Senator Rand Paul has kicked off his presidential campaign with a moderated version of libertarianism that is expected to set him apart from the Republican pack.
Paul announced in Kentucky, "Today begins the journey to take America back," referring to a return to the country's constitutional principles, reported the BBC.
He vowed to cut taxes, limit congressmen's terms and put an end to "warrantless surveillance" by the National Security Agency (NSA).
The Kentucky senator is the second Republican, after Ted Cruz, to enter the fray that concludes in November 2016.
Paul first held elected office when he rode a wave of Tea Party popularity to the U.S. senate in 2010. He then, garnered a lot of attention for speaking for more than 12 hours in protest against President Barack Obama's drone policy and the nomination of John Brennan to lead the Central Investigative Agency.
He is known for openly criticizing fellow Republicans on issues of government surveillance, drone policies and sanctions on Iran and Cuba.
His father, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives Ron Paul, ran several unsuccessful presidential campaigns.