McConnell defends debt ceiling vote  Greg Nash  Sen. Mitch
McConnell (R-Ky.) is defending his procedural vote that allowed
the Senate to approve legislation raising the debt ceiling.  "My
job is to protect the country when I can," McConnell said Friday
at a campaign event in Louisville, reports. "And to step up and
lead on those occasions when it's required. That's what I did."
McConnell faces a tough reelection fight this year and has come
under criticism from Tea Party groups for his vote.  McConnell
and 11 other Republican senators sided with Democrats in a
procedural vote to end debate on the legislation. Tea Party
favorite Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) led the filibuster because of
his objections that the bill did not include any spending curbs
on the government.  The filibuster meant the bill needed 60
votes to proceed, and it might not have met the threshold
without McConnell's action.   The Treasury Department had set a
Feb. 27 deadline for raising the debt ceiling, and had warned it
might be unable to pay