Politicsalison lundergan grimes mitch mcconnellkentucky-senate-racekentucky-senate-race-2014

Bill Clinton Backs Alison Lundergan Grimes In His First Senate Ad Of 2014

Bill Clinton Appears In His First Senate Ad This Cycle
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Washington Bureau Chief, HuffPost

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WASHINGTON -- Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes (D), who is fighting to unseat Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), is out with a new campaign ad featuring Bill Clinton.

The ad, which will begin airing statewide on Thursday, marks the first time this cycle that the former president has appeared in an ad for a Senate candidate.

"What’s being a senator about, anyway?" Clinton asks in the 30-second spot, which the campaign shared in advance with The Huffington Post. "One candidate believes it’s about getting new jobs, getting good jobs, giving middle class people a chance to give their kids a decent life. Nobody can tell me it’s not a senator’s job to create jobs! And I choose Alison, because she will work with people from both parties to do what’s right for you. Send Alison to the Senate."

Grimes' candidacy has long been a priority for Clinton; he has already made two trips to Kentucky to campaign for her. The first visit, in February, was his first 2014 campaign stop on behalf of a candidate.

“I am honored to have President Clinton’s continued support in this race,” Grimes said Wednesday. “This campaign is about the possibilities of tomorrow and building Kentucky not just for our generation, but for future generations.”

Grimes' father, Jerry Lundergan, is a former chairman of the Kentucky Democratic Party and a longtime friend of Clinton's.

In August, Grimes said she was proud to call herself "a Clinton Democrat." The former president remains popular in the state.

HuffPost Pollster, which averages the publicly available polling in the race, currently shows McConnell leading Grimes.

Clinton also appeared in an ad this cycle for former Rep. Marjorie Margolies (D-Pa.), who unsuccessfully ran in a four-way Democratic primary in Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district. Margolies is Chelsea Clinton's mother-in-law.

