Is Mitch McConnell Still in the Senate?

UPDATE: Late Tuesday night, the AP reported that Republicans gained control of the US Senate, which means Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell will be the senate majority leader.The midterm elections. What an exciting time. After a busy Tuesday, the Mitch McConnell election results are in and the minority house leader has retained his seat in the senate. The 72-year-old Republican senator from Kentucky isn't surprised, though. The Daily Beast reports that on Monday, McConnell was on a "countdown to victory fly-around" tour of his home state, making stops in Louisville, Lexington, Paducah, Owensboro, and Bowling Green. He was clearly confident that he'd beat Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, his Democratic rival, and retain his senate seat, which he first occupied in 2006. McConnell became the minority leader in 2007, and now, seven years later, he's still there ... for the time being. After all the results are tallied, it's possible the minority leader will become the majority leader.

Whether or not McConnell as majority is a good thing is, you know, up to you. If, however, you find yourself aligning with most things Jon Stewart has to say, then there's no real reason for alarm nor applause: On The Daily Show early last month, Stewart explained: "This election’s underlying theme is that both parties are so unpopular, that their candidates are running on how much they hate themselves." To that end, McConnell, says Stewart, is stuck between a rock and an Obama place when it comes to healthcare in his home state. "[McConnell] can’t admit Kynect works, since it’s got Obama stink on it. But he can’t shut it down, because it works.”

What does this fence-straddling mean for our possible new majority leader? Will McConnell stick to his 2009 guns and require his party to "march in lockstep" to thwart anything Obama tries to do, or will he use his position to positively "take America in a different direction" alongside fellow Kentuckian and likely 2016 Republican presidential nominee Rand Paul? This guy has an opinion:

During McConnell's acceptance speech, he graciously acknowledged Grimes and the race she ran. And I know what you're thinking and no, it wasn't a condescending nice. It felt genuine. Is it a shame that I feel the need to acknowledge his respectful words about a female candidate? Maybe. But, as Rachel Maddow said on MSNBC, this speech was "Mitch McConnell at his best." Some of his choice words:

"I admire her willingness to step into the arena and fight as hard as she did. We need more people willing to do that."

Preach, man. Preach.

"She earned my respect. It took a lot of guts to take on a race like this."

McConnell also praised his wife. As for Grimes, she declared that "this fight was worth it."