McConnell endorses Grayson in GOP Senate race
By Halimah Abdullah and Jack Brammer – jbrammer@herald-leader.com
FRANKFORT — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell took sides in Kentucky’s GOP primary for U.S. Senate on Tuesday and endorsed Secretary of State Trey Grayson, highlighting a growing uneasiness between the Republican Party establishment and grassroots conservatives.
“I rarely endorse in primaries, but these are critical times,” Kentucky’s most prominent Republican said in a Grayson campaign ad that started airing Tuesday. “… I know Trey Grayson and trust him. We need Trey’s conservative leadership to help turn back the Obama agenda.”
Most polling shows Grayson significantly trailing Tea Party movement favorite Rand Paul, who also has the backing of retiring Republican Sen. Jim Bunning, the lawmaker Grayson and Paul hope to replace.
Aside from trying to breathe new life into Grayson’s floundering campaign, the endorsement is a sign of just how much McConnell, the Senate minority leader, has riding on the election.
Paul has repeatedly criticized Republicans and Democrats alike for their support of budget earmarks that funnel money to projects in their home districts and for supporting a bailout for banks as the economy crumbled in late 2008. McConnell won re-election that year as he supported the bank bailout and waged a campaign that centered on his ability to steer money to Kentucky.
Paul, a Bowling Green eye surgeon and the son of 2008 presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, has refused to say if he would support McConnell if a challenger seeks his leadership post.
“Unlike my opponent, I am committed to seeing him reelected to that position in the next Congress,” Grayson said. “I thank him for his support and hope to have the opportunity to work with him on behalf of Kentuckians.”
Conservative South Carolina U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint has been mentioned as a challenger to McConnell for the Senate GOP leadership position. DeMint has not endorsed in the Kentucky primary but said Tuesday that he has not ruled out backing Paul and that “it’s no secret” that he thinks highly of Paul and his positions on the issues.
Western Kentucky University political science professor Scott Lasley said DeMint and Paul would have “a natural political alliance.”
“After today, McConnell certainly can’t count on Paul’s vote for minority leader,” Lasley said.
DeMint endorsed Tea Party-backed Marco Rubio in the Florida U.S. Senate race against establishment pick and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who has since announced he is running as an independent. In the California U.S. Senate primary, DeMint endorsed State Assemblyman Chuck Devore over Republican Tom Campbell and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina.
“McConnell is trying to maintain his position and senators like Jim DeMint are trying to assert themselves as influential,” said Nathan Gonzalez, political editor of the Rothenberg Political Report.
Grayson said he talked to DeMint several months ago but he could not recall if he asked him for his endorsement. Grayson said he recently asked McConnell to endorse him “and he just agreed to do it in the last few days.”
He said he waited until late in the campaign to ask McConnell for his support because “many Kentucky voters make up their minds in the last minute.”
But Louisville political consultant and former state Democratic Party chairman Danny Briscoe said this week’s endorsements by McConnell and U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers of Somerset for Grayson are “too little, too late.”
“They should have gotten in earlier,” Briscoe said. “Why did they wait so long?”
Paul’s campaign had no comment on the McConnell endorsement but it did release a campaign ad about the endorsement switch this week of Focus on the Family founder James Dobson Jr. from Grayson to Paul.
The ad with influential Christian leader Dobson repeats an allegation that “senior members of the GOP lied to Dobson” about Paul’s stance on abortion.
“They will do anything to keep Rand Paul from shaking up Washington,” says the ad, which does not identify who allegedly lied to Dobson.
Efforts to reach Dobson for comment this week have not been successful and McConnell was not available to answer questions Tuesday.
Even before his formal endorsement, McConnell lent Grayson his tacit support by sponsoring a fund-raiser attended by several senators.
“For the last year and a half I’ve seen first-hand the efforts the left will go to in order to enact President Obama’s far-reaching policies,” McConnell said in a statement. “Their moves to have the government take over banks, car companies, the student loan business and most recently pass government run health care are turning the U.S. into a western European style economy. I refuse to let America be the next Greece, and I need Trey Grayson in the Senate to help me turn back the Obama agenda.”
Jennifer Duffy, senior editor of the Cook Political Report, said the endorsements by McConnell and Rogers are “part of the goal” to get rank-and-file Republicans to vote.
