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Rand Paul hits back at Chris Christie (again)
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul addresses the 114th annual VFW National Convention on Monday, July 22, 2013, at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, Ky. Credit: AP

Rand Paul hits back at Chris Christie (again)

Last week, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie criticized Sen. Rand Paul's opposition to warrantless government surveillance and Paul responded in-kind. Over the weekend, Paul doubled down on his Christie comments, adding that Christie was a little too eager to accept federal assistance for his state after Hurricane Sandy.

“They’re precisely the same people who are unwilling to cut the spending, and their `Gimme, gimme, gimme — give me all my Sandy money now.’” Paul said over the weekend, referring to Christie and New York Sen. Peter King, another fellow Republican.

WATCH:

And when it comes to the issue of surveillance, Paul insisted Sunday that protecting national security doesn't mean spying on all Americans.  “I don’t mind spying on terrorists,” he said. “I just don’t like spying on all Americans.”

More from Politico:

“If you talk about some privacy issues like that, I think you will find youth coming to you,” said Paul, who said his own decision on whether to run for president won’t come until next year.

King called that argument misguided.

“When it comes to national defense, we shouldn’t be pandering to any demographic,” he said. “We need to do what’s best for the country.”

Messages left with Christie’s office late Sunday were not immediately returned.

As for the back and forth with Christie, Paul said he wasn’t the one itching for a fight.

“I didn’t start this one, and I don’t plan on starting things by criticizing other Republicans,” he said. “But if they want to make me the target, they will get it back in spades.”

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