McConnell hits Bevin on ‘pattern of deceptions’

Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) campaign is hammering his primary challenger, businessman Matt Bevin, for what it considers to be his “pattern of deceptions” in a new radio ad.

The ad ties together two incidents that have complicated Bevin’s campaign — one in which he overstated his educational qualifications, and one in which he appears to have changed his position on the Wall Street bailout — as evidence. 

{mosads}“Some patterns are easy to see,” the narrator opens.

He alludes to a report in The Hill last year that revealed Bevin claimed educational ties to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on his LinkedIn online resume but that the three-week seminar he attended had no formal link to the school.

And he notes the recent emergence of a report issued by his former investment firm while he was president, with his name signed at the bottom, praising the Troubled Asset Relief Program. Bevin and other conservative groups have criticized the program and the senator’s support for it. McConnell’s supporters have charged Bevin’s apparent flip-flop on the issue is proof he’ll say anything to fit the needs of the day.

Bevin has given an inconsistent explanation of how his name ended up on the report but denied writing it and has said he didn’t agree with its contents.

In the radio ad, the narrator declares, “Once again, Bevin was caught. His pattern of deceptions is something to keep in mind the next time you hear him launching false attacks against Mitch McConnell.”

“Matt Bevin: He’s not who he says he is, and he’s definitely not a Kentucky conservative.”

Bevin has been tackling questions over the TARP letter for the past two weeks, and it’s caused some in Kentucky to ask whether his candidacy is now damaged.

But conservatives in Kentucky have stood by him, and it’s unclear yet what lasting damage the news will do to his campaign.

On Wednesday, he sought to shift focus back on McConnell with two short television ads hitting him on guns and earmarks, though those are backed by a reportedly small $30,000 buy.

McConnell is ultimately favored in the primary, and he’s led Bevin by double digits in every poll of the race. He’s expected to face Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes in the general election.