McConnell, Grimes finally face off in Kentucky Senate debate

Race at a glance

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, and Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, a Democrat, have been taking swings at each other all year in one of the most contentious and hotly contested 2014 Senate battles. On Monday evening, they met face-to-face in the first and only extended debate in a race that will help decide control of the U.S. Senate, as well as whether McConnell will become majority leader. The debate was hosted by KET, a statewide public television network.

First take

McConnell, 72, has been the narrow favorite in the race, and Monday's debate did not appear to dramatically change that reality. He has largely maintained a consistent, but narrow, polling advantage, so there was more pressure on Grimes to shake up the narrative in the race and regain some of her early momentum. Grimes, 35, was confident and prepared against the seasoned incumbent, but her continued refusal to candidly answer whether she voted for President Obama in 2008 and 2012 is likely to haunt her in the final weeks of the race.

McConnell highlights

McConnell has been a top target by Grimes and national Democrats as an obstructionist in the Senate, so it was notable that McConnell started the debate touting his record of bipartisanship with Vice President Biden on three major budget bills since 2010. “The vice president and I negotiated every one of them," he boasted. One of his best retorts was in response to a Grimes explanation on the difference between a 'Clinton Democrat' and an 'Obama Democrat.' “There’s not a dime’s worth of difference between an Obama Democrat and a Clinton Democrat," McConnell replied.

Grimes highlights

Grimes doubled down on her non-response as to whether she voted for Obama, claiming the sanctity of the ballot box in America, which McConnell is already using in attack ads. But Grimes lobbed consistent, aggressive attacks on McConnell and made regular mention of his three decades in office — undoubtedly seeking to capture voter frustration at Washington. “Sen. McConnell’s 30 year record? It’s gridlock. It’s obstruction. It’s extreme partisanship.”

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