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Before You Go

Mitch McConnell & Alison Lundergan Grimes
Mitch McConnell(01 of25)
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U.S. Senator Tom Coburn (R) holds a gun given to him by US Senate Minority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell during the American Conservative Union Conference on March 6, 2014 in National Harbor, Maryland. (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Mitch McConnell (02 of25)
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WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 11: Sen. Mitch McConnell (C) (R-KY) answers questions following a weekly policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on March 11, 2014 in Washington, DC. Also pictured (L-R) are Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), Sen. John Thune (R-SD) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX). (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Mitch McConnell(03 of25)
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WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 11: U.S. Senate Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) (C) speaks while flanked by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) (R) and Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) (L) and Sen. John Thune (R-SD), March 11, 2014 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Senate GOP leaders spoke to the media about various issues including CIA spying and the situation in Ukraine. after attending their weekly policy luncheon. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Mitch McConnell (04 of25)
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WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 05: U.S. Senate Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) (2nd L) speaks as Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) (L) and Sen. John Thune (R-SD) (R) listen during a news briefing March 5, 2014 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Senate GOP leaders spoke to members of the media after their weekly policy luncheon. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Mitch McConnell (05 of25)
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) shakes hands Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (C), R-Kentucky, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, March 3, 2014. Also pictured is Israeli Minister of Intelligence Yuval Steinitz (R). (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Mitch McConnell (06 of25)
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WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 12: Jordan's King Abdullah II (C) poses for photographs with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) (L) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) at the U.S. Capitol February 12, 2014 in Washington, DC. King Abdullah met with members of Congress and Vice President Joe Biden and will meet with President Barack Obama on Friday in California. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Mitch McConnell (07 of25)
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WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 04: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) (2nd-R) speaks to reporters while flanked by (L-R), Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) Sen. John Thune (R-SD) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) after attending the weekly Republican policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on February 4, 2014 in Washington, DC. Senate Republicans gathered at a luncheon to discuss various issues inlcluding todays Farm bill vote. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Mitch McConnell (08 of25)
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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. arrives for President Barack Obama's State of the Union address on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Jan. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (credit:AP)
Mitch McConnell (09 of25)
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WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 13: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) walks back to his office in the U.S. Capitol January 13, 2014 in Washington, DC. The Senate is set for procedural votes Monday on an $18 billion extension of the long-term unemployment insurance program and the nomination of Robert Wilkins to be U.S. circuit judge for the D.C. Circuit. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Mitch McConnell(10 of25)
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WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 17: U.S. Senate Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) (L) listens during a media briefing after the weekly Senate Republican Policy Committee luncheon on December 17, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Senate GOPs held the weekly luncheon to discuss Republican agenda. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Mitch McConnell(11 of25)
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WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 21: (L-R) Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) speaks as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) looks on during a news conference on Capitol Hill, November 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. The Senate voted 52-48 to invoke the so-called 'nuclear option', voting to change Senate rules on the controversial filibuster for most presidential nominations with a simple majority vote. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Mitch McConnell (12 of25)
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U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, arrives at the Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on October 16, 2013. U.S. lawmakers embarked on another day of high-stakes political brinkmanship Wednesday, battling to scrape together an eleventh hour deal to protect Washington's battered financial standing. (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Alison Lundergan Grimes(13 of25)
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LOUISVILLE, KY - FEBRUARY 25: Kentucky Democratic Senate Candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes (L) and Former U.S. President Bill Clinton wave to supporters during a campaign event at the Galt House Hotel on February 25, 2014 in Louisville, Kentucky. Grimes is challenging Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in the 2014 midterm elections. (Photo by Luke Sharrett/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Alison Lundergan Grimes(14 of25)
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LOUISVILLE, KY - FEBRUARY 25: Kentucky Democratic Senate Candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes listens as Former U.S. President Bill Clinton delivers remarks during a campaign event at the Galt House Hotel on February 25, 2014 in Louisville, Kentucky. Grimes is challenging Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in the 2014 midterm elections. (Photo by Luke Sharrett/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Alison Lundergan Grimes(15 of25)
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Kentucky Secretary of State and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Alison Lundergan Grimes addresses the Kentucky County Judge Executive Association and the Kentucky Magistrates and Commissioners Association Joint Convention Thursday July 18, 2013 , in Louisville, Ky. Grimes is running against Mitch McConnell (R-Ky), and this was her first public appearance since announcing her candidacy July 1st. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley) (credit:AP)
Alison Lundergan Grimes(16 of25)
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Democratic Senate candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes speaks at a citizenship ceremony on Friday, Aug. 30, 2013 in Louisville, Ky. Elaine Chao, the wife of Grimes' possible opponent in next year's election, Sen. Mitch McConnell, also spoke at the ceremony and listens to Grimes' speech. (AP Photo/Bruce Schreiner) (credit:AP)
Alison Lundergan Grimes(17 of25)
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Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, candidate for U.S. Senate, waits to speak during the 133rd Annual Fancy Farm Picnic in Fancy Farm, Ky., Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013. (AP Photo/Stephen Lance Dennee) (credit:AP)
Alison Lundergan Grimes(18 of25)
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Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks during the 133rd annual Fancy Farm picnic in Fancy Farm, Ky., Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013. Grimes will face the winner of the Republican primary election in May, 2014. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is facing opposition from tea party challenger Matt Bevin, a Louisville businessman, in the primary. (AP Photo/Stephen Lance Dennee) (credit:AP)
Alison Lundergan Grimes(19 of25)
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Kentucky Secretary of State and democratic U.S. Senate candidate Alison Lundergan-Grimes speaks to KET television during the 133rd Annual Fancy Farm Picnic in Fancy Farm, Ky., Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013. The annual picnic is considered the state's political season kick-off event. (AP Photo/Stephen Lance Dennee) (credit:AP)
Alison Lundergan Grimes(20 of25)
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Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan-Grimes, center, sings happy birthday with Shara Elder, 17 of Fancy Farm, Ky., and Mary Beth Elder Paschall, 32, of Murray, Ky., during the 133rd Annual Fancy Farm Picnic in Fancy Farm, Ky., Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013. Grimes is seeking the democratic candidacy for U.S. Senate. The annual picnic is considered the state's political season kick-off event. (AP Photo/Stephen Lance Dennee) (credit:AP)
Alison Lundergan Grimes(21 of25)
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Kentucky Secretary of State and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Alison Lundergan Grimes, talks to reporters after addressing the Kentucky County Judge Executive Association and the Kentucky Magistrates and Commissioners Association Joint Convention Thursday, July 18, 2013 , in Louisville, Ky. Grimes is running against Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley) (credit:AP)
Alison Lundergan Grimes(22 of25)
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FILE - In this Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011 file photo, Democratic candidate for Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes gives her victory speech at the party's headquarters in Frankfort, Ky. Grimes could be a strong challenger in next years U.S. Senate race if she runs as a Washington outsider against both Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and President Barack Obama. University of Kentucky political scientist Ernie Yanarella said if Grimes decides to get into the race she will have to set herself apart from Obama on coal, which has proven so influential in Kentucky politics. (AP Photo/John Flavell, File) (credit:AP)
Alison Lundergan Grimes(23 of25)
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Democratic Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, a potential challenger to U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, chats with party leaders at a dinner in Louisville, Ky., on Thursday, June 6, 2013. Grimes has given no time frame announcing whether she will run in next year's election. (AP Photo/Roger Alford) (credit:AP)
Alison Lundergan Grimes(24 of25)
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Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes speaks with reporters about her decision to challenge U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell during a press conference in Frankfort, Ky., on Monday, July 1, 2013. Grimes criticized McConnell as an obstructionist in Washington. (AP Photo/Roger Alford) (credit:AP)
Alison Lundergan Grimes(25 of25)
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Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes speaks during an outdoor political rally in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, July 30, 2013. Grimes is running for U.S. Senate in Ky. in an attempt to unseat Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. (AP Photo/Roger Alford) (credit:AP)
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