Gail Russell

Kentucky-native Mike Duncan is wrapping up his first term as the chairman of the Republican National Committee after an election in which Republicans took losses in the House and Senate in addition to losing the White House. Around the country, speculation is whirling about potential candidates for the chair position even though Duncan has yet to make an announcement as to whether he intends to seek a second term.

Yesterday, former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele announced his candidacy for the RNC chairmanship, which is to be awarded in a January election. Several others are said to be considering a run along with Duncan.

In his home state, there is not surprisingly a considerable amount of support for Duncan - including the two other voting members of the RNC from Kentucky - though there appear to be some fractures among others.

A Courier-Journal report published earlier this week found U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Hopkinsville) suggesting the RNC needed to look elsewhere for leadership.

"He's a fine fellow and everything, but I think we've got to move in a new direction," Whitfield said of Duncan.
Republican Party of Kentucky chair Steve Robertson, however, said he is solidly in Duncan's corner should the Inez resident decide to seek another term.

"First and foremost, my loyalty is to Mike Duncan," Robertson told PolitickerKY.com. "He's done a great job in a tough environment at the RNC. He's a hands-on chairman which is very similar to the way I operate at the Republican Party of Kentucky."

MINNEAPOLIS – The last public polling in Kentucky’s 3rd Congressional District contest between incumbent U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) and former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup (R-Louisville) found Northup cutting Yarmuth’s lead from 17 to 10 points. Now, a month after the latest polling, Kentucky Republicans say Northup has a tough race ahead of her to regain the seat she lost from Yarmuth in 2006

“Anne’s got a much more difficult race than (state Sen.) Brett (Guthrie) does because of Jefferson County, not because of her opponent,” said U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Southgate), briefly referencing Guthrie’s (R-Bowling Green) bid for the 2nd district.

“Its 68 percent Democrat,” said Bunning of the 3rd District. “It’s much more difficult for Anne to recapture that seat.”

MINNEAPOLIS – Over the course of both parties’ national conventions, there has been a consistent buzz among Kentucky’s delegations about the open-seat 2nd Congressional District race between state Sen. David Boswell (D-Owensboro) and state Sen. Brett Guthrie (R-Bowling Green).

In Denver - at the Democratic National Convention – Kentucky delegates lobbied the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and even U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) to work on behalf of Boswell.

Here in the Twin Cities for the Republican National Convention, Kentucky Republicans were voicing their support of Guthrie as well, who was in town campaigning.

“I think everyone really wants to help Brett,” said Gail Russell, Kentucky’s RNC national committeewoman. “Brett’s been here this week working hard, getting morale up, and raising some money.”

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Among the Kentuckians interviewed today by PolitickerKY.com, the sentiment was nearly universal that Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) could connect with undecided voters if she presented her personality and background in her speech this evening.

“I think Governor Palin needs to get up there and be herself,” said Republican Party of Kentucky chair Steve Robertson. “She’s got a great story and a great personality that quite frankly makes me excited.”

“I just hope she gets up there and presents Sarah Palin to the convention,” added Robertson.

Amid continued scrutiny of Palin in the media following the revelation that her teenage daughter was pregnant, one delegate said presenting herself as a the head of a family could benefit the vice-presidential pick.

“She could show more and more how she is a real person,” said Hardin County Judge/Executive Harry Berry, an at-large delegate. “She has not only coped with the challenges that a family faces everyday but also the challenges that a government faces everyday.”

ST. PAUL, Minn. – With all eyes on Gov. Sarah Palin’s speech at the Republican National Convention this evening, Kentucky’s delegates to the convention sounded their support for her inclusion as Sen. John McCain’s running mate, even amid increased scrutiny of her record and family.

As television news networks dedicate their hours to debating Palin’s legitimacy as a pick, one delegate said her speech was of great significance.

“This is where she presents herself to the entire nation and to the Republican Convention,” said state Rep. Addia Wuchner (R-Burlington), a district delegate to the convention.

The state representative discredited coverage of the announcement that Palin’s teenage daughter was pregnant, arguing that was a private issue.

Wuchner said the matters with Palin’s family “are personal, they are private and they are not political.”

“I think its hands-off,” she added.