Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Is Rand Paul a Kingmaker?

Rand Paul is gaining serious political cred. The National Journal writes:
Thomas Massie's win means Rand Paul is looking like a kingmaker in Kentucky...Mitch McConnell is the most powerful Republican in the Senate, but is he the most powerful Republican senator in his own state? Rand Paul's, and the tea party's, rising influence over the Kentucky GOP was underlined last night when Paul ally Thomas Massie's victory in the state's 4th District Republican primary.

Massie vanquished two establishment Republican rivals with help from the junior senator and his organization, and he demonstrated why McConnell has kept his head down and fundraised like mad since backing Rand Paul's GOP primary opponent in 2010. McConnell has recognized the power shifting in the state party and is taking steps to protect himself ahead of his 2014 reelection campaign. Massie's big win is another reminder that he's not in charge anymore.

2 comments:

  1. Sounds like McConnell will be joining his colleague in retirement. I understand that campaign funds can be converted to personal funds, hence the mad fundraising? He knows he going to lose but will end up the winning a donor funded retirement in addition to his taxpayer funded pension.

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  2. I love when people say, "Ron Paul cannot run 3rd party because he has to protect Rand against the establishment." What is the establishment going to do, get McConnell to campaign against Rand? Been there, done that, didn't work out too well for Mitch. McConnell had better hope Rand doesn't campaign against him!

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