APNewsBreak: Rand Paul’s sheriff endorsements shaky in Kentucky’s US Senate campaign

APNewsBreak: Paul’s sheriff endorsements shaky

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Kentucky sheriff says the campaign of Senate candidate Rand Paul wrongly declared he endorsed the GOP hopeful, while another initially disputed the use of his name but later gave Republicans candidates blanket support.

The two sheriffs told The Associated Press they had not endorsed Paul, disputing statements listing them among eight sheriffs and two incoming sheriffs as publicly supporting him.

Paul campaign manager Jesse Benton later said the campaign reconfirmed both endorsements.

Attorney General Jack Conway has sought to depict Paul as soft on crime as they compete to replace retiring Sen. Jim Bunning.

Conway spokesman Jonn Collins said, “You could hold a meeting of all the people who agree with Rand Paul on crime in a phone booth.”