RAND PAUL GOP Senate candidate

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FRANKFORT (AP) — Former Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul accused GOP leaders in Washington of meddling in Kentucky’s U.S. Senate race by trying to handpick the party nominee.

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas made the statement in advance of his Saturday visit to Louisville, where he will campaign for his son, Bowling Green eye surgeon Rand Paul.

Ron Paul was aiming the barb at Republican Senate candidate Trey Grayson, the beneficiary of a fundraiser held at the National Republican Senatorial Committee in Washington last September. More than 20 sitting Republican U.S. senators attended the event.

“For Republican senators to get together in Washington and try to dictate the race, that’s a badge of honor for a person who wants to challenge the Washington establishment,” Paul said.

Rand Paul has tried to establish himself as an outsider candidate. His father’s statement was intended to bolster that image.

Grayson campaign manager Nate Hodson countered by calling Rand Paul the hand-picked candidate of “out-of-state Libertarian crusaders.”

“Rand Paul’s only asset in this race is his career politician father’s out-of-state donor base,” Hodson said. “Neither of the Pauls have ever lifted a finger to support the Republican Party in Kentucky, and instead they continue to openly attack and disparage Kentucky Republicans.”

National Republican Senatorial Committee spokeswoman Amber Wilkerson Marchand said her group hasn’t endorsed anyone in the Kentucky primary. “That decision will be left in the hands of the Republican primary voters, as it should be,” Marchand said.

Rhetoric from the two campaigns has heated up in recent weeks. Grayson has questioned contradictory statements Rand Paul has made about Guantanamo Bay. Rand Paul has asked Grayson, Kentucky’s chief election official, to recuse himself from oversight of the Senate election.

Both are running well-funded campaigns. Rand Paul has banked more than $1.7 million, and Grayson more than $1.2 million.

Both have been actively campaigning since Sen. Jim Bunning announced last year he wouldn’t seek a third term. Bunning, 78, was encouraged to retire by Republican leaders in Washington.

Ron Paul will attend a campaign rally for his son on Saturday afternoon at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center in Louisville.