Sen. Mitch McConnell’s teetering Senate campaign took another punch in the gut as Hillary Clinton rolled into Kentucky and lowered the boom on the incumbent Republican while delivering a strong endorsement for Alison Lundergan Grimes.
Video (Grimes and Clinton remarks begin at around the 1:19:00 mark):
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Kentucky Senate candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes introduced Hillary Clinton by explaining what it means to be a “Clinton Democrat.” Grimes hit McConnell with missing nearly every committee meeting for the last five years. She called McConnell the father of the sixteen-day government shutdown, and reminded voters that McConnell has promised more government shutdowns. Grimes said McConnell is, “out of ideas, out of touch, and out of time on November 4th.”
Grimes finished whipping up the crowd with a rousing promise to be the state’s next senator, and introduced Hillary Clinton.
Clinton began by saying that she’s back because Kentucky deserves a change in Washington. Former Sec. Clinton said, “On Election Day you’re going to show the world that big ideas and a big heart beat big money every single time.” Clinton talked about the importance of family to Grimes. Clinton told Kentucky voters to stop and think about what is important to them. Mrs. Clinton defended Kentucky Kynect and accused McConnell of wanted to repeal healthcare reform root and branch. Clinton said if you repeal the federal law, there is no more money. She hit McConnell for supporting throwing 40,000 kids off of their parents’ health care in Kentucky.
Clinton said that the Senate election is a chance to say no to guardian of gridlock. It is a chance to say no to special interests and insider deals. Clinton said the government shutdown cost Kentucky’s economy more than $125 million, then asked, “Do you really want to see more of that kind of leadership in Washington?”
Former Sec. Clinton nailed McConnell on the sequester and accused him of threatening thousands of jobs and jeopardizing national security. Clinton hit McConnell on his Koch worship. She never mentioned McConnell by name but used his quote that the worst day of his career was when McCain/Feingold became law. Clinton said that our right to vote is under assault, but not in Kentucky because as Secretary of State Grimes has stood up for your right to vote. Mrs. Clinton said that Alison Grimes looks for common ground when she can, but stands her ground when she must.
Mrs. Clinton touted the Grimes jobs plan and said, “The first thing she is going to do is to fight to raise the minimum wage to a living wage.” Clinton debunked McConnell’s minimum wage lies, and said, “When they tell you that raising wages will kill jobs, just remember what the facts are. When Bill Clinton raised the wage in the 1990s millions of jobs were created.” Clinton called out McConnell for believing that women don’t deserve equal pay for equal work.
Former Sec. Clinton said, “Which of these candidates to do you really trust to represent you for the next six years.” She said that it is all going to come down to who shows up, and she told Grimes supporters to get out and vote for their dreams, not their fears.
Clinton closed with a passionate endorsement of Alison Lundergan Grimes and called for voters to put another crack in the glass ceiling by electing Grimes to the U.S. Senate.
The speech that Hillary Clinton gave tonight was the last thing that Mitch McConnell’s staggering campaign needed. Clinton took on McConnell’s pet lies, made this election about the past versus the future, and dropped some serious economic cred on the Bluegrass State.
As good as Bill Clinton is on the stump, his wife has really improved dramatically since her 2008 campaign. Voters need to hear the message that Clinton delivered from now until Election Day. Clinton perfectly framed the central issue of the election. Alison Lundergan Grimes is close to victory, and tonight, Hillary Clinton did everything in her power to push the Democrat across the finish line.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
