McConnell picks up key endorsement

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has locked in the endorsement of the Lexington Herald-Leader against his primary opponent, Tea Party candidate Matt Bevin (R).

{mosads}The paper offers little praise of McConnell, but blasts Bevin as unworthy for office.

“The Louisville businessman is charming, energetic and photogenic. But in two meetings with the editorial board, he showed no inclination toward pragmatism, compromise or a real exchange of ideas, all critical to legislative success and leadership,” the board writes.

After pointing out that the paper endorsed now-Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) in 2010, the paper knocks Bevin for refusing to compromise and for what it deems as unfair attacks on McConnell’s conservatism.

“Our qualms about Bevin stem from his shallow view of a senator’s responsibilities. He would gladly subject his constituents to economic catastrophe rather than exercise the power of the government he’s seeking to help lead,” it writes.

McConnell appears ready to roll over Bevin in the May 20 GOP primary and has turned his attention more toward Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes (D), as he prepares for what could be a tough general election battle. Polls have found him comfortably ahead of Bevin but deadlocked with Grimes.