Tea Party groups from across the south and midwest are pledging support in the effort to defeat Republican Senator Mitch McConnell.
The five-term Kentucky incumbent is facing a primary challenge from Louisville businessman and Tea Party activist Matt Bevin.
United Kentucky Tea Party spokesman Scott Hofstra told WKU Public Radio activists from several states have promised to help Bevin win this spring's primary.
“We have had commitments now from Tea Party and liberty groups from Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri, and as far away as Florida, who have said, ‘We are going to send folks to Kentucky, at our expense, to help you on the ground get out the vote for Matt Bevin'", the Hardin County resident said.
Hofstra admits McConnell has gained many Republican allies at the local level in Kentucky during his nearly 30 years in office.
The UKTP spokesman also knows McConnell is a prolific fundraiser who will have a huge money advantage.
“We can’t match McConnell dollar-for-dollar,” Hostra said. “There’s just no way. But what we can do is talk to people on a one-to-one level. When you look at the numbers for what convinces people to vote, a one-on-one contact with someone is the most effective way to get them to vote for your candidate.”
Hofstra points to arecent statewide poll showing McConnell with just a 32 percent favorability rating as proof that the incumbent can be beaten. However, that same Bluegrass Poll showed McConnell with a 26 point lead over Bevin.
