The last week hasn't been a good one for Mitch McConnell. It's become very clear that the GOP got virtually nothing in the filibuster deal this week. His caucus is getting restless and rebellious. The filibuster deal was basically done behind his back. And his attempts to spin events in his favor led to members of his own caucus litterally calling him on his B.S. None of this is good news for a man whose reelection campaign for next year largely revolves around his influence in D.C.
And now a bad week is about to get worse for McConnell. If having to face a formidable Democratic challenger in Allison Lundergan Grimes wasn't bad enough, it looks like he's about to get a primary challenger too:
An emerging conservative challenger to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has reserved airtime in Kentucky starting next week, according to multiple media-tracking sources.
Matt Bevin, an investment executive based in Louisville, has previously floated the prospect of a primary bid against McConnell. Now, two sources say Bevin has booked ads in the Louisville market; a Republican source said “Matt Bevin for Senate” has also begun reserving time in Bowling Green as well.
Bevin, a wealthy Kentucky businessman and Tea Party favorite, has been rumored as a potential McConnell challenger for a while now, having
attended Tea Party activist meetings and
discussed the matter with Louisville Tea Party leader Sarah Dunn. But if he's reserving airtime, it could mean an official announcement is imminent, perhaps
as early as next week:
Louisville businessman, Matt Bevin, plans to enter the Kentucky U.S. Senate race against Mitch McConnell, WHAS11 has learned.
Sources say, Bevin plans to air television commercials next week. An announcement is also planed as early as next week.
And given what a lousy week the Turtle has had and given his usual pit bull-like attitude towards anyone who dares challenge him, let alone one from his own party, it should not be surprising that his response was along
these lines:
In a statement, McConnell’s campaign manager Jesse Benton dismissed a possible run by Bevin, calling him “an East Coast con man.”
“While it is sad to see someone who claims to be a Republican doing Barack Obama’s bidding, his campaign is nothing more than a nuisance,” Benton said in a statement. “Mitch McConnell will never waiver in his fight for our Kentucky values.”
If his campaign was "nothing more than a nuisance," I doubt you'd even bother to respond, Benton. That you compare a Tea Bagger stalwart to "an East Coast con man" and saying he's Obama's minion kind of tip off what you really think.
One thing's for sure. The already high-stakes Kentucky Senate race just got even hotter. And the Turtle's already hazardous path to reelection just got more difficult.