Kentucky Hardball

Mitch McConnell’s people aren’t going to waste any time squashing primary challenger Matt Bevin:

“This is a nuisance problem that we just need to put to bed,” says McConnell campaign manager Jesse Benton. “We have a very, very thick, plentiful opposition-research book on this guy that is just full of disqualifying material.”

“When you look at this guy’s record in business and his personal record, it doesn’t take a long time to realize he’s a fraud,” Benton adds. “It’s not going to be difficult to brand him as that.”

I don’t know what it is, but the GOP has had a very hard time attracting quality Senate candidate the last two cycles. People almost too crazy to represent gerrymandered congressional (and funky) districts were waging statewide Senate campaigns with all the national attention that brings, and then failing spectacularly. And sometimes comically.

A mediocre-or-worse congressional candidate can still win, often handily. But Senate races are where the big boys play, and that’s a lesson GOP voters need to re-learn.