McConnell Campaign Takes Shape and Awaits Opposition

The campaign team seeking to re-elect four-term Republican Senator Mitch McConnell features some familiar names from the Senator's past races as well as Republican operatives with success elsewhere in Kentucky.

Long-time McConnell pollster Jan Van Lohuizen of Houston-based Voter Consumer Research will continue to handle public opinion work for the campaign. Van Lohuizen also served as a primary pollster for President George W. Bush's re-election campaign in 2004 and Mitt Romney's 2008 presidential bid.

Media consultant Larry McCarthy of the Washington, D.C. firm McCarthy, Marcus, and Hennings is already working with the McConnell camp. McCarthy's past client list includes Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski and KY-3 Republican candidate Anne Northup during her 2004 win and 2006 loss.

The campaign also hired Nate Hodson as its Fundraising Director in Kentucky. Hodson previously managed Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson's winning 2007 campaign and worked on Geoff Davis' winning 2006 4th Congressional District defense.

Another former Davis operative is managing McConnell's 2008 campaign. Justin Brasell was hired to head the effort in August of last year. Brasell managed Davis' last two election bids and also served as the Congressman's Chief-of-Staff in Washington.

With only nominal primary opposition, the McConnell camp is preparing organizationally and financially for November as Democrats choose their candidate from a seven person field.

"We are focused on getting our campaign organized in every county and we are scheduling fundraisers around the state. We are confident we are going to keep building momentum until November," said Brasell.