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Why is Mitch McConnell smiling?
Hot Air ^ | 3-30-2014 | Jazz Shaw - Commentary

Posted on 03/31/2014 2:24:23 PM PDT by smoothsailing

March 30, 2014

Why is Mitch McConnell smiling?

Jazz Shaw

Jennifer Rubin awards the Distinguished Pol of the Week trophy to… Mitch McConnell.

No one has been more vilified by the D.C.-based far-right machine than Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). If you didn’t know better, you’d think outfits like Heritage Action, FreedomWorks, Madison Project, Senate Conservatives Fund and these groups’ top cheerleader in the blogosphere, Red State, were working for the “Keep Harry Reid Majority Leader” fund. McConnell has been attacked for opposition to the shutdown, for agreement on a budget deal and for supporting items like the farm bill. Yet he now is running away with his primary race against the hapless Matt Bevin. His off-beat video went viral, making his geekiness seem cool.

And is she wrong to think that there’s a bit of a new strut in Mitch’s stride? I suppose that depends which race you’re talking about. Barring some sort of parting of the Heavens, the Bevin insurgency seems to have gone down to a case of crib death, so he looks to be in the clear there. But Rubin’s assertion that he’s a happy warrior and potential majority leader relies on two other things. First, it will require six more seats in the upper chamber. (Certainly possible and quickly approaching the point of calling it likely.) But the second assumption is that McConnell still holds the seat he currently occupies.

Rubin refers to his Democrat opponent, Alison Lundergan Grimes, as being all sizzle and no substance, and the linked article certainly makes solid points in defense of that argument. But is a weak opponent a sure fire ticket to the winner’s circle? Real Clear Politics “poll of polls” still shows the race to be a dead heat, with Grimes actually holding a one half point lead within the margins.

Personally, I find it difficult to believe that Kentucky has swung far enough that the Grimes lead will hold till November and actually take the seat away. But mid-term years are always full of surprises. I can see why Rubin would feel that the party faithful would celebrate a clear field for McConnell and encourage maintaining the status quo in a previously safe seat because no matter how you may feel about Mitch, he’s got to be a safer vote over the long haul than Grimes. But the outlook may still be a bit optimistic. Be careful that the smile in question doesn’t start turning into a grimace around August.


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections; US: Kentucky
KEYWORDS: downmitch; mattbevin; senateraces
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To: struggle

I sure hope so.


21 posted on 03/31/2014 3:13:15 PM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: xzins

Supposedly he’s doing a live one-on-one interview on a local TV station at 9PM tonight.

http://www.tristatehomepage.com/story/d/story/matt-bevin-makes-stop-in-owensboro/35102/N1fu3NQx4EqE4DyBvlpQow

I’ve been looking to see if I can find ouy where a live feed will be provided. No luck so far.


22 posted on 03/31/2014 3:18:08 PM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: bert

That’s interesting, are the radio spots targeted at Grimes or Bevin?


23 posted on 03/31/2014 3:19:43 PM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: The Working Man

You’re in Kentucky, have you heard of this TV station?

“Tune into Eyewitness News at 9:00 on Local 7 WTVW Monday for the one-on-one interview with the tea party-backed candidate.”

http://www.tristatehomepage.com/story/d/story/matt-bevin-makes-stop-in-owensboro/35102/N1fu3NQx4EqE4DyBvlpQow

If you’re familiar with this channel do you know if they broadcast live online? I’d like to see that interview.


24 posted on 03/31/2014 3:25:03 PM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: smoothsailing

25 posted on 03/31/2014 3:50:42 PM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy (WoT News: Rantburg.com)
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To: yefragetuwrabrumuy

I had a little turtle,
His name was Tiny Tim.
I put him in the bathtub,
to see if he could swim.

He drank up all the water,
He ate up all the soap...
And now he’s sick in bed
with a bubble in his throat!

HICCUP!!


26 posted on 03/31/2014 4:06:33 PM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: smoothsailing

I’m so far out in the boonies that I don’t receive any TV signals directly from the stations. My wife subscribes to Direct-TV but as for me, I haven’t watched TV since 1998. Nothing I find interesting on it, I’d rather read a book.

I can get the Weather from online sources, so I’m covered there. And FR provides the rest for the national news.


27 posted on 03/31/2014 4:17:52 PM PDT by The Working Man
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To: smoothsailing

neither..... The ads promote bacon........ lots of conservative bacon


28 posted on 03/31/2014 4:20:13 PM PDT by bert ((K.E. N.P. N.C. +12 ..... History is a process, not an event)
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To: AuH2ORepublican; BillyBoy

A few psychotics on this thread would like see Senator Alison Crud and one fellow would like to see a Senate with about 75 democrats.


29 posted on 03/31/2014 6:13:00 PM PDT by Impy (RED=COMMUNIST, NOT REPUBLICAN)
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To: smoothsailing

McC has been especially smiling since March 4 when the uninformed of TX came out to the polls to keep the status quo.


30 posted on 03/31/2014 6:54:21 PM PDT by Theodore R. (It was inevitable: Texans will always be for Cornball and George P.!)
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