Newly reelected soon-to-be Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is loyal to his supporters, and one supporter in particular – Kentucky’s junior Senator Rand Paul. Sen. Paul campaigned tirelessly for McConnell, helping him win conservative support and crush Alison Lundergan Grimes, his Democratic challenger. That didn’t go unnoticed or appreciated by McConnell.
Paul has been a high profile freshman senator and has developed a loyal national following. He has also developed an interest in seeking the presidency.
Whether Paul makes a run for the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue or not is a decision he hasn’t made, or at least hasn’t made public yet. But if he decides to give it a go, Rand Paul can count on the support of Kentucky’s senior senator.
In a post-election interview, McConnell said he backs Rand, whatever he does.
When asked if it would be tricky to be the Majority Leader for a Senate cause with several members flirting with a presidential run, McConnell was unambiguous as to where his support would fall. “[It’s] not tricky at all. Obviously, I’m a big supporter of Rand Paul. We’ve developed a very tight relationship, and I’m for him,” McConnell said.
When asked specifically about a Rand Paul presidential run, McConnell was even more direct. “Whatever he decides to do,” said McConnell. “I don’t think he’s made a final decision on that. But he’ll be able to count on me.”
Senator McConnell wields a lot of political influence in Kentucky. Given Paul’s support and work for McConnell, it came as little surprise when, the day after the election, it was announced that the state was considering changing their primary system to a caucus system, which would allow a candidate to run for state office and national office simultaneously. This would let, should he so choose, Paul to run both for reelection to his Senate seat and president in 2016.
Current Kentucky law doesn’t allow for any candidate’s name to appear on a ballot more than once. Attempts to change it went nowhere in the state’s House of Representatives, which is controlled by Democrats. The party would control a caucus and bypass a primary ballot, which would, therefore, be in compliance with the law.