Super PAC Backing Rand Paul: Get Ready to Brawl Over Patriot Act
— -- A major brawl is set to take place Sunday -- not on pay-per-view but on the floor of the U.S. Senate -- according to a video released by Liberty PAC, a super PAC that is supporting but not endorsed by Sen. Rand Paul's presidential campaign.
The minute-long video shows a clearly Photoshopped Paul, shirtless and buff, ready to take on President Obama as the Patriot Act is set to expire Sunday evening if the Senate does not renew the controversial law.
In recent days, Paul's campaign against the Patriot Act has also been aimed to help build his campaign war chest. He’s called on his supporters to donate to his campaign for the White House in order to defeat the "spying" law.
In an email to supporters today, Paul announced "an emergency 48 hour NSA Spying Showdown Money Bomb" asking for any and all financial support from voters to challenge the National Security Agency's surveillance programs. Paul also noted that he has "only until tomorrow to rally patriots to stand with me against President Obama's illegal NSA spying."
Critics said the first-term Kentucky senator is using the NSA debate as a mechanism to drive up fundraising.
"I'm sure it's a great revenue raiser," Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, told the National Journal last week. "The emails are out now, and they were out in the 11 hour performance," referring to Paul's recent filibuster on the Senate floor.
In fact, on the campaign's website that night, supporters could purchase a "filibuster starter pack."
A spokesperson for Paul said no exact plans are set for Sunday.
The video refers to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, as the "capitulating Canadian."
Ted Cruz's spokesman Rick Tyler called the ad "embarrassing."
"The 90's called. They want their ad back," Tyler told ABC News. When I asked if it might amuse younger voters, Tyler, 50, said, "No way. But what do I know? Maybe I'm old."
Meanwhile, Sen. Lindsey Graham, is shown in the video inside a vehicle -- a 1997 Geo Metro, according to the video’s narrator -- that spontaneously is consumed with flames.
Paul took to Twitter this week labeling Graham as part of the "DC eye roll caucus" when the South Carolina Republican was caught on video rolling his eyes as Paul was speaking on the Senate floor.
Paul's email to supporters ends with the senator encouraging his supporters to stand with him Sunday once the Senate convenes with eight hours to go until the Patriot Act expires.
"Freedom does work," Paul wrote in the email. "And the American people can have both their Liberty and security."
The next line is a link asking supporters to contribute $20.16 if they agree with Paul.
Editor's note: An earlier version of this report attributed Paul's quote about "liberty and security" to a tweet; it was from an email to his supporters.
ABC News' Brad Mielke contributed to this report.
