We're wrapping up our first week on 'the trail' with a look at the most high-profile Senate race in the country: Sen. Mitch McConnell could be the next majority leader--but he could also lose a close race to Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes.
And the big guns have come out in this race: in Grimes' corner, former President Bill Clinton; and for the Senate Minority Leader: 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.
So where does the race stand today?
SHIFTING POLLS: An NBC News/Marist poll last month showed McConnell opening up an 8-point lead in the race against Grimes. It's a notable shift from a poll in May when McConnell and Grimes were essentially deadlocked. Will the current momentum for McConnell push him to re-election in November? (More: NBC News)
'SEND ALISON TO THE SENATE': Former President Bill Clinton lent his Democratic star power to Grimes in a new ad released this week. "I choose Alison because she will work with people in both parties to do what's right for you," Clinton says in the ad. "Send Alison to the Senate." The endorsement reminder could boost Grimes, as a recent poll has found that 37% of adults would be more likely to vote for a candidate endorsed by the former president. Clinton previously stumped for Grimes in August in Kentucky. (More: The Hill)
MCCONNELL, 'GOOD FOR AMERICA': Former presidential hopeful Mitt Romney joined the Senate Minority Leader on the campaign trail this week as well, telling Kentucky voters he was looking forward to seeing McConnell as Senate Majority Leader. And although attention did turn to a potential 2016 campaign from Romney (he was quick to shoot the rumors down), the former Massachusetts governor kept focus on the Kentucky Senate race, and about the failures of the Democrats and the president. (More: The Courier-Journal)