Rand Paul heading to NC to help Tillis

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is heading to North Carolina to help fundraise for the state Republican Party and boost North Carolina House Speaker Thom Tillis (R).

{mosads}Paul will be in Charlotte next week for the fundraiser, the Raleigh News and Observer reports.

Paul endorsed one of Tillis’s primary opponents, who had close ties with the Paul family early in the year, but he quickly backed Tillis following his primary win. It was one of the only times Paul backed a Tea Party candidate against the establishment this cycle.

The senator’s move seems designed as his latest effort to show establishment Republicans that he’s a team player and to try to help the party recapture Senate control. Tillis is locked in a tight race against Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.).