In a moment that really caught no one by surprise, due not only to the fact that he announced it on his website hours beforehand but also because political prognosticators have been calling it for years, Rand Paul -- Kentucky Senator and son of three-time presidential candidate Ron Paul--officially announced that he would be making a run for the White House.

The Libertarian/Tea Party leaning republican is known for his views that have brought him into conflict with both Democrats and those in his own party. He first ventured into politics to run for the Senate in 2010 and since became the torch bearer of the brand of conservatism made famous by his father.

Below are some essential artifacts to read, watch, and follow on online to better get to know the candidate

Rand Paul Quick & Dirty Facts via Wikipedia.
- 52-years-old.
- Currently the Junior Senator for Kentucky.
- Before entering politics he was physician (eye doctor).
- He's be married for 25 years and has three children

Read These:
- One of the earliest profile of Paul, featured in the August 2010 issue of Details, and follows him in the early stage of first campaign for election to the Senate--“The Rise and Fall of Rand Paul.”
- GQ Profile of Paul’s just before winning election to the Senate in 2010--“Did Somebody Say Fringe?”
- Reason Magazine’s profile of Paul just after being sworn in the Senate--“The Most Interesting Man in the Senate.”
- Washington Monthly’s 2013 piece on Paul’s first term in the Senate--“The Education of Rand Paul.”
- The New Republic’s June 2013 feature on Paul’s growing political ability and influence--“President Rand Paul.”
-Vogue Magazine’s piece from 2013 that takes a look at both Paul and his wife (noting with his preference for ‘Dad jeans”)--"Could Republican Senator Rand Paul Win the White House?"
- An October 2014 New Yorker profile of Paul and how he carries on father’s political philosophy--“The Revenge of Rand Paul.”
- Time Magazine’s cover story - “The Reinventions of Rand Paul”--which ran with the cover title “The Most Interesting Man in American Politics.”

Watch These Videos:
- Jon Stewart covering Paul’s filibuster over Obama’s drone program.
- Paul on Bill O’Reilly’s Fox News show in June of 2013 talking about Edward Snowden and the NSA.
- Paul on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher in November 2014.
- The New York Times Video profiling Paul in early 2014.
- Paul’s response speech to President Obama’s State of the Union in January.
- Paul interviewed by MTV News at SXSW last month, talking music and tech.

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Presidential election