Rand Paul literally flips off media after debate firestorm
In an interview with ABC Radio correspondent Aaron Katersky on Thursday, Paul said his exclusion form Thursday night's primetime debate had infuriated many of his supporters, who were calling into his campaign to convey their anger with the media.
"Ninety-nine percent of our supporters are calling in and saying, for the media, that's where you can go," Paul said, then throwing up his middle finger.
"To be artificially designated in some kind of lower or second tier sends a signal to the voter that you are not the same and don't have a chance," Paul said.
Paul's campaign does appear to be benefiting from greater media exposure gained by skipping the debate.
As CNN's Dylan Byers reported Thursday, Paul's appearance on numerous television shows in New York resulted in much higher ratings than Paul would have likely garnered if he appeared in the undercard debate.