Opponents pressure Rand Paul over counterterrorism surveillance

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., found a way to stand out in the crowded Republican presidential field.

Paul's objections forced a Senate delay of a bill that would renew National Security Agency surveillance authorities, powers that expired at midnight Sunday despite support from other Republican presidential candidates.

"Tonight we stopped illegal NSA bulk data collection," Paul tweeted after a Sunday night Senate session. "Contribute to celebrate this victory."

While counter-terrorism surveillance powers will likely be restored later this week, many lawmakers -- including Republicans -- said the lapse poses unnecessary security risks.

"It's not a violation of civil liberties," said former Florida governor Jeb Bush, speaking on CBS' Face The Nation Sunday. "The first duty of our national government is to protect the homeland. And this has been an effective tool, along with many others."

Scott Walker, Chris Christie, Ben Carson, Bobby Jindal, John Kasich and other GOP aspirants have also expressed support for NSA surveillance programs, and some have criticized Paul's filibuster against renewal of the law.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who is expected to officially declare his presidential candidacy Monday, has said part of his campaign will be devoted to battling Paul's "isolationist" foreign policy.

Even Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who has endorsed Paul's presidential bid, appeared to be criticizing his fellow Kentuckian as he denounced "a campaign of demagoguery and disinformation” about NSA surveillance programs.

Paul, whose main objection is the bulk collection of Americans' telephone records, referred to the criticism Sunday in seeking to roll back surveillance laws.

“People here in town think I’m making a huge mistake," Paul said from the floor of the Senate. "Some of them, I think, secretly want there to be an attack on the United States so they can blame it on me."

Paul said he is fighting for liberty, and that government surveillance is violating people's privacy: "Are we so frightened that we're willing to give up our freedoms?"

He said he wants to work with lawmakers on rules that can prevent terrorist attacks while preserving civil liberties.

Time magazine ran down the reactions of other GOP candidates during the Senate debate:

"One Paul rival for the White House nomination, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, voted with him in opposing a Senate debate over the House version. Rubio did not speak on his vote. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas voted for the House version, which would shift the collection of Americans’ phone data to phone companies and away from the NSA. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina was absent; he was back in his home state, where he is set to start his 2016 campaign on Monday."

As for Paul, he served notice that the issue will surface during the coming presidential campaign.

“Mark my words," he said at one point. "The battle’s not over."