Rand Paul hits Chicago next week to discuss 'failed liberal policies'

WASHINGTON — Republican presidential hopeful Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., hits the Chicago area next Wednesday to headline the DuPage County Lincoln Day Dinner and for a series of events in the city to highlight what his campaign said were “failed liberal policies.”

While likely White House contender Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor, has a lot of the Illinois establishment major GOP fundraisers and donors on his side, no one in the large and growing Republican 2016 field has a decisive edge in Illinois.

And there are lots of activist Republicans in Illinois who are big donors who never follow the establishment Republicans, whose politics tend toward the moderate.

The DuPage County event is important for Paul in Illinois, since DuPage is home to a massive number of GOP voters.

Paul, who announced his White House bid last month, will “discuss unequal economic opportunity, failing schools and the broken criminal justice systems that plague cities all across the U.S., including Chicago” during his visit, according to his campaign.

Next Wednesday morning, Paul hits the South Side for a “Stand with Rand” rally with pastor Corey Brooks at his New Beginnings Church of Chicago, 6619 S. King Drive.

After that, Paul heads to the Merchandise Mart where, at the 1871 tech incubator, Paul talks policy with Kristina Rasmussen of the Illinois Policy Institute and Greg Bishop of Illinois News Network.

In the evening, Paul is in suburban Lisle for the DuPage County Lincoln Day Dinner at the Sheraton Hotel.

The Illinois primary is in March.