Doctor Paul says he's gone from 11 points down in the polls last summer, to 19 points up in an independent media poll now.

And he says he's not concerned that powerful republicans Mitch McConnell and John McCain attended a fund-raiser for his opponent, Trey Grayson.

"I think the people of Kentucky also want to make their own decision, " says Paul. "People here in Bowling Green or the surrounding counties, they want to make their own mind up for who they vote for. I don't think they want somebody in Washington to tell them who to vote for."

And Paul says this year he'd rather be the outsider than the establishment pick for a seat in the U.S. Senate.