McConnell is warmly embraced by Kentucky Republicans amid questions about his health

MAYFIELD, Ky. — U.S. Senate Republican chief Mitch McConnell obtained a rousing welcome from the social gathering devoted Saturday at a high-profile home-state political gathering amid renewed scrutiny of his well being after the 81-year-old lawmaker froze up midsentence throughout a current Capitol Hill information convention.

“That is my twenty eighth Fancy Farm, and I need to guarantee you it’s not my final,” McConnell mentioned on the high of his breakfast speech earlier than the annual picnic that’s the conventional leaping off level for the autumn marketing campaign season. It was his solely reference, nevertheless obscure, to his well being.

McConnell, who’s extensively considered the principle architect of the GOP’s rise to energy in Kentucky, arrived to a protracted standing ovation and promoted the candidacy of a protege working for governor this yr.

McConnell has been a fixture on the stage at Fancy Farm, the place he lengthy has relished jousting with Democrats. His well being has drawn elevated consideration since he briefly left his personal information convention in Washington on July 26 after stopping his remarks midsentence and staring off into area for a number of seconds. GOP colleagues standing behind him grabbed his elbows and escorted him again to his workplace. When he returned to reply questions, McConnell mentioned he was “high quality.” Requested if he’s nonetheless in a position to do his job, he mentioned, “Yeah.”

McConnell was out of the Senate for nearly six weeks earlier this yr after falling and hitting his head after a dinner occasion at a Washington resort. He was hospitalized for a number of days, and his workplace later mentioned he suffered a concussion and fractured a rib. His speech has sounded extra halting in current weeks, prompting questions amongst a few of his colleagues about his well being.

He has mentioned he plans to serve his full time period as Republican chief — he was elected to a two-year time period in January and can be up for reelection to that submit once more after the 2024 elections. McConnell was first elected to the Senate in 1984 and has been the Republican chief since 2007. He would face reelection to the Senate in 2026.

On the breakfast occasion Saturday, McConnell didn’t delve into nationwide points or touch upon former President Donald Trump‘s authorized entanglements, and he didn’t meet with reporters afterward. In his nine-minute speech. McConnell accused Democrats of getting “turned their backs on rural America.”

McConnell additionally praised Daniel Cameron, the state’s lawyer normal who’s difficult Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear in one of many nation’s most carefully watched elections this yr. McConnell mentioned he first met Cameron when Cameron was a pupil on the College of Louisville. Cameron went on to serve on McConnell’s workers as authorized counsel.

“I’ve watched him over time,” McConnell mentioned. “And now you could have. And also you’ve seen his management expertise, his capacity to rally individuals collectively.”

A rift between Trump and McConnell has reverberated in Kentucky, the place each males are in style with Republican voters. The break up grew after the senator publicly refuted Trump’s claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen, ending an uneasy partnership that had helped conservatives set up a agency majority on the Supreme Courtroom.

McConnell has been largely silent since then and has been loath to touch upon any of the three indictments of Trump this yr. The 2 have discovered widespread trigger once more within the candidacy of Cameron, who was the beneficiary of Trump’s endorsement in the course of the hard-fought Republican major for governor.