rubio, who isn't really disliked by any faction of the GOP except Donald Trump. Rand Paul really only appeals to libertarians.

Of course he has no chance, but it would be foolish to remove yourself from the bargaining table. He could use his delegates to leverage a candidate to guarantee a cabinet appointment, a policy plank, or push someone for the VP slot.