Eye surgeon Rand Paul (R) said Wednesday that he has received assurances from the National Republican Senatorial Committee that it will remain neutral in his primary battle against Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson.

“They say they have no plans of getting involved or endorsing anyone in our primary,” said Paul, the son of Texas Rep. Ron Paul (R), in an interview following his telephone conversation with NRSC political director Randy Bumps.

However, NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh disputed Paul’s characterization of the conversation. “We said that while the NRSC does not anticipate making an endorsement we reserve the right to do so,” Walsh said.