The McConnell Campaign has launched radio ads throughout Eastern Kentucky featuring Fifth District Congressman Hal Rogers, who has a simple message for voters: he needs Mitch McConnell in the U.S. Senate to help him deliver for Eastern Kentucky priorities.
 
“I urge you to reelect U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell.  Why?  Well, he has a lot of seniority to help us get things done for Eastern Kentucky.  His opponent would be a freshman; they can’t help you.  And he is a fighter for coal, and we need his help.  Mitch is in a very powerful position and we would be foolish to squander that big advantage,” Rogers says in the radio spot.

McConnell’s bus tour has hit Eastern Kentucky twice during the first week, and Congressman Rogers campaigned with Senator McConnell every step of the way.
 
“I challenge Bruce Lunsford to tell Kentuckians where he stands on the Obama high tax, anti-second amendment, liberal Washington agenda.  These are the things we need to know,” Rogers said at various rallies.  “He won’t say, so I have to assume he’s right there with Obama and the liberal Washington crowd,” Rogers said.

“I know where Senator McConnell stands. He has been a true supporter of Eastern Kentucky,” Rogers said.  “When I need a partner in the Senate to help me get funding for critical needs, I turn to Mitch.  Without him, it will be much harder to find the funds to build our roads, eradicate drugs, and clean up our environment.”

The future of Kentucky’s coal industry was a big topic at several campaign events.  Rogers told supporters at a rally Knox County earlier in the week to beware of the Obama/Biden/Lunsford anti-coal agenda.  Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee Joe Biden was recently overheard at a campaign stop telling a supporter an Obama/Biden administration would not allow any more coal plants in America.

“We need all the help we can get on coal and Mitch McConnell is solid with us,” Rogers said. “The other side, if you listen to them, is not going to be a friend of coal and we need Mitch there to fight with me to protect and advance Kentucky’s coal communities."

Senator McConnell announced today that his first 30-second ads of the 2008 campaign will start tonight in the Louisville and Lexington markets.  The ads, entitled "Only Two", highlight a few of his many accomplishments for Kentucky and reminds Kentuckians that only two people from the Bluegrass State have served as their Party's leader in the Senate -- Senator McConnell and Paducah-area Democrat Alben Barkley. 

Watch the ads below.

Leader McConnell taped a succinct response to the Democrats' attempts to pass the largest tax increase in history.

Watch and listen to Senator McConnell's video message on this issue.

Congress needs to finish its work to ensure we are doing everything possible to combat foreign terrorists.  I just taped this interview with the newspaper The Hill laying out why I think it is time to stop playing politics and finish our work.

Senator McConnell on the Fairness Doctrine