McConnell endorses in homestate race; but other Republican candidate leads

Rand Paul continues to hold a wide lead in the GOP Senate primary in Kentucky, but could Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) popularity tip the race?

A new Public Policy Polling (D) survey shows Paul leading Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson 46-28 with two weeks left in their race. The poll comes a day after Grayson’s campaign released a poll showing the race knotted at 40. All other recent polling has shown Paul leading the race by double digits.

Grayson sought to thwart some of Paul’s momentum Tuesday by announcing the endorsement of McConnell, who generally shies away from contested primaries.

PPP shows McConnell’s approval rating among Republican voters at 68 percent positive and 20 percent negative, so his endorsement could be a good one for Grayson. That is, as long as the anti-Washington sentiment doesn’t trump McConnell’s popularity.

A concurrent PPP poll of the Democratic primary shows it narrowing somewhat, with state Attorney General Jack Conway getting to within single digits of Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo. Mongiardo, who has also led by double digits for much of the race, now leads 36-27.

The primary is May 18th.