DIXON — In a rare press conference, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rand Paul on Monday sought to quell criticism about statements he made about the severity of the illegal and prescription drug abuse and clarify his position on how best to address the issue.
“We all understand it’s a problem,” Paul told reporters before touring a faith-based drug treatment facility for men in western Kentucky. “I wanted to come here today to learn.”
Paul, whose campaign has seldom notified the media about campaign events this summer, took questions from reporters for about 15 minutes about the drug issue, which has come to dominate the U.S. Senate race of late. Earlier in the day, his Democratic opponent, Jack Conway, attended a round-table meeting with law enforcement officials to highlight the drug problem on the other side of the state in Wolfe County on Monday.
Hopkins County Attorney Todd P’Pool invited Paul to tour the Wingshadow Lodge of Western Kentucky Teen Challenge – which is between Dixon and Sebree — after reading press coverage of the drug issue in the U.S. Senate race.
http://politics.mycn2.com/2010/08/23/rand-paul-favors-faith-based-approach-over-federal-funding-to-fight-drugs/