Former Ron Paul Aide Hired by Mitch McConnell

It seems like a move designed to irritate at least two factions

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has hired a loyal aide to Rep. Ron Paul and fellow Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul to run his 2014 reelection bid -- the latest sign of how the wily leader is already preparing to head off any tea party insurgency and Democratic challenge.

McConnell announced Thursday that he's hired Jesse Benton, who led both Ron Paul's 2012 presidential campaign and Rand Paul's 2010 Senate campaign, to run his reelection bid for a sixth term.