Consevative organization FreedomWorks announced their endorsement of businessman Matt Bevin to challenge Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in the upcoming 2014 elections, POLITICO reported.
The FreedomWorks PAC argued Bevin was a stronger choice, accusing McConnell of "helping the Democrats" fund the Affordable Care Act by not supporting a plan by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) to vote down on any spending bill that did not defund the law, causing a 16-day government shutdown. The group was also critical of the deal McConnell made with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to end it.
"He orchestrated the McConnell-Reid sellout bargain to increase the debt limit and fully fund a broken health care law, getting a $1.2 billion 'special project kickback' in the process," said FreedomWorks PAC President Matt Kibbe. "Kentucky deserves better, and looking at the dropping poll numbers for McConnell, there's no reason to settle."
Allison Moore, McConnell's campaign spokeswoman, released a statement chiding the conservative group for their choice to support Bevin, claiming they evolved from "conservative reform to conservative cannibalism."
"A group that used to pride itself on grass-roots empowerment has endorsed a self-funding New England millionaire who takes taxpayer bailouts for his uninsured business, says he is a constitutionalist when he knows little about the Constitution and falsely claims he attended MIT," Moore said.
However, FreedomWorks PAC is not alone in their support for Bevin -- they are joined by the Senate Conservatives Fund and the Madison Project. As POLITICO reported, they will need the assistance supporting him since McConnell has more funds and is backed by the RNC and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
On Wednesday, another conservative group -- the Club for Growth -- said they have yet to make a decision and are "watching the race."
