Senator Mitch McConnell Will Host Washington, D. C. Fundraiser For Rand Paul On June 24.

McConnell to host D.C. fundraiser for Paul
By Bruce Schreiner

Republican Senate candidate Rand Paul, whose antiestablishment message has won him support from tea party activists, will collect campaign cash at a fundraiser in the nation's capital hosted by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

McConnell, R-Ky., is offering his fundraising help after opposing Paul in the Republican primary.

The June 24 event includes a reception and dinner at the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Individual tickets go for $1,000, with sponsorships at $5,000 per group, Paul campaign manager Jesse Benton said.

Benton didn't offer a prediction Thursday on the amount to be raised but said, "We expect people to be very generous and we expect the event to be very successful."

Paul faces Attorney General Jack Conway, the Democratic nominee, in what's expected to be an expensive fall campaign.

Conway's campaign said the fundraiser was an example of Paul's hypocrisy by cozying up to the Washington insiders he criticized during the primary campaign.

Paul, the son of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, a former presidential candidate, has portrayed himself as an outsider in criticizing Congress as free-spending and overreaching.

Benton said there's no "credibility issue" for Paul by benefiting from a big-money fundraiser.

"Money will not influence Rand," Benton said in a telephone interview. "Just because you donate to Rand doesn't mean that you get special favors. He's not that kind of candidate."

Larry Sabato, a University of Virginia political scientist, said he didn't think Paul risks alienating support from tea party enthusiasts as a result of the fundraiser.

"I think they're pretty set on him," Sabato said. "They like him. They're going to forgive a lot because they believe that deep down in his core he's with them. They also understand he's got to do some things to patch up the rift with McConnell and the mainstream, establishment Republicans."

Paul, a Bowling Green ophthalmologist, defeated McConnell's candidate, Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson, in the May 18 primary election.

At a GOP rally days after the primary, McConnell urged Kentucky Republicans to unite behind Paul.

Paul said during a primary campaign debate that, if elected, he might not support McConnell for Republican Senate leader.

Benton said Thursday the issue hasn't come up and called it "irrelevant" because McConnell has already lined up the votes to win re-election as leader.

"It's almost impossible to see a situation where Rand wouldn't vote for Mitch McConnell," he said.

Paul has two Kentucky fundraisers planned later this month -- June 29 in Lexington and the next day in Louisville. The events will be co-hosted by Kentucky's two Republican senators -- McConnell and Jim Bunning -- and Kentucky's four Republican congressmen, Benton said.

Tickets for each event will be a minimum of $250 per person, with various sponsorship levels, he said.

Paul and Conway are running for the seat now held by Bunning, who is not seeking a third term.