McConnell gets hearty endorsement from Rand Paul
Sen. Rand Paul, a tea-party favorite and potential presidential contender, said Wednesday that his fellow Kentuckian, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, has already wrapped up the necessary support among his GOP colleagues to be elected majority leader and Paul dismissed the possibility of a conservative challenger.
Ill be for Senator McConnell, Paul said in an interview. I also havent heard of anything being planned against him or the rest of the leadership team. I believe he will have an overwhelming win when the time comes.
When asked whether Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.) is poised to be elected majority whip, the number-two position, with broad support, Paul responded in the affirmative and said he has not heard of any other candidates.
After McConnell led the GOP back into the majority on Tuesday, it comes as no surprise that Paul expects McConnell to win the top Senate post with ease. Still, the freshman senators hearty endorsement a day later provides McConnell with a boost as some hardline conservatives -- inside and outside of Congress -- mull how to pressure McConnell as he ascends and spells out his legislative agenda.
In an interview with The Washington Post last week, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) would not pledge his support for McConnell. In an interview with CNN on Tuesday, he remained vague about who he will back. "That'll be a decision for the conference to make and that'll be decided next week," he said.
Any eleventh-hour rebellion in the leadership election would almost certainly fizzle because McConnells political capital has been bolstered in recent months, Paul said, pointing to the way McConnell has funneled party funds toward his colleagues rather than toward his own reelection campaign.
People really appreciate how he was able to win his election on his own and keep the [National Republican Senatorial Committee] money going to those who needed it, Paul said.
The new class of Senate Republicans is full of conservatives, but they are not all firebrands in the same mold of Cruz and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who were elected in previous cycles. According to his confidants, McConnell so far has few concerns about the newcomers and believes most them are inclined to work with him since the political benefits of aligning with Cruz are not overwhelming. And, after many of them beat primary insurgents, they do not fear activists wrath as much as some older incumbents.
Shelley Moore Capito (W. Va.) is a longtime ally of House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio). Mike Rounds (S.D.) is a former governor. Steve Daines (Mont.) is a mild-mannered congressman. The politics and persona of businessman David Perdue (Ga.) resemble those of Mitt Romney. Iowa state senator Joni Ernst was backed by her state GOPs establishment.
You know, I think the gridlock is going to end, Paul said. I dont know the exact answer to how these people will be and I was up until 1 a.m. doing media hits, so I havent spoken with all of them. But Sen. McConnell knows how to make the Senate work and I think hell make us a bigger party, a better party, by allowing Democrats to have amendments and crafting bipartisan legislation.
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McConnell gets hearty endorsement from Rand Paul