Rand Paul to deliver tea party response to Obama

WASHINGTON — Sen. Marco Rubio isn’t the only potential Republican presidential candidate delivering a response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address. Sen. Rand Paul is giving the tea party’s response.

The Tea Party Express, one of the largest organizations in the movement, said Friday that the Kentucky senator will deliver its response. The conservative lawmaker will speak immediately after Rubio, who is giving the official Republican response to the president Tuesday night.

The group says it’s pleased that Rubio and Paul, both of whom had the backing of the movement in their 2010 elections, will be speaking.

Previous tea party speakers who countered Obama’s major address were Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota and 2012 presidential candidate Herman Cain.