Aide says Rand Paul's endorsement of Romney could lead to 'prime speaking role' at convention

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul’s endorsement of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney came with the blessing of Paul’s father and might have secured the Kentucky senator a prime speaking role at the Republican National Convention, said Jim Milliman, Paul’s state director.

Paul’s decision to endorse Romney before the convention was the first question Milliman was asked when he appeared at a Louisville Young Republicans meeting Wednesday night. He told the several dozen Republicans in attendance that Paul made the endorsement after interviewing Romney in a face-to-face meeting last week.

“From a practical matter you have to endorse the candidate before the convention. Romney is going to get the nomination no doubt about that at all, and so it behooves everyone to have Senator Paul endorse him before the convention,” Milliman said.

He added that the younger Paul wouldn’t have thrown his support to Romney without the approval of his father and presidential candidate Ron Paul.

“This could enable Senator Paul to have a prime speaking role at the convention and his dad to have a prime speaking role at the convention, so I think all those things factored in,” Milliman told the group. Here’s the full video of Milliman’s explanation of the endorsement:

Milliman also told the group that if Romney strays from his promises, Paul would hold him accountable. “He’s not going to rubber stamp him,” Milliman said.