McConnell wins Kentucky Senate primary in landslide

[LSOSGT1109]

Man I was torn in this race. I have been disappointed in Mitch a lot lately. However, I ended up having to vote for him, and before some of you guys hang me on the courthouse steps here's why. I knew Bevin couldn't win and if by some miracle he did, he would be the junior senator. If the GOP takes back the senate, Mitch will be the senate majority leader. That has to be better than having a junior senator and it's a damn sight better than having another democrat in the senate. I don't have anything against Grimes but without a doubt, if she got elected she would end up voting party lines with the dems which would be a vote for Obama. This race was a damned if you do damned if you don't race. In my mind I went with the big picture, burn me at the stakes if you will.

 

[EdLongshanks]

What has happened to our state?

 

[reivertom]

Let's face it guys, Mitch is going to be the next Robert Byrd........they will carry him out of the Senate Chambers toes up.

 

[kmtpr]

IMHO taking back control of the Senate is Most important. I hope McConnell wins in November.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/20/mitch-mcconnell-tea-party_n_5361302.html

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) easily defeated challenger Matt Bevin in the GOP primary Tuesday. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

WASHINGTON -- Tea party groups that worked to oust Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) united around him Tuesday night as he easily beat primary challenger Matt Bevin. But they also took credit for the man McConnell has become, arguing that they pushed him to become a stronger conservative.

"Matt Bevin’s principled challenge helped Senator McConnell rediscover his conservative principles come November. Competition always breeds stronger candidates, and there is an improved conservative candidate heading into the general election as a result," Matt Kibbe, FreedomWorks president, said in a statement.

McConnell easily defeated Bevin in the GOP primary, meaning he will face Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes (D) in the general election.

Despite the backing of conservative groups like FreedomWorks and the Senate Conservatives Fund, Bevin struggled against the well-financed incumbent. McConnell's team was able to go out early and define Bevin, a businessman, through negative attacks before most voters knew who he was.

McConnell touted high-profile endorsements from groups that included the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Rifle Association to show his conservative credentials. He also received the support of Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a tea party favorite.

The Senate Conservatives Fund and the Madison Project also put out statements Tuesday night that promised to now support McConnell.

"We congratulate Senator McConnell on his victory and urge Republicans in Kentucky to come together to defeat Alison Lundergan Grimes," said Matt Hoskins, the group's executive director. "We thank Matt Bevin for standing up for conservative principles and giving voters a choice in this race. Now it's time for Republicans to unite for victory in November."

"Matt Bevin lost tonight, but his effort was not in vain as he helped move conservatism forward and Senator Mitch McConnell and the Republican Senate leadership to the right," added Drew Ryun of the Madison Project. "We congratulate McConnell on winning the primary. We ask all Republicans to come together to defeat extremist Hollywood liberal Allison [sic] Lundergan Grimes this fall."

And ultimately, FreedomWorks argued, it has won the larger war, with the Republican Party adopting more tea party positions.

“When the establishment runs on our issues, it’s clear that there is a larger cultural shift happening here. Constitutional conservatives and libertarians are setting the agenda in the Republican Party," said Kibbe.

Jenny Beth Martin, chair of the Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund, urged McConnell not to take conservative activists for granted now that he's won.

"As conservatives and Americans, we want Alison Graves (sic) to lose in November," said Martin. "We want Harry Reid to lose his job. But Senator McConnell must now reach out to conservatives and espouse the values of liberty. If he does, and rejects, higher federal debts, Obamacare and amnesty, he’ll prevail in November. If he does not, he will lose. We hope he chooses wisely."

McConnell has not had kind words for the conservative groups working against him.

“I think we are going to crush them everywhere,” McConnell said in an interview with The New York Times in March. “I don’t think they are going to have a single nominee anywhere in the country.”

And Bevin, as recently as a couple of weeks ago, still wasn't sure whether he would embrace McConnell if he lost and refused to say whether he'd back him in the general election.

“You can’t attack everybody and then expect everybody is going to say Kumbaya,” Bevin said.

n his concession speech Tuesday night, Bevin told supporters he had "no intention whatsoever" of supporting Grimes, but he also stopped short of endorsing McConnell.

According to Politico, there is "a big GOP unity event" planned later this week, but it's not yet clear whether Bevin will attend.

 

[Buford]

I hope Bevin and his people support Grimes. I love bad losers, they just keep digging.
If Bevin wanted to make a difference he would have worked to run against yarmuth first. He could beat Yarmouth if he could stay out of the cockfighting rallies. That was his best path.

 

[aceoky]

Pay attention very closely - you seem to have missed it the last dozen times...

Bevin was NOT a viable choice- he's not Tea Party Nor conservative do I need to remind you that saying something does not make it true. He managed to fool a few on here it seems , but clearly not many statewide as was explained some time ago . The simple fact of how badly (and quickly ) he lost should tell you something - but hey IF you feel better being angry at me - I'm a very big boy - have at it

It is your own business if you want to "root for Satan"

You and Wildcat got a room yet to celebrate your victory over us conservative, limited-government, small "l" libertarian, tea-party types?

[video=youtube_share;mo3pIV1CLrQ]http://youtu.be/mo3pIV1CLrQ[/video]

You dead-elephant establishment McConnell people have done what I thought would be impossible: actually gotten me to root for a democrat in an upcoming election. Well played.

 

[Manzanita]

I hope Bevin and his people support Grimes. I love bad losers, they just keep digging.

I know you're going to be terribly disappointed...

