Rand Paul antagonist behind anti-McConnell super-PAC

Opponents of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) have launched a super-PAC aimed at young voters that features a puppet McConnell as its mascot.

The Puppet PAC blasted an email to reporters late Thursday night with a statement from “Puppet Senator Mitch McConnell” asking for support.

{mosads}”Hello my name is Puppet Senator Mitch McConnell and I am hitting the campaign trail to tell you all of the great things I have been a part of in Washington D.C. Unfortunately, someone who looks a lot like me has been going around our nations capitol ruining my good puppet name,” the statement reads.

An introductory video on the PAC’s site features a clip of a recent press conference in which McConnell declined to take off-topic questions from press, because, as he said, “as you can imagine I’d prefer the news of that day to be what I’d like it to to be, rather than what you all may be interested in pursuing.”

The clip then shifts to a puppet McConnell bopping around a podium.

The PAC’s site clarifies in a message directed at young voters that the group wants “to host community concerts in your town, start a chapter at your college, and register you to vote for the 2014 General Election Cycle on Nov. 6.”

And it encourages supporters to submit “memes, artwork, songs, Vine videos, funny shorts or an inspirational project” to the site, and offers top submissions the opportunity to be featured.

The email announcing the PAC was sent by Tyler Collins, the same Collins that attended a 2010 Fancy Farm event posing as a then-candidate Rand Paul (R-Ky.) supporter, wearing a tinfoil hat and carrying a racially-charged poster.

His appearance sparked controversy in Kentucky political circles as it was interpreted by some as an attempt by the campaign of Paul’s Democratic opponent, Jack Conway, to reflect negatively on Paul.

Collins later issued an apology to local political blog Hillbillyreport.org in which he apologized for the costume and clarified he was not affiliated or in contact with either campaign.

Asked whether he was in fact the person involved in that controversy, Collins confirmed but deferred questions to “puppet Sen. Mitch McConnell.”

“I am one of many people involved here at Puppet PAC and do not speak for the organization as a spokesmen. Puppet Sen. Mitch McConnell answers all questions because it is his campaign. Thank you,” he said.

–This piece was updated at 8:26 to reflect comment from Collins.