Rand Paul Coy on 2016 Presidential Bid

Republican U.S. Sen. Rand Paul is telling reporters that it's "too soon" to say if he'll run for president in four years.

The tea party darling, making his rounds among reporters before Thursday night's vice presidential debate at Centre College in Danville, was asked if he expects to be engaged in a presidential debate in 2016.

Paul, the son of Texas Congressman Ron Paul who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination this year, chuckled. But he didn't rule it out.

The Kentucky eye surgeon from Bowling Green rose from political obscurity to upend Republican and Democratic insiders and win his Senate seat in 2010, largely thanks to a wave of tea party support.