A very public squabble between two top Republican politicians who might be leading contenders for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination has grabbed clicks online and airtime on cable news. The war of words between New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky over national security, civil liberties and federal spending is also a proxy for the bigger battle for the future of the Republican Party. Here are five things we're learning from their spat. 1. The fight for the 2016 GOP nomination is under way It's only the summer of 2013, but the intensity of the exchanges between Christie and Paul makes it feel like late 2015 in some ways, with the start of the caucus and primary season just weeks away.
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War of words between Rand Paul and Chris Christie reflects division among Republicans
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Paul represents conservative-libertarian wing of the party, Christie represents moderates
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GOP strategist predicts Republican primaries will look 'a lot like a cage match'
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Was Paul's 'king of bacon' comment about Christie's weight?
@placeholder advisers say it had nothing to do with Christie's weight, which was an issue when he first ran for governor in 2009.