Huge crowds greet the two leaders who deliver for EKY

Prestonsburg, KY – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell and Congressman Hal Rogers campaigned together in London, Mt. Vernon, Hazard, and wrapped up the day here at the Big Sandy Regional Airport as the campaign bus tour again rolled through Eastern Kentucky.
 
While speaking to supporters at events during the day, Senator McConnell talked about the importance of including coal in America's energy plan.
 
“America can't be energy independent without relying on Kentucky coal,” McConnell said.  “That's why I supported a number of policy initiatives that encourage the development of clean coal and coal to liquids technology.”
 
McConnell offered an amendment, the American Energy Production Act, which would require the development and use of coal as a liquid transportation fuels; cosponsored Senator Bunning's Coal to Liquid Fuel Energy Act; and extended tax incentives for clean coal technology, including those needed to build coal-to-liquid refineries. 
 
McConnell also used his clout on the Senate Appropriations Committee to bring home funding for a variety of research projects in Kentucky to help make greater use of our abundant coal resources, including $4.2 million for the University of Kentucky's Military Fuels Research Program to research ways to use clean coal fuels to run military vehicles, $2 million for the University of Kentucky Consortium for Fossil Fuel Science (CFFS) to develop technology to produce clean transportation fuel from resources, such as coal, and $2.4 million for the UK Center for Advanced Separations Technology (CAST).  UK is one of seven schools in the CAST consortium, which researches ways to develop new mining technologies to make mining in Kentucky competitive, efficient, and environmentally friendly.
 
Congressman Hal Rogers and State Senate President David Williams joined McConnell at today's stop and touted his leadership in the Senate and its benefits to the people of Kentucky.
 
Rogers told the crowd that McConnell has worked to ensure Kentucky’s coal industry is kept on the forefront of national energy legislation.
 
“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 because of his experience to help us."
 
State Senator Tom Jensen kicked things off in London before a huge, standing room only crowd.  He welcomes the crowd by asking: “Who here is excited to send Mitch McConnell back to Washington?”   The crowd responded with a roar.
 
Rogers continued to stoke the enthusiasm of the crowd by talking about the good work he and McConnell do together in Washington for Eastern Kentucky.
 
“The longer Mitch McConnell has been there, the more respect and admiration he has earned.  And with his leadership position, he has been able to do more and more for us here in eastern Kentucky,” Congressman Rogers said.  “I'm proud to have a partner who works hard for eastern Kentucky, who has such talent and character, like Mitch McConnell.”
 
At the Kentucky Country Music Hall of Fame in Rockcastle County, another large crowd heard from McConnell and State Representative Danny Ford, who talked about values and the need for a conservative leader in the U.S. Senate who stands up for Kentucky.
 
“Mitch McConnell is a bulwark for the conservative cause – Pro-life. Pro-second amendment,” Ford said.  “He protects our values in Washington and we need him there for another six years.”
 
During this year's campaign, Senator McConnell has been endorsed by the Kentucky State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police, the National Vietnam & Gulf War Veterans Coalition, the National Right to Life and Kentucky Right to Life, the National Rifle Association and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) PAC. 
 
In Hazard, Democrat Mayor Bill Gorman endorsed Senator McConnell for reelection.  Before a crowd of 200, he honored U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, Senator McConnell’s wife, by giving her a key to the city and naming her a “Duchess of Hazard.”
 
When McConnell stepped up to the podium, he said that he knew Perry County is mostly Democrat by registration, but that he knew there are conservative democrats in Eastern Kentucky who should rally to his cause on Election Day.
 
“Your vision of Kentucky is my vision.  The liberal democrat ticket does not represent your values,” McConnell said.  “I heard even Hillary Clinton might be coming to Hazard this weekend. Well, let's send her a message on Tuesday: Perry County is going for Mitch McConnell!”
 
During today’s bus tour stops, two public polls were released showing McConnell with a lead and momentum heading in to the final weekend.  The Courier-Journal Bluegrass Poll showed McConnell with a five point lead, while the Rasmussen showed McConnell ahead by seven points.  A few days ago the Herald-Leader also showed McConnell leading Bruce Lunsford.
 
“Even the most unfriendly sources show Senator McConnell leading and with momentum as we approach Election Day,” said McConnell campaign manager Justin Brasell of the Kentucky newspaper polls.
 
The bus tour concludes tomorrow with several stops in the Fourth Congressional District.  At its completion, McConnell will have made 62 stops in two weeks.
 

 

Just this morning, Sen. McConnell was in eastern Kentucky visiting with voters in London and Hazard.  McConnell also stopped by the Big Sandy Regional Airport for a rally with local supporters.  McConnell supporters turned out in droves to hear the Senior Senator from Kentucky talk about all he's done for the state.  

He's asking those supporters to work hard in the next few days to ensure he's re-elected next Tuesday.

