McConnell Endorses Trey!

Sen. Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has endorsed Trey Grayson. This is huge, and must be a disappointment to Rand Paul who last fall went to have a private wine and cheese meeting with McConnell in an office at Bowman Field; this was Rand paying obeisance for commenting that he might not back McConnell for party leader if elected.

We know how Rand will spin this: jump up and down and whimper "Career Politician! Term Limits! Earmarks!" The fact is, that McConnell's seniority and the earmarks he has brought to a state as poor as Kentucky have improved the lives of many. He therefore remains hugely popular with Kentucky Republicans, and his endorsement is a game-changer.

Here's the release from the Grayson campaign:

Senator Mitch McConnell announced today that he is taking the rare step of endorsing a GOP candidate in a contested primary. Sen. McConnell threw his support behind Secretary of State Trey Grayson for U.S. Senate in the May 18^th Republican primary. The Grayson campaign also launched a television commercial that features McConnell.

“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. 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,” said McConnell.

He continued, “Trey Grayson has a proven conservative record as Secretary of State, cutting his office budget by 15% and ensuring that Kentucky’s taxpaying families have easy access to information about his office and budget. He understands that Kentuckians are his first responsibility and has worked to make his office more efficient and effective to meet their needs.”

“President Obama, aided by large Democratic majorities in both Houses of Congress, has put us on a course to double the national debt in 5 years and triple it in 10 years. I need a conservative ally who won’t simply oppose such misguided plans, but will work to correct our current course. Trey is that candidate. He has a track record of leading by example rather than by press release. I ask Kentucky Republicans to vote for Trey Grayson on May 18^th.”

Grayson commented, “Senator Mitch McConnell has been a champion in the Senate for Kentucky. Like most Kentucky Republicans, I am proud that he has twice been unanimously selected to lead his GOP colleagues in the Senate. Unlike my opponent, I am committed to seeing him reelected to that position in the next Congress. I thank him for his support and hope to have the opportunity to work with him on behalf of Kentuckians. The Democratic Congress is too arrogant, too liberal and refuses to listen to voters. If elected I will work with Sen. McConnell to help get our country back on a path to prosperity.”

Yesterday, Congressman Hal Rogers of Kentucky’s 5^th Congressional District endorsed Grayson. Congressman Rogers hasn’t received less than 70% of the vote since 1992 in the critical 5^th Congressional district, where primary voter turnout is expected to be the highest statewide.

The Grayson campaign also released the attached memo from respected pollster Jan van Lohuizen describing a live survey of 600 likely Republican primary voters conducted for the Grayson campaign last week that continues to show the race is a dead heat with each candidate getting 40% of the vote and 20% of voters still undecided.

Update: Politico reports that an the Grayson campaign will run its largest statewide buy of an ad with McConnell endorsing Trey.