Sen. Reid says he'll stay out of McConnell's Ky. race

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he won't be getting involved in the Kentucky race to defeat his GOP counterpart, Mitch McConnell.

Reid, D-Nev., told Bloomberg TV's Al Hunt that he won't campaign for Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, the Democrat who hopes to challenge McConnell in the 2014 general election. McConnell also faces a GOP primary challenge from businessman Matt Bevin, who has Tea Party support.

"I'm a traditionalist here, and that isn't anything I've ever done and will not do," Reid said in the Bloomberg TV interview, airing Friday night.

Reid and McConnell have had their differences over the years, especially recently over Senate rules dealing with filibusters and confirmation of presidential appointees.

Over the years, it has not been uncommon to see a sitting senator help a colleague's rival in a campaign. There's even precedent for one Senate leader to try and defeat another: In 2004, then-Senate majority leader Bill Frist helped John Thune defeat Democratic leader Tom Daschle in South Dakota.

McConnell is in one of the toughest campaigns of his life as he seeks a sixth term in the Senate. Grimes raised $2.5 million from July through September, outpacing the nearly $2.3 million brought in by McConnell during the same period.

Reid did not commit to helping Grimes raise campaign cash in the future against McConnell, a formidable fundraiser. "I don't think she needs much of my help," Reid told Bloomberg TV. "She seems to be doing pretty well."

The Searchlight Leadership Fund, which is Reid's leadership PAC, contributed $5,000 to Grimes in the third quarter, according to Political MoneyLine. Grimes touted a Reid-hosted luncheon in Las Vegas in October via ActBlue.com.

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