Addison Mitchell McConnell has been known for his bare-knuckle politics since he first beat Sen. Walter Huddleston in 1984 for the Kentucky Senate seat the incumbent Democrat had held for three terms — a surprise win in a state which at the time rarely elected Republicans.

The race was won largely on a last-minute ad McConnell ran, which featured a pack of bloodhounds running around looking for his opponent who missed numerous votes because of his paid speech schedule.