Crit Luallen

DENVER – While a good deal of the political discussion among Kentucky Democrats and their counterparts from other states at the Democratic National Convention has touched on the state’s U.S. Senate contest, some delegates are continuing to push to get the 2nd Congressional District race more attention.

Owensboro Attorney and Obama delegate Charlie Moore and Hindman Attorney Bill Weinberg, a Clinton delegate, both said they discussed the open seat contest between state Sen. David Boswell (D-Owensboro) and state Sen. Brett Guthrie (R-Bowling Green) with U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Cali.) at a party yesterday and planned to follow up on their discussion with her at another function today.

“She was receptive,” Moore said.

“I am excited about the potential of this race,” he added. “We want to do what we can to make sure that race is on the national radar and that it shines as bright as we can make it shine.”

DENVER – State Auditor Crit Luallen (D-Frankfort) was one of several Kentucky Democrats who considered a U.S. Senate run this year against incumbent Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville). She ultimately did not jump into the Democratic primary, which was eventually won by Louisville businessman Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville).

Lunsford is now considered some of the toughest competition McConnell has faced in his career, as he has the ability to self-fund his race.
Recent polls show Lunsford trailing McConnell by double digits, but Luallen says the race is a prominent point of discussion among those in the Kentucky delegation and delegates from other states.

“This race is one of the high profile races in the country because of Mitch McConnell and the image he has built as the chief obstructionist in the U.S. Senate,” said Luallen. “He has been in lockstep with George Bush. He has blocked the efforts on the part of the Democratic leadership in the Senate to put forward progressive policy changes.”

DENVER -- The whirlwind of activity surrounding the Democratic National Convention will find Kentucky's delegation all over Denver today, with events capped off by a party jointly hosted by those from the Bluegrass state, Ohio, and Alabama.

Delegates started the day this morning with their daily breakfast at their downtown Denver hotel.

Keynoting today's meeting was U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, who blasted the Bush administration as a galvanizing force to unify Democrats across the nation.

Kentucky Democratic Party chair Jennifer Moore emceed the event and announced that, during each day's breakfast, she would highlight a different set of races. Today she spoke about Kentucky's state Senate races.

Much of the Kentucky Democratic delegation was also in attendance, including Attorney General Jack Conway (D-Louisville), Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo (D-Hazard), Louisville attorney and Obama fundraiser Matthew Barzun, former party chairs Terry McBrayer and Jerry Lundergan, state Auditor Crit Luallen (D-Frankfort), and several Louisville metro council members.

DENVER – Some Kentuckians at the Democratic National Convention are talking up the possibility of the party winning the open-seat race in the 2nd Congressional District.

State Auditor Crit Luallen (D-Frankfort) told PolitickerKY.com that she and Kentucky Democratic Party chair Jennifer Moore spoke with Brian Wolff, the executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, about the race between state Sen. David Boswell (D-Owensboro) and state Sen. Brett Guthrie (R-Bowling Green) at a Sunday night fundraising reception in Denver.

“Jennifer Moore -- and I was with Jennifer Moore -- we spoke to the executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee about the 2nd district, and encouraged their support and participation there,” said Luallen.

“They are very aware of that race. They see it as one that has real possibilities for pick-up,” she added. “So, I think that is one that people are watching.”

Luallen and Moore were not the only ones lauding Boswell’s chances in the 2nd. U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) referenced the race during his address at the Kentucky delegation’s breakfast today.

“We can win that 2nd district seat,” Yarmuth told the crowd of influential Kentucky Democrats. “David Boswell’s got a great chance.”

The 128th annual Fancy Farm picnic is scheduled for this Saturday, and legions of Kentucky's politicians and political junkies are headed to western Kentucky for the event's uniquely participatory political forum. With November's general election looming, some politicians have been hyping their speeches at the event for months, but the news that U.S. Senators Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) and Jim Bunning (R-Southgate) may not be attending could put a damper on the potentially rowdy affair.

The Fancy Farm picnic - located in Fancy Farm, Kentucky - began as a bar-b-que and barn dance that has since morphed into one of the state's most important political traditions. Candidates for office in western Kentucky and those running statewide are expected to attend and speak before an audience of thousands notorious for rowdy heckling and theatrical behavior.

Legend has it that any politician not braving the crowd at the event will not be elected.

Former U.S. Rep Carol Hubbard (D-Lowes) speaks on Monday in Murray: Politicker Photo

MURRAY -- Speaking to Democratic activists at the Purchase Area Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in Murray on Monday night, former U.S. Rep and state Senator Carroll Hubbard (D-Lowes) put his race for the 1st state Senate district on a list of three key races he said could help swing the Republican-controlled state Senate back to the Democrats.

In addition to his own bid, Hubbard said wins by Democratic challengers Steve Newberry in the 9th district and Kathy Groob in the 23rd district would push the minority party in the Senate to within one seat of a majority.

Republicans currently hold a 22 to 15 advantage over Democrats in the Senate, with one independent. Democratic wins in Hubbard's proposed targets would push that advantage down to 19 to 18.

Then, Hubbard suggested, Democratic Governor Steve Beshear (D-Lexington) might take over the rest of the work in putting the Senate back in Democratic hands.

Shortly before Democratic Senate candidate Greg Fischer announced he would not cease his attacks on opponent and primary frontrunner Bruce Lunsford, Lunsford's campaign circulated a letter to Fischer signed by four of Kentucky's most prominent Democrats.

In the letter (available here in pdf form), signatories Congressman John Yarmuth (D-Louisville), state Auditor Crit Luallen (D-Lexington), Lieutenant Governor Daniel Mongiardo (D-Hazard), and Attorney General Jack Conway (D-Louisville) allege that Fischer's recent attacks on Lunsford will help incumbent Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) when he faces the ultimate winner of the Senate primary in November.