http://mycn2.com/politics/former-paul-strategist-jesse-benton-to-head-up-mcconnell-s-2014-campaign

Publication Date: September 13, 2012

Author: Ryan Alessi

Former Paul strategist Jesse Benton to head up McConnell's 2014 campaign

09/13/2012 09:04 AM

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell has moved further from his usual pattern of tapping trusted aides to lead his re-election bid and has hired tea party stalwart Jesse Benton, who ran U.S. Sen. Rand Paul’s 2010 general election campaign.

Benton, who is married to the granddaughter of former Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, served as the elder Paul’s political director during his last presidential race and took over Rand Paul’s campaign for U.S. Senate in 2010.

The Washington Post described the hire as both an “early move” and “curious” because of Benton’s loyalties.

McConnell has pledged to run a presidential-like campaign in Kentucky and is already well ahead of where past Senate leaders have been in fundraising for their re-election bids.

McConnell also has been quietly making overtures to the tea party in Kentucky. Many of his district aides have been attending tea party meetings over the last two years to listen to activists’ concerns and explain what McConnell, as Republican Senate leader, has been doing to advance conservative causes. Last month, McConnell appeared at his first major Kentucky tea party rally with Sen. Paul.

In a statement, McConnell praised Benton as a top talent in Republican campaign politics.

“Jesse is literally the best in the business at building and organizing conservative grassroots movements, and I’m thrilled he’s chosen to return to Kentucky to lead my campaign,” McConnell said.

So far, no Democrat has filed to challenge McConnell.

In past re-elections, McConnell has looked within his network for his top campaign staffer. His former chief of staff, Hunter Bates, ran his 2002 campaign. And his longtime aide Kyle Simmons ran his 1996. And Stephen Law — an aide who later became chief of staff for McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao — ran McConnell’s first re-election campaign in 1990.

Four years ago, McConnell hired Justin Brasell. While Brasell wasn’t a McConnell aide, he had run Kentucky Congressman Geoff Davis’ successful campaigns in 2004 and 2006, and McConnell picked him on the recommendation of former Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman.

About Ryan Alessi

Ryan Alessi joined cn|2 in May 2010 as senior managing editor and host of Pure Politics. He has covered politics for more than 10 years, including 7 years as a reporter for the Lexington Herald-Leader. Follow Ryan on Twitter @cn2Alessi. Ryan can be reached at 502-792-1135 or ryan.alessi@twcable.com.

Comments

  • Cat Balz wrote on September 13, 2012 09:21 AM :

    Wow. Mica Sims must be busy trying to scrub every bad thing she has ever said or written about McConnell..and that’s a LOT.

  • Bruce Layne wrote on September 14, 2012 09:41 AM :

    McConnell trying to make overtures to the TEA Party is ridiculous. Mitch McConnell not only voted for the TARP-1 bailout, he twisted a lot of Republican senators’ arms to get them to vote for the very unpopular bill. Back home in Kentucky, 92% of McConnell’s constituents were against the bailout of Wall Street banksters at the expense of Main Street tax payers. The TARP-1 bailout wouldn’t have passed if not for McConnell’s efforts. Then the various online political watchdog groups revealed that McConnell’s top campaign contributors were large Wall Street banks, financial services corporations, and real estate related companies – the beneficiaries of the TARP-1 bailout.

    The TARP-1 bailout is the one unforgivable TEA Party sin, but McConnell has committed many other lesser sins and indiscretions in the eyes of the TEA Party. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the TEA Party runs a primary opponent against McConnell. The TEA partiers typically refer to McConnell as a RINO (Republican In Name Only) or a neocon (talks the small government talk, walks the big government walk).

    Consider Mike Lee, the junior senator from Utah. He was the TEA Party favorite in their 2010 race. He ran against McConnell’s good friend and close ally in the Senate, long term career politician Bob Bennett. Bennett was out of the race early in their caucus process, and Mike Lee has been a strong voice in the Senate for smaller and more fiscally conservative government and individual liberty. Bennett’s unplanned retirement must be in the back of McConnell’s mind.

    It’s also no secret that Trey Grayson was hand picked by Mitch McConnell to be Kentucky’s new junior senator in 2010 and the McConnell Machine was all in for Grayson in that race, sparing no expense and loaning their best talent to that cause, and Rand Paul, the TEA Party candidate, defeated Grayson by a humiliating 23% in the 2010 primary. That’s gotta be in the back of McConnell’s mind as well.

  • kytyedye wrote on September 16, 2012 11:17 AM :

    Jesse is hated by the grassroots. Just goes to show how out of touch Mitch is. This does more to seal Jesse’s fate than that of Mitch. Very, very early in this race. Stay tuned!

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