Incumbent Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell has defeated Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes in the midterm elections.
McConnell’s victory over businessman Matt Bevin in Kentucky’s Republican primary came after he hammered Bevin about tax delinquency; bailouts for his business; false claims about attending MIT on LinkedIn; cockfighting rallies; and praising TARP. McConnell was once polled as the most unpopular senator, but he still beat Bevin with 60.2 percent of the vote after a Real Clear Politics poll showed him leading Bevin by 26 points.
McConnell initially led Grimes by half a point in May, a lead that increased to 3 points by October and 6.5 percent — 48.3 percent to 41.8 percent — days before the election.
In an attempt to give Grimes a boost, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton campaigned for her in mid-October. Former President Bill Clinton also campaigned for Grimes.
The campaigns also had plenty of interesting moments, from tweet gaffes to puns about butts:
Grimes sent a guns-loaded tweet chastising McConnell for “pandering to DC lobbyists,” but it backfired when people realized she wasn’t wearing eye or ear protection.
Whenever he’s not busy pandering to DC lobbyists, I welcome Sen. McConnell to come shoot with me at the range any day pic.twitter.com/p00Zm3fGks
— Alison L. Grimes (@AlisonForKY) November 8, 2013
@AlisonForKY no eye wear? No safety goggles? Safety first Alison… #UnawareAlison #KYSen #GOP14
— Ben Goldey (@BenGoldey) November 8, 2013
Hi @AlisonForKY! Ear and eye protection would give this staged photo an authenticity it sorely lacks. #ProTip
— KingShamusé (@KingShamus) November 8, 2013
No eyes & ears? Poor gun safety display. Yikes! MT @AlisonForKY: I welcome Sen. McConnell to shoot with me pic.twitter.com/3tmWA1YYwG #KYsen
— Brad Dayspring (@BDayspring) November 8, 2013
She later released an ad showing her shooting guns, this time with the proper protection. (RELATED: Alison Lundergan Grimes Is Shooting Guns Again)
WATCH:
One of the biggest moments in the race was when Grimes refused to answer, multiple times, if she voted for President Barack Obama.
WATCH:
The end result of her refusal to answer left Chuck Todd believing Grimes “disqualified herself,” which McConnell then used in an ad against Grimes, much to Todd’s chagrin. (RELATED: Chuck Todd On Alison Lundergan Grimes: ‘I Think She Disqualified Herself’)
WATCH:
McConnell released an ad about Grimes’ Hugh Jass restaurant, criticizing her for her employees’ not so hugh paychecks. (RELATED: In New Ad, Mitch McConnell Slaps Grimes’ Hugh Jass)
WATCH: