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 Locked in a tight race with Kentucky's Democratic Secretary of
State Alison Lundergan Grimes, McConnell has not received much help
from Paul, a libertarian-leaning freshman senator who has openly
flirted with a White House bid.
Paul has barnstormed the country campaigning for candidates, but his
involvement in the Kentucky race has been sparse even as McConnell
regularly mentions his more popular younger colleague in campaign
speeches.
The two senators come from different wings of the Republican Party;
McConnell is a long-time member of the establishment and Paul swept
into office in 2010's Tea Party wave.
But McConnell's victory has seemed more likely in recent weeks as
poll numbers stay on his side and national Democrats have shrunk
their own investment in the race.
 Paul said in an interview he would go to Kentucky on Nov. 3 to
campaign with McConnell.
"Alison Grimes is in a downward spiral right now. You know, the
national party is pulling out of the race. They're no longer going
to spend money in her race, and she can't remember who she voted for
for president," Paul told Reuters after campaigning for local
candidates in Virginia, referring to Grimes' repeated refusal to say
whether she voted for President Barack Obama in 2012.
"I think it's pretty difficult if you want to run for high office if
you're not willing to admit who you voted for president. It also
really shows the depths of the president's popularity that his own
party won't even admit to voting for him," Paul added, not
specifically mentioning McConnell while assessing the race.
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While Paul has been active in a series of races across the country,
especially in states that play a big role in the presidential
nominating process, others have parachuted into Kentucky.
Grimes' campaign, for example, was given a boost by likely
Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton on Wednesday
night at a large rally in Louisville.
"Let's put another crack in that glass ceiling," Clinton said of
sending another woman to the Senate.
But Paul, who was in the strategically important state of New
Hampshire on Thursday and is due in Iowa, the other most influential
state, next week, brushed off the notion that Clinton could
significantly help Grimes.
"People mistake thinking the Clintons are popular in Kentucky," Paul
said.
(Reporting by Gabriel Debenedetti and Jeff Mason; Editing by Cynthia
Osterman)
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