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Madeleine Albright Endorses Alison Lundergan Grimes For Senate

Madeleine Albright Endorses Alison Lundergan Grimes For U.S. Senate
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Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright endorsed Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes (D) on Tuesday in her bid for the U.S. Senate.

“Alison is one of the brightest young leaders in America, and I am proud to stand with Alison in her campaign. Her detailed plan to build the middle class will make our country stronger at home and abroad,” Albright said in a statement posted on Grimes' campaign website.

“We need more leaders who will go to Washington and put the American people before partisan politics. I know that Alison will be one of those leaders,” she added.

Grimes tweeted a picture on Tuesday of herself with Albright:

Grimes also touted the endorsement in a Tuesday HuffPost blog post she penned celebrating Women's Equality Day:

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was among those who paved the way for women in government as our nation's first female Secretary of State, and I am proud to accept her endorsement for my U.S. Senate candidacy on this important day.

Secretary Albright broke glass ceilings, both as Secretary of State and as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under the Clinton administration. Secretary Albright's got grit. In a career field dominated by men, she overcame many hurdles to succeed -- not just professionally, but also as a mother to two girls. I'm elated and humbled to have her in my corner.

This latest endorsement further aligns Grimes with the administration of former President Bill Clinton, who has campaigned for Grimes in Kentucky. Albright served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during Clinton's first term, and as U.S. secretary of state during his second term.

When Clinton campaigned with Grimes in August, she referred to herself as a "Clinton Democrat."

Her father, Jerry Lundergan, has been friends with Clinton since the 1980s, and worked on then-Sen. Hillary Clinton's (D-N.Y.) 2008 presidential campaign. He also served stints as head of the Kentucky Democratic Party.

Grimes has tried, however, to distance herself from President Barack Obama, especially on the issue of coal regulations.

Her opponent, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), is being supported by former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who served in former President George W. Bush's administration.

HuffPost Pollster has Grimes trailing McConnell narrowly in the November general election:

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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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Mitch McConnell(03 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)
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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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Mitch McConnell(11 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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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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