parties. >> did they know you were going to do this? >> no. in fact, we didn't know we were going to do it that day. >> reporter: a precursor against president obama against nsa spying. paul doesn't try to hide his presidential ambition. this is classic. >> i've been president at the time and i found that you did not read the cables from benghazi, you did not read the cables from professor stevens, i would have relieved you from your post. i never have intentionally presented anyone's ideas as my own or tried to pass off anything. >> reporter: still, he has the attention of conservative activists. >> he's establishing a persona that we haven't seen very much in the republican party stand up to the obama administration and actually prevail. >> dana bash, cnn, washington. the republican senator rand paul of kentucky joins me now. senator, the obama administration responded to your