McConnell: Conservative split in Republican races 'no threat at all'

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ken.) brushed off the effect of conservative grass-roots activists in splitting the GOP moving forward, saying that the backlash seen in upstate New York posed "no threat at all."

"What you see here is enormous enthusiasm to run," McConnell said on "Fox News Sunday. "People believe that getting the Republican nomination means you have a good chance of winning."

Host Chris Wallace pressed McConnell about, in the post-Scozzafava world, conservatives talking challenges against National Republican Senatorial Committee anointees.

"Our view is this is an indication of the shifting political environment," McConnell said, adding that the NRSC generally doesn't endorse anyway.

"I mean, we're happy that there are a lot of people running, and the reason they're running is because they think the nomination's worth having because they think they can win in November," McConnell said.

The minority leader was also pressed about the political future of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

"I'm not going to give Governor Palin any advice," he said. "...If she wants one, as big a following as she's got, you bet she's got a political future."