Mitch McConnell slams Matt Bevin in Senate race

Matt Bevin is getting a Mitch McConnell welcome in Kentucky: A slashing TV ad seizing on the political newcomer’s problems with his Connecticut-based bell manufacturing business.

Bevin, a wealthy Louisville businessman, is slated to announce a primary challenge against McConnell on Wednesday, hoping to tap into tea party anger to pull off a major upset against the wily 28-year Senate veteran in 2014.

Continue Reading Text Size -+resetAdvertisement Latest on POLITICO Poll: Obama nears all-time low New Filner accuser goes public Trump: Weiner 'sick puppy' House panel approves deep EPA cuts Tech lobby reports barely touch NSA FDA eyes menthol cigarettes But McConnell’s team is trying to prevent Bevin from even getting off the ground.

McConnell’s campaign will unveil a six-figure ad buy Wednesday dubbing its opponent “Bailout Bevin,” attacking his primary foe for obtaining $200,000 in Connecticut state grants to help his companies rebuild after a 2012 fire. Twisting the knife even further, McConnell’s ad attacks Bevin for eight local tax liens his company was assessed with for failing to pay $116,000 in taxes in recent years. A local article in 2011 painted the company, Bevin Bros., as the No. 1 tax delinquent firm in East Hampton, Conn.

“Bevin’s company failed to pay taxes, then got a taxpayer bailout,” McConnell’s campaign ad says. “Bailout Bevin: Not a Kentucky conservative.”

It’s highly unusual for an established incumbent to attack a little-known primary opponent across the airwaves on the day of his or her announcement. But the Senate’s top Republican is taking no chances in fending off attacks from the right — just as Democratic outside groups are already pummeling McConnell across the airwaves in the Bluegrass State.

Both sides are preparing to spend big bucks early in what will likely be the country’s most expensive Senate race.

I think McConnel has been too soft on the Dims in the Senate and for too long.

However, if there is any fire behind the smoke he is making about Bevin, then I will wonder if Conservatives who want someone to oppose McConnel have not done all the due diligence they should have. The last thing they need is a candidate that can somehow beat McConnel in the primary but emerge so legitimately tarred that a general election victory becomes a problem. Yes, getting someone other than McConnel is a good idea - so is doing so with a winner.

I disagree that it was backlash against negative campaigning that led Cruz to victory. I think he won in spite of the negative campaign (and because he’s a hell of a campaigner).

There were 9 Repub. Senate candidates to replace Huchison. 8 of them criss crossed the state going to every little Tea Party and GOP meeting. Dewhurst thought he could stay above the fray and either win an election outright, or take out his run off opponent.

Unfortunately for Dewhurst, he miscalculated. By the time Cruz won the opportunity to face Dewhurst, Cruz had personally met (including me) a large number of the kind of voters that will come back and vote in a run off in July.

Negative campaigning works, or it wouldn’t be used so much. Just because it works doesn’t mean it always works. In Mitch’s case, more than anything, it’s an indication of fear. (Just like Enzi using Rand Paul as a whipping boy indicates a level of concern; that race will be much closer than an initial poll).

I’ll have to keep an eye on Matt Bevin and send him some money if he starts to become the real deal.

Primary the Hell out of them all! We got where we are because the entrenched and the entitled fear their bag men more than they fear us. To take a spin on a Jefferson quote: “When Senators fear their bag men, there is progressive gov’t (tyranny). When Senators fear the People, there is freedom.” Whether Bevins wins or loses, if he puts some fear into the heart of McConnell, it’s a win for us all.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.