Leading up to his formal announcement , Paul delivered several high profile speeches , which included filibustering the nomination of CIA Director John Brennan , speeches at Berkeley and Howard University , and meeting with community leaders in Ferguson , Missouri and Detroit , Michigan , with Paul stating that the meetings and speeches help reach his goal of broadening the Republican Party 's appeal with non-traditional constituencies .
Leading up to his formal announcement , Paul delivered several high profile speeches , which included filibustering the nomination of CIA Director John Brennan , speeches at Berkeley and Howard University , and meeting with community leaders in Ferguson , Missouri and Detroit , Michigan , in what has been described as an attempt to broaden the Republican Party 's appeal with non-traditional constituencies .