“The difference between winning and losing is getting voters to the polls,” Duffy said. “The one thing Paul does have is voters with intensity. They’ll vote in a storm. Grayson will have to match that intensity.”
University of Kentucky political science professor Donald Gross said the McConnell endorsement should also help Grayson attract a late infusion of campaign funds.
Gross said McConnell, who wants to increase Republican numbers in the Senate, believes Democrats will have a hard time beating Grayson in November’s general election.
“Grayson has conservative credentials but is mainstream,” Gross said. “Democrats could go for him but I don’t know if Rand Paul could beat the Democratic nominee.”
About the Author: John Stamper is the accountability editor for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Monticello, Ky., he has been with the Herald-Leader in a variety of roles since graduating from Western Kentucky University in 2000. Reach him at jstamper@herald-leader.com
Dan | May 4, 2010 | Reply
Another person who voted for the bailout for Trey.
Prof. Gilligan | May 4, 2010 | Reply
First Didk Cheney.
Then Hal Rogers.
And now Mitch McConnell.
STEEEEEE-RIKE THREEEEEEEEE!!!!
Grayson clearly doesn’t understand that we’re tired of “old school Republicans”. That’s why the Tea Party is so popular, Trey.
shockie | May 4, 2010 | Reply
hand-picked …..I think that says it all….Vote for Rand Paul, the true conservative, not a RINO who will be the lapdog of McConnell and more of the sme in Washington DC…. you got a choice here Kentucky, it’s time to start picking better people for these jobs than career politicians
James Pence | May 4, 2010 | Reply
Mitch McConnell’s speech seems slurred. If you notice when he says “President Obama’s spending threatens to destroy more jobs” the video cuts away from him and when the video cuts back to him the right side of his mouth seems to be partially paralyzed.
Josh | May 4, 2010 | Reply
Luckily it looks like Kentucky is not going to fall for the politics as usual game this around.
http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2010/05/paul-continues-to-lead-big.html
The Washington DC insiders have pulled every string they got. Luckily we have the internet to keep up with the fundraisers throw by bailout supporters and supportees.
Jimmie | May 4, 2010 | Reply
No more career politicians. The election of Rand Paul to the U.S. Senate is just the tip of the iceberg Mitch. It’s time for Americans to take back their out of control government.
Laura | May 4, 2010 | Reply
Dang! I want to vote for Grayson but now he just represents everything wrong with Washington. We need people that want what is best for KY and America, not just their party.
Tim | May 4, 2010 | Reply
McConnell for Grayson and Palin for Paul, that puts both of them out for me. Is there no one else running?
Chris | May 4, 2010 | Reply
I am a straight ticket voting Republican (unless Gatewood is running) and I am done with Career Politicians and anyone they may be endorsing. Mitch is out next time around and I hope Hal Rogers is gone as well. Rand gets my vote without even the blink of an eye. This goes for all elections, Local/State/Federal. Time to get back to our original intent the Country was founded on. Citizens performing a Public Service by running for office, staying 1 or 2 terms and then back to where they came from.
Frank | May 4, 2010 | Reply
Mitch, you just caused your own defeat in November.
flacko | May 4, 2010 | Reply
no duh. who else would he support. I am sick of the same old usual politics. I am voting against all incumbents and those endorsed by incumbents regardless of party. As an independent, I can’t vote in the primaries but I am licking my chops for November.
UK96 | May 4, 2010 | Reply
Grayson is stupid to even stay in the race.
jerry shaw | May 4, 2010 | Reply
I love these posts. It’s time to clean out Washington and start all over. Anyone running for reelection or moving from one political job to another should be voted out. My vote goes to Paul.
Harry Nuts | May 4, 2010 | Reply
Thanks Mitch for helping Rand win this election.We need Paul in Ky.
Ted | May 4, 2010 | Reply
Done with career politicians and voting straight ticket Republican? I don’t think your actions are consistent with your ideals.
And I am just shocked that Mitch is endorsing Grayson! Never saw it coming!
bebop | May 4, 2010 | Reply
McConnell feels the heat and uncharacteristically endorses a sure loser. Mitch and his Republican Party are clearly in chaos and running scared. This can only be interpreted as a good thing for American as this nation has suffered immeasurable hardships under the Bush/Cheney/McConnell leadership. Here’s hoping the people of KY will reject McConnell’s hand picked candidate Grayson. .
littleNate | May 4, 2010 | Reply
We win! Rand loses! Everyone will vote for whoever Mitch tells them!
