Well, surprise surprise, [mc_name name=’Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’P000603′ ] is officially running for President. However, in the category of actually surprising news, Paul’s basic argument for his primary candidacy is… that he’s the most electable candidate in the field. Seriously.

Paul gave a sneak peak into what his message will be in a pre-announcement video that has been prominently featured on the influential conservative website Drudge Report for the last two days.

“On April 7, a different kind of Republican will take on Washington,” the video says at the open.

Whereas Cruz’s launch was laser-focused on rallying evangelical Christians, Paul is gearing up to make the argument that he has cross-party appeal.

He intends to focus heavily on young voters and minority outreach, and will make the pitch to Republican primary voters that his efforts to expand the party make him the candidate with the best chance to defeat Hillary Clinton in the general election.

Well, okay. I guess [mc_name name=’Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’P000603′ ] thinks that the average middle of the road voter is a regular listener to Alex Jones, based on the material available at his online store, featuring (and I am not kidding) an “NSA Spy Cam Blocker,” the copy for which reads:

That little front facing camera on your laptop or tablet can be a window for the world to see you – whether you know it or not! Stop hackers and the NSA with this simple camera blocker. Safe and practical.

Not to mention, of course, a “Don’t drone me bro” T-Shirt. Presumably, the [mc_name name=’Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’P000603′ ] branded tinfoil hats are still in R&D to make sure that they are truly effective at stopping the Karl Rove mind control rays.

I give points to [mc_name name=’Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’P000603′ ] for trying to have it both ways – for being both the perfect candidate for the delusional/paranoid and also the candidate for middle of the road Americans. And who knows – for a time, it might work. But sooner or later either the normal people or the crazies are going to get off the bus because they don’t share space well together. But in the meantime I hope it’s a fun ride for everyone involved.

And I will say, if nothing else, that the campaign clothing gear is likely to be the slickest of any campaign this year, by far.