In doing so, the Kentucky Senator joins former President Donald Trump in supporting Walker, who briefly played for a Trump-dominated team in the long-defunct USFL.
McConnell's move comes after an almost year-long war of words between the two GOP giants over Trump's repeated emphasis about re-litigating his 2020 election loss to now-President Biden and his many calls for McConnell to be ousted as Senate Republican leader.
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The Senator's support, which was shared first with Fox News and Politico, signals that the GOP Senate leadership, with most of the party establishment in the country’s capital, is rallying around Walker's bid to challenge Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock in a race next year. This may determine if the GOP wins back the Senate majority in the 2022 midterms.
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"I am happy to endorse Herschel Walker for the U.S. Senate in Georgia," McConnell announced in a statement ." Herschel is the only one who can unite the party, defeat Senator Warnock, and help us take back the Senate. I look forward to working with Herschel in Washington to get the job done."
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Walker thanked McConnell for the support and "his commitment to bringing the party together toward the collective goal of defeating Senator Warnock. The Democrats have already said they will spend whatever it takes to keep Georgia blue. The stakes have never been higher — if we all work together, we will win next November and take back the Senate."
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Republicans close to McConnell over the summer privately showed concerns that Walker, an untested first-time candidate with possible political baggage, would be ready for the rigors of a high-profile Senate campaign. Though, such talk from McConnell's inner circle soon receded. GOP sources tell Fox News that Walker, a longtime Trump ally and surrogate, has recently held what was described as a pair of "cordial conversations" with McConnell.
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McConnell becomes at least the sixth Republican Senator to back Walker. And his backing comes two days after Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Senate Republican, supported Walker. The endorsement by Thune, the Senate GOP whip, went after the lawmaker from South Dakota regarding Walker's candidacy earlier this year.
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The 59-year old Walker has discounted such concerns, though he has run a carefully scripted campaign since he declared his candidacy.
Walker was promptly backed by Trump, which along with the gridiron legend's tremendous name recognition in Georgia, boosted him to front-runner status in the GOP nomination race. And in the fundraising race, Walker sprinted out of the gates, hauling in $3.7 million from his launch through the close of September, which marked the end of the third quarter fundraising.