Democrats are hoping to make hay out of a recording of Sen. Mitch McConnell laying out priorities and strategy with wealthy conservatives.
But the Minority Leader’s campaign argues the remarks don’t represent a departure from his standard campaign speeches.
The tape, released by liberal magazine The Nation, is difficult to make out, but the Republican leader can be heard outlining some strategies for countering Obama administration policies during a summit hosted by billionaire investors the Koch Brothers.
On the recording, McConnell pans Democratic proposals to raise the minimum wage and extend unemployment insurance, and recommends ways the Republicans can use the spending bill to challenge Obama on healthcare, financial services, and the EPA should they retake the Senate in November.
"And I assure you that in the spending bill, we will be pushing back against this bureaucracy by doing what's called placing riders in the bill," McConnell says.
Democratic Senate candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes’ campaign is arguing the tape shows that McConnell’s “allegiances lie with his millionaire and billionaire donors at the expense of hardworking Kentuckians.”
But the McConnell camp has largely reacted with a shrug, saying the comments are completely in line with his public positions on the issues. Campaign's senior adviser Josh Holmes joked on Twitter: "Really have to hand it to the nation for scoring a recording of a stump speech. Can hear it again today at 5 KY locations!"
