Democratic discord over the Keystone XL pipeline displayed itself on Wednesday as Kentucky Senate candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes called on President Obama to approve the project on the same day a San Francisco-based PAC opposed to the pipeline announced plans to spend $500,000 in the state to oust Republican Mitch McConnell for his support of it.
Prior to Grimes’s statement, Creedo SuperPAC revealed its decision to spend half a million dollars to defeat McConnell, who it described as “one of the most obstructionist leaders” when it comes to combating climate change. Before Wednesday, Grimes had yet to take a position on the pipeline.
But later in the day, Grimes came out in favor of the pipeline’s construction, declaring the “good-paying jobs that strengthen the middle class” that would come from the project a “top priority.” She even said environmental concerns over the pipeline “have been addressed.”
Credo SuperPAC, which had already stated it would not aid Louisiana’s Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu because of her support of Keystone and her “votes against progressives,” defended its support of Grimes.
Although Grimes may not share their position, “the Keystone XL issue is not up to the Senate,” so she would not determine the project’s future. “The most important vote for us is the vote cast for majority leader,” the group’s president said.