Dee Huddleston

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Former U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.) in Radcliff today

RADCLIFF -- Former Democratic U.S. Sen. and Nebraska Gov. Bob Kerrey took to the trail today along with a slate of high-profile Democrats to campaign for Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville), 2nd Congressional District candidate and state Sen. David Boswell (D-Owensboro), and other local Democratic candidates.

Kerrey ripped Lunsford's opponent - U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) - for a vote against the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act - or Webb G.I. Bill - of 2008. That legislation was an effort to provide funding for college costs to Iraq War veterans.

"I thought that bill would pass 100-0 in the Senate. Mitch McConnell was one of 22 that voted ‘no,'" said Kerrey at a rally in Radcliff. "I would not support Mitch McConnell just on that basis."

Calling Lunsford's race against McConnell the "most important election" in the country behind the Presidential election, Kerrey's appearance in a school gymnasium in Radcliff was one of several on the day he was making with Lunsford and Boswell and other local Democrats.

Kerrey also was one of several speakers in Radcliff to praise Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama. At one instance, Kerrey said he had to "respectfully disagree" with comments made by Obama's running mate, Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.).

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee put out a web ad mocking U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell's (R-Louisville) unwillingness to debate Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville). It features McConnell's 1984 ad in which he taunts former U.S. Sen. Dee Huddleston (D) for his own disappearing act.

Former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup (R-Louisville)'s challenge of U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) is widely considered the most competitive House race in the state. And though U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) is thought to be relatively safe, political observers are keeping a close eye on Bruce Lunsford's (D-Louisville) campaign against the incumbent.

It's interesting that these are the two of the most-watched races in the state. The last time an incumbent U.S. Senator from Kentucky lost a re-election was in 1984, when McConnell defeated two-term U.S. Sen. Dee Huddleston (D) by less than half a percentage point. Likewise, the last time a sitting U.S. Representative from Kentucky was defeated was in 2006 when Yarmuth unseated Northup by 51 to 48 percent. Ten years earlier, Northup herself defeated incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Ward (D) by an even narrower 50.3 to 49.7 percent margin.

FRANKFORT -- Down-ballot Democratic candidates in the Commonwealth have a chance at success even if their party picks a presidential nominee unpopular in the state, according to former Governor Julian Carroll (D-Frankfort).

While Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois) and Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) appear to be fighting to the bitter end over the Democratic presidential nomination, the favorite among Kentucky Democrats was clearly Clinton, who carried Tuesday's primary by over 35 points.

Should Obama ultimately secure the nomination, as many predict is likely, Kentucky Democrats may be worried sentiment in the Commonwealth against the Illinois Senator could impact other races, such as the effort to unseat incumbent Republican Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) with Democrat Bruce Lunsford.

"My point is the top of the ticket doesn't necessarily carry the United States Senate race," Carroll told PolitickerKY.com today. "Look at history and you will find at least two instances: one with Dee Huddleston and one with Mitch McConnell."