Presidential wannabe Rand Paul's apparent lack of media skills surfaced on Wednesday, his first day of campaigning after announcing the previous day his White House bid.

The Washington Post reports that the newbie senator from Kentucky was prickly in his interviews with journalists. Paul was observed to have sidestepped a difficult question on foreign policy, told off another journalist how to do an interview and failed to clarify his position on abortion.

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These media missteps are viewed by the daily as part of the legislator's character to not shy away from confrontation. While such tough approach endeared him to tea party activists, political pundits view his media outlook as a limiting factor to a national campaign.

Mediaite has observed that Paul tended to be particularly testy when it comes to female journalists. One instance was when he got testy with "Today" host Savannah Guthrie because of his perception that she was editorializing his views.

When another female journalist, Megyn Kelly, questioned about this observation, Paul said Guthrie's questions were full of "gotcha questions", which he would rather not answer as he prefers a "good, substantive interview."

Paul told the NBC anchor, "Before we go through a litany of things you say I've changed on, why don't you ask me a question: 'Have I changed my opinion?' That would sort of be a better way to approach an interview," quotes Washington Post.

The newspaper has also pointed out that in the past, the senator stated he would support abortion but with some exception; on Wednesday, he was unclear about his position on the controversial issue.

The testy media exchanges, notes Washington Post, contrasts with his show of cool demeanor while campaigning. The tirade against media continues in Twitter where he criticized the press's choice of a GOP nominee and its dismissing his message of liberty.

Kelly also told Paul of public perception that he is overly emotional and thin-skinned. To that, the White House aspirant replied that he won't accept an interviewer "mischaracterizing" his stand.

However, by the end of Wednesday, Paul admitted to Wolf Blitzer of CNN that he has "been universally testy and short tempered with both male and female interviewers."

TagsRand Paul, campaign, U.S. Presidential Elections