Rand Paul says GOP's demise 'overstated'

by Nick Glass, Politico, October 14, 2014.

Sen. Rand Paul suggested on Sunday the "demise" of the GOP is "overstated."

Asked on CNN's "State of the Union" by host Candy Crowley about an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll that showed only 24 percent approval for the GOP and 21 percent for its tea party members, Rand said, "I think our demise is a little bit overstated."

Democrats will also catch blame for the government shutdown, he said. "I think this is a lose-lose situation, we need to open up government."

Asked if he would ever consider joining another party, the Republican senator from Tennessee said no.

"Republican Party just has a really rich history," he said, noting the party's origins during the Civil War and its role in abolishing slavery and Jim Crow Laws.