Rand Paul: GOP needs to change image

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SHARONVILLE, Ohio, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said the Republican party might be able to "attract more young people" if it toned down its approach to war and social issues.

During an appearance at the Northeast Hamilton County Republican Club's annual pancake breakfast at the Sharonville (Ohio) Convention Center, Paul told the 500 guests in attendance that the party needs to alter its image, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported Sunday.

"We do need to expand the party and grow the party and that does mean that we don't always all agree on every issue," he said. "We're going to have to be a little hands off on some of these issues ... and get people into the party."

Even greater than the social issues, Paul said, is the idea of war.

"If we didn't have to be everywhere all the time, if maybe we tried to reserve it for when our national interests were impacted or a vital interest of ours was -- and if Republicans didn't seem so eager to go to war -- I think we'd attract more young people," he said.

Paul is a Tea Party favorite who has been mentioned in early speculation about the 2016 presidential campaign, the newspaper reported.