Jim Bunning

DENVER – A narrow loss to U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning in the 2004 election means Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo (D-Hazard) is keeping an eye on the 2010 race, when Bunning is next up for re-election.

“Obviously when the 2010 race comes up, that’s something that, because I ran for that seat 4 years ago, I have a natural interest in because of the competitor in me,” said Mongiardo.

However, Mongiardo qualified his interest by saying he wanted to pursue elected offices that allowed him to make the biggest impact on a key issue for him – health care.

“My focus has been mostly on that,” said Mongiardo. “I am going to stay focused on health care and I am going to work as hard as I can to fix and solve our health care problem in this country. If that path keeps me in the lieutenant governor’s office, and I can complete my job there, then I am done with that. If that path takes me to another position or I have to go to another position to move that issue forward, then I am going to do that as well.”

DENVER -- Political conventions are not only a place where presidential candidates are nominated, but also where future candidacies for candidates up and down the ballot may be formed.

Attorney General Jack Conway (D-Louisville) addressed speculation about his own future while in Denver for the Democratic National Convention as a delegate.

He is a rumored 2010 candidate for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Southgate).

When asked if he was thinking about seeking other offices, Conway said others were pushing him in that direction, though he sounded a note of commitment to his current position.

“My supporters encourage me to do that,” said Conway of seeking higher office. “One thing I have learned in this game is that it’s nice to have people talking about you, but I’ve been the attorney general now for 8 months and I’m loving the job.”

The Washington offices of two members of Kentucky's Congressional delegation are undergoing some shuffling this week.

The Louisville Courier-Journal reports U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning's (R-Southgate) chief of staff Blake Brickman is leaving D.C. to pursue a legal education.

Brickman will reportedly be replaced by Bunning's current legislative director, Kim Dean, while staffer William Henderson will move up to fill Dean's position.

James Carroll of the Courier-Journal also reports U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) has hired Lennie Shewmaker, of Danville, as a health issues legislative assistant.

Lieutenant Governor Dan Mongiardo (D-Hazard) isn't taking the summer off. If anything, he's seemed to have picked up the pace as he races around the rubber chicken circuit. It's hard to blame him.

After a very narrow loss to U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Southgate) in 2004 possibly due to the delayed recognition of the competitiveness of the seat, he's already getting ready for 2010.

Former Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate Sonny LandhamSonny Landham may be out of the 2008 U.S. Senate race, but Kentucky could see the controversial former actor jump into another political race in the near future.

"There is 2010 to run, there is a Governor's race to run. I'm going to look at that," Landham told PolitickerKY.com. "Right now, this one is over."

Landham was stripped of the Libertarian Party's Senate nomination last week after making a series of anti-Arab comments.

He now stands by his comments though he is out of the race.

Should he pursue another U.S. Senate bid in 2010, he would face incumbent U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Southgate).

FANCY FARM -- Check out PolitickerKY.com's gallery of images from the Fancy Farm political speaking held in western Kentucky on Saturday.

Governor Steve Beshear (D-Lexington), left, and Fancy Farm emcee and House Floor Leader Rocky Adkins (D-Sandy Hook): Politicker photo

Building on earlier speculation about the 2011 Governor's race, Polwatchers reports Secretary of State Trey Grayson (R-Richwood) now says he would "strongly consider a run," noting the option was a "likely path" for him after the completion of his current term.

Grayson told PolitickerKY.com in early June that the race did interest him.

The Secretary of State's latest statements come after Republican activists chanted his name during Governor Steve Beshear's (D-Lexington) speech at the Fancy Farm picnic.

Also in the Polwatchers report are comments from Beshear in which he says it is "too early" to discuss the 2011 race, after an admittedly difficult start to his first term.

Governor Steve Beshear (D-Lexington) at Fancy Farm: Politicker photo

FANCY FARM -- The Fancy Farm picnic offers an array of activity for the politically-inclined, and bingo and barbeque for those who are not. Saturday's raucous political speaking provided plenty of political fodder for the interested, including some 2011 politicking and a heated exchange from the 1st Congressional District race.

Governor Steve Beshear (D-Lexington) delivered the first blows for the Democratic side during the Saturday speaking. He was the first speaker from either side, but was no rookie to the event. During his own run last year for Governor, he faced off with then-incumbent Ernie Fletcher at Fancy Farm. This year, he seemed well-accustomed to the rhetorical style required to face down the event's notorious heckling.

As the damp heat lingered in the air, Beshear referenced the "funeral home fans" used by Republicans in attendance. He said "they're going to need them" because "we will bury their candidates."

Beshear also took aim at U.S. Senator Jim Bunning (R-Southgate), in attendance for the first time since 2004, when he said was assaulted by supporters of then-opponent Dan Mongiardo. He pledged to never come back after that incident, but was nonetheless seated on the front row on Saturday.

"I called his office and offered to call out the National Guard to protect him down here," said Beshear.

Bunning seemed unmoved at the remark until U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) - seated next to him - playfully nudged his colleague.

Sens. McConnell (R-Louisville) and Bunning (R-Southgate) together on stage: Politicker photo

FANCY FARM -- "Let's try to remain at least halfway civil," said organizer Mark Wilson, kicking off the Fancy Farm picnic's political speaking.

The assertion was at least worst the effort, but in an election as polarizing as Kentucky's U.S. Senate race, it was inevitable that the notoriously active and vocal crowd would make itself heard during the Saturday afternoon event.

While Governor Steve Beshear (D-Lexington), Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo (D-Hazard), and Secretary of State Trey Grayson (R-Richwood) all took the podium, the real anticipation was for the Senate race showdown between U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) and businessman Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville).

Route 80, which lead's from the western Kentucky town of Mayfield to the tiny village of Fancy Farm, was lined with dozens of McConnell's campaign signs and others exclaiming "Ditch Mitch," paid for by the Kentucky Democratic Party.

On site at St. Jerome Parish for the picnic, the crowd at the forum was both ideologically and physically divided. T-shirts and buttons for the Senate race were sported by nearly all attendees, who arranged themselves - based on either tradition or instinct - by party, with Republicans on the right of the grounds in front of the stage and Democrats on the left. The two sides came together to form a seam in the middle of the crowd, where the most vocally partisan verbally sparring over the divide.

WHAS' Mark Hebert reports that the U.S. Senate will recess tonight, freeing up Kentucky's two Senators to attend the Fancy Farm picnic, as originally planned.

U.S. Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) and Jim Bunning (R-Southgate) initially may have had to miss the popular event if the Senate held a special Saturday session to consider energy legislation.

According to Hebert, such a concern has passed by the wayside, freeing up both to attend the famous picnic.

See PolitickerKY.com's Fancy Farm preview here.

Check back with PolitickerKY.com on Friday and Saturday for full coverage from Fancy Farm.