Mitch McConnell Reveals 'The Real Secret' To Rand Paul's Success

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) revealed "the real secret" to the success of Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.): "his authenticity."

McConnell wrote about Paul for Time's 100 Most Influential People list.

"[N]o one in either party today brings the level of missionary zeal to the task that Rand Paul does," McConnell writes. "From Berkeley, Calif., to Detroit, my Kentucky colleague has been cheerfully clearing a path for Republican ideals in the unlikeliest precincts."

McConnell said Paul's "authenticity" is "a trait that’s obvious to anyone who has seen him come out of a D.C. television studio in Ray-Bans and shorts, or hold the Senate floor for half a day to get answers from an imperious White House."

HuffPost's Howard Fineman reported earlier on McConnell and Paul's efforts to help each other in their upcoming reelections (2014 for McConnell, 2016 for Paul). To give the Senate Minority Leader a boost in his race against tea partier Matt Bevin and Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes, Paul endorsed McConnell this month, calling him "an important ally" after initially shying away from questions about his support.

Other lawmakers included on Time's Most Influential list include Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R), former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama. For more on the political figures featured on the list, go here.