Sen. Mitch McConnell does not communicate with the media in Kentucky. He is never really interviewed. He never takes questions. He never says anything that is not very controlled.
Today he stepped from behind the curtain and called into a radio show. And spoke.
Some background is needed. The show was Kentucky Sports Radio operated by Matt Jones. Jones is a Duke-trained lawyer who is fascinated with Kentucky basketball. In Kentucky that does not make him very unique. His show which runs from 10-12 every day is easily the most-listened to radio program in the Commonwealth. Runs on 30 statewide affiliates. It is a big deal.
It mostly deals with Kentucky sports, but Jones makes forays into whatever interests him which some days is Ebola. Or whatever else is in the news.
Earlier this year Jones asked Alison Lundergan Grimes and McConnell to debate on his show. She said sure. McConnell's people said he'd come on alone.
A few weeks ago Grimes came on for a few hours. Jones is liberal but was fair. Asked her fair questions.
Following his interview with Grimes, McConnell's people stop returning calls from Jones. No emails. No texts.
Jones goes on the radio and explains he's upset McConnell's people lied. Said he would. Now he won't.
McConnell is silent for eighteen days in a row. Jones is beating him up.
Then this week on Monday a reliable poll drops and Grimes is up 46-44.
McConnell gets beat up on the radio by Jones again on Monday and Tuesday.
Finally McConnell calls in himself just a few minutes before eleven today. He will come in on in five minutes. Obviously tactical . . . he denies Jones a chance to prepare.
McConnell is combative throughout the interview. Condescending. Won't answer questions. Scripted. A disaster.
Why is this important? This is the LARGEST audience that will hear the candidates. Many more people (I'd suspect) listened to McConnell today on the radio than will hear Grimes and McConnell debate on Monday night on public television. [It is their only debate.]
I've linked to the interview via Ky Sports Radio. It's 14 minutes long and well worth a listen in learning about McConnell's condescension and sense of entitlement that he is Kentucky's senator. And as a sidenote, he tries to play to the Kentucky audience that he is a HUGE Kentucky fan. Everyone knows this is a bunch of crap.
McConnell has always been a devoted follower of Louisville basketball. [They are big rivals.] There is nothing wrong with that at all. Except that is so transparently not true.
Anyway. Listen on. This is an important one if you're following this race.
The McConnell Interview on Kentucky Sports Radio