McConnell Names Ayotte as Counsel

Rising Sen. Kelly Ayotte today was named as part of the Senate’s “leadership panel,” a group of senators with no official leadership position but who serve as advisers to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on issues, he announced this afternoon.

During the election, and since, Ayotte gained prominence in the Republican Party for working with Sen. John McCain, Sen. Lindsey Graham, and Sen. Joe Lieberman on taking the Obama administration to task on Benghazi and other issues.

“Sen. Ayotte brings invaluable insight to our conference on issues that affect American families. Firmly committed to getting our fiscal house in order, she will perform a critical role as a member of the Senate Republican Leadership team,” McConnell said in a statement.

Ayotte joins New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg as one of two counsels to McConnell, taking the place of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, who retired this year.