Dem strategist elated to see Rand Paul in 2016 race

A prominent Democratic strategist tells The Hill he’s giddy with Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-Ky.) official entry into the 2016 presidential contest.

{mosads}Longtime Capitol Hill Democratic operative Jim Manley predicts a crowded GOP primary will cause contenders to take more extreme positions on major issues to win support from conservative voters.

The former spokesman for Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and former Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) said the eventual GOP nominee will enter the general election tarnished by the primary race.

“I couldn’t be happier. I mean, this is one of my favorite days — Rand Paul’s finally getting into the race,” the senior director at QGA Public Affairs said. “We knew it was coming, but this is the big day, so put me down as one happy Democratic strategist. … There’s not a snowball’s chance in hell any of them get through a general election vis-a-vis Secretary [Hillary] Clinton.”