Rand Paul is closer tonight to a 2010 run for the Senate. Rand Paul’s run for Senator in 2010 is being supported by a Facebook group called “Rand Paul For Senate 2010″ that is already up to 2000 members.

Yet, if you visit rand2010.com, you will have an unlikely result – that forwards to schiff2010.com, Paul Schiff for US Senate (CT) in 2010.

Paul had previously said he would not run if incumbent Senator Jim Bunning ran. Tonight, Paul reaffirms that position but says he is launching an exploratory committee. He made his official announcement of an exploratory committee on cable TV this evening.

Paul would only say the following to Kentucky press:

“We are forming an exploratory committee to run for the US Senate.  I still stand by that. What has changed is now Senator Bunning has made a public pronouncement basically giving the “green light” to form exploratory committees in case he decides not to return.”

Hence Paul is positioning himself ready in the event that Bunning exits. Reports say Paul is also establishing regional coordinators across the state.