© 2024 Louisville Public Media

Public Files:
89.3 WFPL · 90.5 WUOL-FM · 91.9 WFPK

For assistance accessing our public files, please contact info@lpm.org or call 502-814-6500
89.3 WFPL News | 90.5 WUOL Classical 91.9 WFPK Music | KyCIR Investigations
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Stream: News Music Classical

Trivial Attacks Mark Kentucky's U.S. Senate Race

When it comes to the 2014 U.S. Senate race in Kentucky, there appears to be no attack that the top campaigns and their operatives won't engage or levy at each other.The Republican primary contest between incumbent Mitch McConnell and challenger Matt Bevin has been particularly bitter.At the outset, McConnell campaign manager Jesse Benton referred to Bevin as a "con man" who couldn't be trusted. Despite efforts to urge the media to ignore Bevin, Team Mitch rarely passes up a chance to take a swipe at their primary opponent. For instance, the McConnell campaign was recently touting this rather embarrassing moment for Bevin at a Constitution Day event in Kentucky.Watch:Speaking at a rally in downtown Louisville, Bevin ripped Benton for saying it was "irrelevant" that McConnell didn't join Ted Cruz's marathon speech on the Senate floor.Here's what Benton told talk radio host Joe Elliott:A passing remark? Not according to the Bevin campaign."Again Mitch McConnell's team makes it clear they stand with the liberals and against strong conservatives like Ted Cruz and Mike Lee, and against the will of the people," says spokeswoman Sarah Durand.A spokesperson with the McConnell campaign dismissed the radio comments, saying the GOP leader did give Cruz a "hat tip" on the Senate floor yesterday afternoon. Other aides close to the senator note some of Bevin's assertions about McConnell's record have been deemed plainly false by fact-checkers.But the latest attack against Democratic candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes being floated by state and national GOP groups may be the most trivial.Watch:According to some this is "weird," and "strange," and "unusual." Why? Because Grimes is apparently being "chauffeured" by her husband while leaving the airport.In a statement, Grimes campaign spokeswoman Charly Notion said this shows Republicans will do anything to distract voters."They don’t want to focus on the important issues facing our nation, but are focusing on who picks Alison up at the airport (hint: it’s her husband)," she said.Asked what contention by Grimes has crossed the line, McConnell campaign spokeswoman Allison Moore told WFPL the assertion the senator has "gotten rich" at he expense of average Kentuckians. "Petty, absurd and demonstrably false," she says.And to think. This is only September 2013.