McConnell Becomes Longest Serving Ky. Senator

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on Saturday became the longest-serving senator in Kentucky history, surpassing former Sen. Wendell Ford (D).

McConnell and Ford were both honored in floor remarks Monday by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who noted several similarities between his and McConnell’s Senate careers.

“It is well-known that in our respective positions as minority and majority leader, Sen. McConnell and I disagree at times,” Reid said. “But behind the scenes, in the places where cameras do not record our discussions, we are not only friends but determined partners in the legislative process. That doesn’t mean we always see eye-to-eye, but in the words of President-elect Obama, we are able to disagree without being disagreeable.”

Of Ford, Reid said he was “not only a genuine Kentucky legend, he is a wonderful man, and I continue to enjoy his visits back to Washington, D.C.”

McConnell began his remarks by thanking Kentucky voters for returning him to the Senate last November before going on to praise Ford.

“Wendell Ford served in this body for 8,772 days, a record that stood for nearly 11 years until Jan. 10, this past Saturday. He never lost an election for public office. Kentucky sent him to the U.S. Senate four times, and he was the first state-wide candidate to carry all 120 counties in Kentucky,” McConnell said.

“How does a country boy from Yellow Creek achieve such success at the highest levels of American politics? I think it