McConnell Gets Primary Argument in New ACU Vote Ratings

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) got a bit of a boost in his argument against any potential primary challenger.

The American Conservative Union today released its 2012 ACU Ratings of Congress, giving members who scored a perfect 100 percent on the group’s voting ratings a “Defender of Liberty” honor.

Senators who always voted to the ACU’s liking were McConnell, Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.). Kyl retired at the end of the 112th Congress.

The Tea Party has put McConnell in its sights, but only recently has a potential challenger, businessman Matt Bevin, emerged. National Journal reports that the candidate may split Tea Partiers, though.

Members of the House to score 100 percent were Reps. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), Diane Black (R-Tenn.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Paul Broun (R-Ga.), Dan Burton (R-Ind.), Mike Conaway (R-Texas), Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), John Fleming (R-La.), Bill Flores (R-Texas), Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), Scott Garrett (R-N.J.), Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), Tom Graves (R-Ga.), Wally Herger (R-Calif.), Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), Lynn Jenkins (R-Kansas), Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Jeff Landry (R-La.), Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas), Pete Olson (R-Texas), Mike Pompeo (R-Kansas), Bill Posey (R-Fla.), Tom Price (R-Ga.), Ben Quayle (R-Ariz.), Todd Rokita (R-Ind.), Ed Royce (R-Calif.), Steve Scalise (R-La.), David Schweikert (R-Ariz.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.), Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.), Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.), and Joe Wilson (R-S.C.).

Flake and Scott have since ascended to the Senate.