McConnell has closed-door chat with Rand Paul

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FRANKFORT, Ky. -- A leading contender for one of Kentucky's two U.S. Senate seats met privately Thursday with Republican floor leader Mitch McConnell in a get-together that was described as cordial.

The meeting came only days after the candidate, Bowling Green eye surgeon Rand Paul, hedged when asked if he would vote to keep McConnell in his Senate leadership post. Paul, son of former Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview after the meeting that he didn't intend to slight McConnell.

"I have nothing but high compliments about his job as minority leader," Paul said. "I have no reason not to support him."

Paul said he talked with McConnell for about a half-hour during the meeting in Louisville.

"We had a very cordial conversation," Paul said. "I think it's probably better not to go into any detail about what we talked about."

McConnell spokesman Robert Steurer didn't immediately respond to messages left on his cell phone and e-mail.

Paul is running against two-term Secretary of State Trey Grayson in next year's GOP Senate primary. The eventual Republican nominee will likely face one of two well-funded Democrats, Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo or Attorney General Jack Conway.

The question about whether Paul, if elected, would vote for McConnell to keep his leadership position was posed in a television interview on Saturday.

"I don't know that I can make a judgment," Paul told WHAS-TV in Louisville. "I've got to win the primary first."

Grayson tried to spin Paul's comment as a snub of McConnell. In a statement Wednesday, Grayson said if he's elected he would fully support Kentucky's senior senator, the only Kentuckian ever to serve as Republican Senate leader.

"I recognize the importance of that for the commonwealth, and I will absolutely, 100 percent, vote to keep Senator Mitch McConnell as GOP leader in the Senate if I am elected," Grayson said.

In the TV interview last Saturday, Paul didn't rule out voting for McConnell. "I would very much recognize how important it is having a Kentucky senator in leadership," he said.

Since entering the race in August, Paul has banked more than $1.3 million, making him a formidable candidate. Grayson collected $1.2 million between May and October, according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Although Kentucky is solidly Democratic by voter registration, voters trend Republican in federal races. The GOP now holds both Senate seats and four of six House seats.

Republican leaders have been largely mum about the Paul-Grayson race. McConnell hosted a GOP fundraiser in Washington for Grayson in September, but the campaign hasn't released the fundraising total.

Paul said he requested the meeting with McConnell.

"It was just a friendly conversation, really," Paul said. "I don't want him to think there's any antagonism at all, and there isn't."