but i think there is a vital role, just as ronald reagan did -- >> paul defended himself. he compared his views to those of the first president bush. henry kissinger. and ronald reagan. >> i think those who would try to argue that somehow i'm different than the mainstream republican opinion are people who want to take advantage for their own personal political game. i'm a great believer in ronald reagan. i'm a great believer in a strong national defense. >> right now, though, name i.d. is helping congressman paul ryan, at least, look like the leading candidate in iowa. a new "des moines register" poll tested folks who ran in some form in 2012 and found ryan seems to be the most popular candidate to run again on the republican side, over other -- three other former presidential candidates. so joining me now on the state of where 2016 is for the republicans, "washington post" chief correspondent dan balls, author of "the take." so what do we make of rand paul? you know, there's the -- it was