Government Shutdown: Rand Paul And Mitch McConnell Caught On Hot Mic Discussing Republican Strategy [VIDEO]

In the midst of the 2013 government shutdown over the budget battle between the GOP-led House of Representatives and Democratic-controlled Senate, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) were caught on a hot mic Wednesday evening discussing Republican strategy.

According to Politico, NBC affiliate WPDS 6 picked up the conversation just as McConnell was about to be interviewed on camera. Paul can be seen approaching McConnell asking if he has a second to talk.

"I'm all wired up here," McConnell replies. Undeterred, Paul continues talking.

"I just did CNN, and I just go over and over again, 'We're willing to compromise; we're willing to negotiate,'" he can be seen saying in the video. "I don't think they poll-tested 'We won't negotiate.' I think it's awful for them to say that over and over again," Paul says, referring to Democrats’ strategy.

"Yeah, I do too, and I just came back from the two-hour meeting with them, and that was basically the same view privately as it was publicly," McConnell replied.

As Politico points out, the Kentucky senator was probably referring to the closed-door meeting that took place Wednesday between President Barack Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Paul then talks Republican strategy for the government shutdown, emphasizing that the GOP would win the standoff by saying they want to compromise.

"I think if we keep saying, 'We wanted to defund it. We fought for that, but now we're willing to compromise on this,' I think they can't - we're going to win," Paul says on the video. "I know we don't want to be here, but we're going to win this, I think."

According to Mashable, the video was captured at the end of the second day of the government shutdown. Watch the clip below.