McConnell says he has the momentum.

"We're surging, have a bigger lead than we had earlier and heading toward the finish line in first place," McConnell said.

Cite His Strong Leadership and Commitment to Kentucky

Louisville, KY - U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell received the endorsements of nine major newspapers across Kentucky, who urged their readers to re-elect Senator McConnell because of his effective leadership, knowledge and responsiveness to the needs of Kentuckians.
 
The Paducah Sun, the Daily News in Bowling Green, Kentucky New Era in Hopkinsville, the Glasgow Daily Times, Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, The Advocate Messenger in Danville, The Kentucky Enquirer in northern Kentucky, the Ledger-Independent in Maysville and the Daily Independent in Ashland have all come out in support of Senator McConnell.
 
“I am proud that these papers looked at my record of delivering for Kentucky, along with my leadership in the Senate, and decided it was something that they, and all of Kentucky, can support,” Senator McConnell said.
 
The Paducah Sun endorsement stressed how important it was to not only Kentucky, but to the future direction of this country, to have Senator McConnell’s continued leadership in the United States Senate.
 
“…We believe that Sen. McConnell’s service to Kentucky and specifically to our part of the state during his 24-year tenure, standing alone, merits his return to the Senate,” The Paducah Sun wrote. “No one has worked harder over the past two decades to advance the interests of the economy and the people of far western Kentucky than Mitch McConnell.” Click here to view the full endorsement.

The Daily News supports McConnell’s re-election, noting he “has effectively used his seniority and leadership positions to bring millions of our tax dollars back to Kentucky.”
 
“McConnell has proved to be a worthy advocate for Kentucky over the past 24 years in the Senate. He understands the needs and wants of his constituents and he delivers,” the Daily News wrote.  Click here to view the full endorsement.

Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer recognized Senator McConnell’s status in the Senate and “his reputation as a smart, highly skilled politician on the Republican side, reflects well on Kentucky.”
 
“McConnell’s presence on the national stage and his reputation as one of the few people who actually call the shots on a day-to day basis in the Senate, and thereby the federal government, brings positive recognition to Kentucky,” the paper stated. Click here to view the full endorsement.

The Advocate Messenger said it was now, more than ever, the state and country need Senator McConnell’s “strong, experienced, knowledgeable leadership.”
 
Their endorsement stated “Kentucky would be giving up something terribly important on today’s political scene if it lost McConnell.” Click here to view the full endorsement.  
 
The Kentucky Enquirer echoed the sentiments of the other endorsements, saying “McConnell’s position as Minority Leader puts him in the middle of virtually every issue in Congress. That will be especially important in the coming term as Congress grapples with energy policy and the nation’s crumbling highway infrastructure.” Click here to view the full endorsement. 
 
The Ledger-Independent not only noted Senator McConnell’s leadership, but his responsiveness to the needs and concerns of all Kentuckians stating. “Senator McConnell has always been aware of and reactive to the needs of northeastern Kentucky. …He knows the challenges we face moving forward.”
 
“Federal grants obtained with McConnell's support have meant a great deal to those of us who live in the small towns of the Buffalo Trace, and McConnell's keen understanding of the farm economy has supported our efforts to move forward in an area once absolutely dependent on the tobacco crop,” the paper wrote. Click here to view the full endorsement.

The Daily Independent in Ashland said seniority is the key to power in Congress, especially for small states like Kentucky.
 
“There is one compelling reason why Kentucky voters should re-elect Mitch McConnell to a fifth six-year term in the U.S. Senate: Clout,” the Daily Independent wrote.  Click here to view the full endorsement. 
 
The Glasgow Daily Times said McConnell probably could work exclusively on national and global issues, but he does an amazing job of staying in touch with and involved with Kentucky.
 
“In red-state Kentucky, he represents our values, our traditions and our way of life,” the paper wrote. Click here to view the full endorsement.  
 
The Kentucky New Era in Hopkinsville believes that McConnell’s record of helping the state is remarkable. 

“For the Pennyrile region alone, his assistance in getting help for Fort Campbell has made life better for the thousands of military who call the region home,” the paper wrote. “He has helped bring millions in aid to the state, and he has some fresh ideas of his own to continue to help the state and to jump-start the economy.” Click here to view the full endorsement.
 
Even the liberal Courier-Journal in Louisville praised Senator McConnell's leadership and wrote, “The incumbent, Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, is an estimable figure -- highly skilled in the political and legislative arts, knowledgeable, experienced and powerful. He argues that as Republican leader of the Senate, he has attained influence that is rare for a Kentuckian in Washington. The state, he insists, is the beneficiary of his accomplishments.”  They added, “Sen. McConnell deserves praise for his leadership in the recent bipartisan passage of a financial rescue plan. We wish Mr. Lunsford, who avoids a direct answer as to whether he would have supported the bill, recognized the importance of quick action.” 

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