Opinion: Rand Paul wins in Kentucky; Joe Miller calls it a mandate

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The Aqua Buddha coudln’t stop him. The unfortunate head stomping didn’t slow him down. Not even the fact that he refused to shake his opponent’s hand at the conclusion of a debate prevented Rand Paul from becoming the next Kentucky senator.

Paul, the conservative eye doctor who had never before held public office, beat Democrat Jack Conway for the seat being vacated by former Major League Baseball hurler and Republican Jim Bunning.

In a state whose voters deem themselves as ‘dissatisfied’ or ‘angry’ toward the federal government, Paul, a ‘tea party’ favorite was the change they believed in despite all the drama and flat-out weirdness that made its way into the race.

‘It’s very clear that nationwide we have a movement that is moving us forward in a way that I think is going to bring real change to D.C. And the American people are demanding it,’ Alaska Republican senatorial candidate Joe Miller told Fox Business Network’s Neil Cavuto on Tuesday about Paul’s victory. ‘It is a mandate to make sure the federal government gets reversed in its growth. Not just slowed down, but completely changed out in a way that we have increased power to the state.’

-- Tony Pierce