U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell made a stop in Harlan County Tuesday, while campaigning in Eastern Kentucky, touting the importance of his leadership on behalf of Kentucky to supporters gathered at the Harlan Center.
 
"The question in this election is: will Kentucky go to the back row, or will it continue to enjoy the privileges of having a Senator in leadership in Washington D.C.?" McConnell said.
 
McConnell's bus tour, which kicked off on Monday, will make 62 stops and travel four thousand miles before it wraps up in two weeks.  Senator McConnell also traveled to Bell, Knox and Whitley counties on Tuesday.
 
Congressman Hal Rogers, Senate President David L. Williams, and State Senator Brandon Smith joined Senator McConnell in Harlan and touted his leadership in the Senate and how it benefits the people of Kentucky.
 
Rogers told the crowd that he has been able to deliver for Eastern Kentucky, but that would become extremely difficult without Senator McConnell working with him in the Senate.
 
"We need Mitch in the U.S. Senate.  Without him there, it's going to be harder for Eastern Kentucky to get the critical funding for economic development projects," Rogers said.  "Here's the ticket for you: McCain, McConnell, Rogers.  Now let's go get 'em on November 4!"
 
Senator McConnell is the Republican leader of the U.S. Senate and only the second Kentuckian to lead his party in the Senate. He is able to use his position to deliver for Kentucky and takes pride in representing conservative, Kentucky values in Washington D.C.
 
State Senator Brandon Smith, who welcomed the crowd of over 150, reminded them of the importance of keeping Senator McConnell in office.
 
"There are a lot liberals in Washington D.C. that want to pass laws that will hurt working families.  They want to raise taxes.  They want to make it harder for small businesses to create jobs.  And they don't share our conservative Kentucky values," Smith said. "The only thing standing in their way is Mitch McConnell, and we need him there protecting us from these terrible ideas."
 
During this year's campaign, Senator McConnell has been endorsed by the Kentucky State Fraternal Order of Police, the National Vietnam & Gulf War Veterans Coalition, the
National Right to Life and Kentucky Right to Life
 
Several newspapers across Kentucky have endorsed Senator McConnell, urging their readers to re-elect him because of his effective leadership, knowledge and responsiveness to the needs of Kentuckians. Newspaper endorsements include the Messenger-Inquirer in Owensboro, Advocate Messenger in Danville, the Kentucky Enquirer in northern Kentucky and the Ledger Independent in Maysville.