Rand Paul's biggest booster

A fringe right-wing radio host who believes the government was behind 9/11, the Oklahoma City bombing, the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, and several other catastrophes, has been a key figure in the political rise of Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)...

Paul has credited Alex Jones, who heads conspiracy website Infowars.com and an eponymous radio program, for being a vital part of his 2010 Senate campaign. Jones endorsed Paul, turned out followers to his events, and partnered with Paul for fundraising, at one point crashing his website. Since Paul's election to the Senate, Jones has continued to serve as a key Paul booster, including endorsing him for 2016.

The fringe nature of Jones' program is apparent during the introduction of one of Jones' YouTube videos featuring Paul. The video begins with images of Nazi soldiers goose-stepping next to a Nazi flag-draped White House, and a poster claiming the government covered up 9/11. Such material is regular fodder for Jones, who is "one of the earliest and most influential 9/11 conspiracy theorists."

Paul has been a longtime guest on The Alex Jones Show, originating from Jones' friendship with Rand's father, former Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX). Jones said last year he first interviewed Rand in 1996 and was "probably one of the first people to ever interview" him.

Jones hosted Paul several times during his 2010 Senate race, telling listeners that he "can't stress enough how important this race for the Kentucky Senate is." Jones called Paul the "real McCoy" who will fight "against the New World Order" and "stop the thieving, stop the gang raping" in Washington. Jones said on his January 26, 2015, broadcast that he privately encouraged Paul to run for Senate.

Paul's alliance with Jones was an issue in his Senate race. The campaign of then-Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson, Paul's Republican primary opponent, criticized Paul's connections to Jones. A group called Coalition for Kentucky Values ran an ad criticizing Paul's ties to Jones during the primary.

After Paul was elected senator, Jones told him during a celebratory interview that the election was "a great victory for all lovers of liberty" and similar to George Washington's victory at the Battle of Trenton. In a 2012 interview, Jones told listeners that Paul "has actually been fulfilling his campaign promises" and is "refreshing," uncompromising, and "amazing."

Jones started encouraging Paul to run for president just weeks after he won his 2010 Senate race, calling him the second coming of Washington.

Paul has clearly been grateful for Jones' support and affection. During a 2010 appearance about his candidacy, he told Jones and his listeners, "we can't do it without you." He described the radio host as one of the first people to give him "a fair shake" and "representation" in the political debate. And Paul said he hears from Jones fans "across the country and all across Kentucky."

Jones and Paul pushed fringe conspiracy theories and rhetoric during Paul's appearances. Paul worried that "martial law" with "mandatory" vaccines could surface. Paul agreed with Jones that Democrats want to start a "shooting war" marked by ammunition confiscation. Paul predicted that an "army of armed EPA agents" would enforce climate regulations. He connected the Obama administration to Nazi Germany. And he promised Jones he would help him fight the "globalist agenda" and help expose a White House adviser's purported support for eugenics and forced drugs in the water supply.

Paul said Jones has influenced him, stating that he wouldn't join the Bilderberg Group -- a favorite target of New World Order conspiracy theories -- in part because he's "seen your videos" and he'd be "afraid" of Jones protesting him. Jones called Paul a "listener" to his show this year.