[video=youtube_share;nfbjx_5xliw]http://youtu.be/nfbjx_5xliw[/video]

Skip ahead to about 7:30. Like I said in that other thread, he's a better man than I because I say burn the GOP to the ground.

That said, make no mistake, I'll not actively support Grimes despite what I wrote in my initial anger over the results. I will not vote for McConnell, though. Call it supporting, helping, or liking Obama... whatever you need to do to justify your own action. I see it differently.

 

[aceoky]

I hope Bevin and his people support Grimes. I love bad losers, they just keep digging.
If Bevin wanted to make a difference he would have worked to run against yarmuth first. He could beat Yarmouth if he could stay out of the cockfighting rallies. That was his best path.

I know right!

Not from Ky, but go after the biggest dog first - Like I said he only ran in an attempt to help ALG- whether he knows it or not.He had about as much chance as Chris Christie would have here - kinda sad some didn't see the truth when it was shown to them .

 

[timer]

Who can do more for Kentucky -

The Senate majority leader or someone who doesn't know Connecticut Ave from Nicholasville Road?

McConnell isn't perfect. He had to compromise on some things over the past six years, but he has done a good job.

He has brought a tremendous amount of money into Kentucky. And, he has been a major PIA for Obama.

A vote for ALG (perky, rich-girl font) is a vote for all things Pelosi and Obama (and most likely - Hiliary). And neither Pelosi or Obama (or Hiliary) would give the dirt under their fingernails to help anyone in Kentucky.

 

[aceoky]

Yep - clearly some 60% of Ky GOP voters understand

Who can do more for Kentucky -

The Senate majority leader or someone who doesn't know Connecticut Ave from Nicholasville Road?

McConnell isn't perfect. He had to compromise on some things over the past six years, but he has done a good job.

He has brought a tremendous amount of money into Kentucky. And, he has been a major PIA for Obama.

A vote for ALG (perky, rich-girl font) is a vote for all things Pelosi and Obama (and most likely - Hiliary). And neither Pelosi or Obama (or Hiliary) would give the dirt under their fingernails to help anyone in Kentucky.

 

[kymailman98]

I just can't understand why the Republicans are seemingly unable to find good electable candidates to run for major offices in this state. Bevin had zero chance to beat McConnell, mostly because he was an unknown. As much as I would like to see Mitch replaced, I will vote for him because what's the alternative.....another liberal Democrat senator to bend over and take one for Obama.

 

[Manzanita]

Pay attention very closely - you seem to have missed it the last dozen times...

Bevin was NOT a viable choice- he's not Tea Party Nor conservative do I need to remind you that saying something does not make it true. He managed to fool a few on here it seems , but clearly not many statewide as was explained some time ago .

I didn't miss it. I just regarded the source and dismissed it.

As far as being fooled by Bevin, I'm in good company. The Senate Conservative Fund, Central Kentucky Tea Party Patriots, Take Back Kentucky, Louisville Tea Party Patrioits, Northern KY Right To Life, Kentuckians Against Common Core, Freedomworks, Mark Levin, Glenn Beck, Redstate.com, Right Wing News, Madison Project, and a whole bunch of others endorsed Bevin over the establishment self-serving, conservative-insulting, career politician.

I didn't really expect Bevin to win, honestly. Too many old guard Republicans who just do what their party mandarins tell them to do.

You don't need to remind me that saying something does not make it true. Say it to the mirror.

 

[Feedman]

I hope Bevin and his people support Grimes. I love bad losers, they just keep digging.
If Bevin wanted to make a difference he would have worked to run against yarmuth first. He could beat Yarmouth if he could stay out of the cockfighting rallies. That was his best path.

Who can beat Yarmouth! That is a heavily democrat district since they change the boundaries. I liked Ann Northup. She did a good job.

 

[patiodaddy]

I sure hated to see Mitch win, I won't deny that. I did hear on NPR this morning that Mitch is the first Party leader to ever receive less than 75% of the Vote in a Primary, so there is that. I have my doubts that Mitch can win come November though. Now we get to hear all the BS throughout the summer and Fall from both Candidates.

I see most TEA Party backed Candidates throughout America lost as well and something tells me a huge split is going to happen within the Republican Party on the way to November. If it does happen the Democrats could cruise on to a 3rd term in the Presidency and who knows how the House & Senate will shake out.
Whether the Old Guard Republicans want to admit it or not, they will need those of us who favor TEA candidates to come out and support them or they are done for. What deals will be offered I wonder?

 

[Wildcat]

I sure hated to see Mitch win, I won't deny that. I did hear on NPR this morning that Mitch is the first Party leader to ever receive less than 75% of the Vote in a Primary, so there is that. I have my doubts that Mitch can win come November though. Now we get to hear all the BS throughout the summer and Fall from both Candidates.

I see most TEA Party backed Candidates throughout America lost as well and something tells me a huge split is going to happen within the Republican Party on the way to November. If it does happen the Democrats could cruise on to a 3rd term in the Presidency and who knows how the House & Senate will shake out.
Whether the Old Guard Republicans want to admit it or not, they will need those of us who favor TEA candidates to come out and support them or they are done for. What deals will be offered I wonder?

NPR????

They are nothing but a liberal mouthpiece that can only stay on the air with govt support. Of course they will talk about Mitch winning in the worst possible way to help the Democrat.

Looks like we have ANOTHER threat that since one guy lost and his supporters are not going to support the other one in Nov BUT if their boy had won you can bet they would need every single Republican to support them.

A fight inside the Republican Party?? Split??? Look up how George Will put it Sunday, he's spot on target.