Thanks Mitch!
Chris | May 4, 2010 | Reply
Ted: What is wrong with voting a straight ticket? I like Republicans for these reasons: I am a Gun Owner, Republicans are big on National Defense, Republicans are not the Tax & Spend Demo’s and Republicans are not big on Social Programs. Those are a few of the things I like about the GOP. There is no way that I would ever vote for the Democrats. Another thing I have sworn to do from now on is to not vote for anyone over the age of 60. The reason for that is I am honest enough to admit that once you are 60+ you have begun to decline mentally. To each their own though.
flacko | May 4, 2010 | Reply
Frank, I believe mitch is a 2014 candidate. Sorry.
Bebop- this move to me looks more like a guy who does NOT feel the heat – he is doing the same thing he’s always done and seems to be out of touch. I wish he WAS running scared.
Aggie | May 4, 2010 | Reply
I dislike and distrust McConnell, and I would never vote for anyone he endorses. He wants Trey’s “conservative leadership”–doesn’t he understand that we are tired of business as usual? Yes, of course he does; he just doesn’t care.
Actually, his real reasoning is apparent in the statement that “Grayson said he would return the favor from McConnell by supporting McConnell’s efforts to remain the leader of his party in the Senate.”
You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. That’s all they care about.
I want them both gone.
Mike Pepper | May 4, 2010 | Reply
Yet another good reason to vote for Rand Paul. Ask yourself why the professional politician “GOP Establishment” is behind Greyson? They want a “Junior Senator” who will not rock the boat and willingly be under the thumb of McConnell. Go Rand Paul!
Michelle Nicholson | May 4, 2010 | Reply
Anybody who votes “straight ticket” ought to be kicked in the head. Or probably already has been. Put away your Reds and Blues, and vote for what’s best for Kentucky and the United States of America! Government spending and expansion was greater under the last Republican administration—-DUH!
Gurley L. Martin is getting my vote on the 18th. He’s in NOBODY’S pocket.
Chris | May 4, 2010 | Reply
Gee Michelle, I think you have your panties in a bunch there girl! lol lol lol
Gurley Martin………never heard of him/her.
TheGoodGuys | May 4, 2010 | Reply
Mitch voted bailout himself in 2008. McConnel is a special interest puppet, his mouth and pen only move on command. *clap clap* for the well trained monkey boy.
I’d like to see Mitch, Trey and Hal on the unemployment line. No thanks boys, we don’t need anymore of your “debt” projects. Rather just spend my own money as I see fit.
PaulMartin2016 | May 4, 2010 | Reply
I gotta say Michelle, Martin is delusional at best. He is more worried about writing scripture into law than fixing or cutting anything. Everytime I see Gurley he is screaming like a lunatic and not only the time when he hauled away by State Troopers. On the other hand, if Rand drops out.. Gurley is the second best choice.
Honestly | May 4, 2010 | Reply
Birds of a feather flock together. In this case, it’s the slick, career politicians. Going to vote for Paul. Can’t stomach anymore of this business as usual. Our country is on the ropes.
nofirstam | May 4, 2010 | Reply
James Pench … I couldn’t tell if Mitch’s words were slurred, but if they were, probably just one too many martinis, consumed from special crystal, while he and his Wall Street buddies laughed and laughed at how stupid the Kentucky voters are. That’s the Republican Party of Thugs, you bet. Remember, this is a guy who likely knows better than any other Senator what being a Teabagger can do for you. As to the droop on one side of his face, Jim, I think the camera caught him in a rare photo op, doing what he does best, talking out of both sides of his mouth.
nofirstam | May 4, 2010 | Reply
Sorry, Jim, a typo. That’s James Pence, not Pench.
yeah right | May 4, 2010 | Reply
If an endorsement from Mitch McConnell is going to make a difference we are in HELL…I will never vote for someone all of this establishment Republican bunch endorses. I will definately vote the opposite…Good luck to the “Good ole Boys” hope you can find another job after you loose the election…I would hate to fund your unemployement checks….lol
Big Jay | May 4, 2010 | Reply
Treybie 2000 won\’t vote for Trey. Rand Paul represents the people instead of his party. Conservatism without compromise.