The 2016 presidential candidates and those involved in the race — including Donald Trump, Bill and Hillary Clinton and Ted Cruz, among others — are welcoming the New Year on Friday with a flurry of tweets and messages.
If the hours leading up to midnight — and with it, another fundraising deadline — were all about securing a few last gasp donations, the first morning of the election year has been full of everything from resolutions to an early round of jabs at rival candidates.
Much like he does during “Festivus,” Rand Paul is making the most of the holiday, sharing his plans for the new year in a tweetstorm.
“Happy New Year everyone!” the Kentucky senator wrote Friday morning. “I’ll be tweeting my #newyearsresolutions today. Stay tuned!
First up, a promise to “preserve our liberties and restore prosperity across America.”
“I resolve to fight tooth & nail for your gun rights & fight @POTUS’s Exec Gun Control orders,” was his second. (Get it?)
From there, Paul lightened up a bit, resolving “to not let the mean things people say about my hair bother me.”
Paul then turned his focus to Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, fellow senators and GOP presidential hopefuls.
“I resolve to spend less time voting in the Senate so @Marcorubio & @tedcruz don’t look bad bc they don’t show up for work. JK. Do your jobs,” he tweeted.
“I resolve to speak in vague but bombastic generalities more,” Paul wrote, jabbing at Donald Trump.
In his most pointed attack, Paul accused Cruz of stealing his political positions.
“I resolve to give @TedCruz more lead time before I announce my policy positions,” he tweeted, “so he can replicate them faster #NewYearsResolution.”
“Wishing you and your family all the best in 2016,” Ted Cruz tweeted a little before the ball dropped in Times Square. He also included a link to a longer message on his campaign website.
Ben Carson’s message landed right at the stroke of midnight. He and wife Candy asked Americans to “join us in putting we the people back in control of our government.”
Hillary Clinton was just a minute behind, sharing this image of her and ex-President Bill Clinton ringing in 2009 in New York City, and wishing followers a “Happy New Year!”
“It’s going to be a big year!”, Mike Huckabee promised his supporters.
While Bernie Sanders kept it simple: “Happy New Year!”, he tweeted a few minutes later.
And then there was the Donald. He was in Florida for the big night and wished everyone a “Happy New Year from #MarALago!,” the Palm Beach mansion he bought 30 years ago and turned into an exclusive club. “Thank you to my great family for all of their support.”
The sun was already up when Chris Christie sent his best, “Wishing everyone a happy & healthy New Year!”