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McConnell hires Ron Paul aide to lead his reelection team
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has hired Jesse Benton, the campaign manager of Rep. Ron Paul's (R-Texas) presidential and Sen. Rand Paul's (R-Ky.) Senate bids, to lead his 2014 reelection team.
"We’re committed to running a presidential-level campaign in Kentucky, and that starts with a presidential campaign manager,” McConnell said in a statement. “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.”
While McConnell, the Senate's top Republican, should have no trouble retaining his seat, Benton's hiring is an indication that the Kentucky lawmaker is concerned that the tea party could mount a primary challenge. Benton led Rand Paul's insurgent Senate campaign in 2010 to replace retiring Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.). Paul bested early favorite and Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson, who McConnelll backed, in the primary, hammering the Republican for having once voted for President Clinton.
But by recruiting Benton to head his campaign, McConnell is looking to avoid a challenge from the right. And the tea party operative looks eager to maintain his roots, even as he joins the staff of one of the most establishment Republican senators. In a statement posted on Ron Paul's campaign website, Benton pledges to grassroots activists that he remains "happy to be a resource and friend to any and all of you, for whatever is in my power to provide."
Rep. Paul also posted a statement thanking Benton for his work.
"Jesse remains committed to building on the historic progress our movement has made, and I wish him all the best in his future endeavors," Paul said.
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