Bill Clinton Hits Campaign Trail
COSTELLO: The road to the 2014 and 2016 elections will be well traveled today by some of the biggest names from both parties. Former President Bill Clinton heads to Kentucky to campaign with Alison Grimes. Grimes is running against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Hillary Clinton heads to Washington where she'll present awards for advancing women and peace and security at Georgetown University. And in New Jersey, Chris Christie has money on his mind. He'll deliver his annual budget address. But back to Bill Clinton for just a minute -- he's heading to Louisville today to add some star power in the fight to unseat Republican Mitch McConnell. This selection may be the most difficult for the Senate minority leader. Erin McPike is in Louisville this morning to tell us more. Good morning.</s>ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, good morning. Well, polls show a tight race between Mitch McConnell and the Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes. Now, her family has known the Clintons for years. We want to show you a photo of Alison Grimes meeting the Clintons in 1993 at the Lincoln Memorial. Her father catered some events for that inauguration and up to Chelsea Clinton's wedding in 2010, and those long relationships should help her in this campaign.</s>MCPIKE (voice-over): Mitch McConnell is leading the charge to sweep Senate Democrats from power in this year's midterm elections.</s>SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY), MINORITY LEADER: These people need to be stopped. A good way to stop them is to make me the majority leader of the United States Senate this November.</s>MCPIKE: But he has to win re-election first. And that may prove harder than the past four times he's done it.</s>MCCONNELL: Kentucky is thought of not deep red but reddish. Reddish.</s>MCPIKE: Now, remember him, Bill Clinton carried the typically red Blue Grass State in both of his presidential elections in the 90s. He campaigned against McConnell in the tougher than expected race in 2008. Today, he's making his first big stop on the 2014 campaign trail.</s>BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT: We have simply got to have more people who are willing to reach across the aisle.</s>MCPIKE: Campaigning for the Democrats' 35-year-old star recruit.</s>ALISON LUNDERGAN GRIMES (D-KY), SENATE CANDIDATE: I'm Alison Lundergan Grimes. And with your help, I will be the next United States senator from Kentucky.</s>MCPIKE: Grimes is secretary of state and was an attorney in Lexington. Her father Gerry Lundergan chaired the Kentucky Democratic Party twice and has a relationship with Clinton spanning three decades. Candidate Grimes is leaning heavily on the Clintons, and sought their advice getting into the race. Before he gets a clear shot at the Democrats, McConnell must defeat Tea Party-backed challenger Matt Bevin in the state's GOP primary. The far right has been a thorn in McConnell's side both at home and in Washington. With Ted Cruz's maneuvers causing problems, like shooting down the government for 16 days.