US Republican candidate Rand Paul suspends presidential nomination campaign
Senator Rand Paul (R-TX) speaks during a caucus day rally at his Des Moines headquarters on February 1, 2016 in Des Moines, Iowa (AFP Photo)


U.S. Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul suspended his 2016 campaign on Wednesday, he said in a statement two days after the Iowa caucuses.The U.S. senator from Kentucky, a libertarian-leaning candidate, finished in fifth place in Iowa with 4.5 percent."It's been an incredible honor to run a principled campaign for the White House. Today, I will end where I began, ready and willing to fight for the cause of Liberty," Paul said in a statement. Campaign spokeswoman Eleanor May confirmed the move Wednesday to The Associated Press.Paul and his appeals to reject American political dynasties and "to take our country back" was ultimately out-shouted by billionaire Donald Trump.The son of former Rep. Ron Paul was elected in the conservative tea party-driven wave of 2010 and disagreed often with Republican leaders.Rand Paul notably opposed the Obama administration's use of drone strikes against suspected terrorists.