Benton explained later that he had two reasons for saying that: “One, if we can’t reelect Mitch McConnell, a statesman, true conservative, and legislator who leads, gets things done, and is a real treasure for our country, then our party is going to be in a lot of trouble for cycles to come.

“Part two, if I were to lose this race, the shine would be off my apple and no one would care what I do.”

Benton is no doubt right about part two, and he has a heavy lift as McConnell is locked in a reelection battle with 35-year-old likely Democratic nominee Alison Lundergan Grimes.

But, as Jennings noted, if Benton “can pull it off,” he would likely be the most desired Republican staffer in the country as the parties turn their full attention from the midterms to the 2016 presidential race.

“Jesse—through Rand and Mitch—is perhaps blazing a trail for the future of the GOP, and the nattering nabobs would do the conservative cause a great service by just laying off and letting the man work,” Jennings said.