Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) today announced he has hired Jesse Benton to manage his 2014 campaign. Benton, who has deep ties to the tea party movement in Kentucky and around the country, led Rep. Ron Paul's (R-Texas) White House bid and managed now-Sen. Rand Paul's (R-Ky.) general election campaign in 2010. If McConnell accrues any political vulnerability on his right flank in Kentucky — and Bluegrass State GOP political operatives believe he doesn't have much right now — having Benton as his top campaign aide is likely to help significantly reduce the threat of a serious primary challenge. But the move does more than just help in the primary. (more…)
