Midterm elections serve as prolonged auditions for potential presidential candidates and Mr. Paul’s efforts have vaulted him from tea-party star to serious contender. Over the past two years, he has visited about 30 states to help candidates or his party, collecting a pile of chits along the way.
http://online.wsj.com/articles/rand-paul-is-go-to-republican-for-2014-candidates-1415107374