Julian Carroll

Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville) at today's KDP unity press conference: Politicker photo

FRANKFORT- At a press conference held at the Kentucky Democratic Party's headquarters this morning, top state Democrats rallied around their Senate nominee Bruce Lunsford and promoted the message of party unity going into a general election season acknowledged for its potential in no uncertain terms by participants.

"Everybody here should recognize this is going to be a war," said Lunsford. "This is going to be a war for the future of Kentucky and the future of the United States."

After securing the Democratic nomination on Tuesday by beating Louisville businessman Greg Fischer - and five other opponents - Lunsford is already embroiled in a general election campaign against four-term incumbent Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville).

The two opponents each have extensive resources to wage what is expected to be a vicious campaign. McConnell's campaign war chest sits at over $7 million, while Lunsford is a multi-millionaire capable of extensive self-financing.

At today's press conference, it was obvious defeating McConnell was of a foremost concern of all the party figures present.

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."

The Kentucky campaign of Presidential candidate Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-New York) announced it had collected endorsements from four former Kentucky governors today.

Former Governors Wendell Ford (D-Owensboro), Paul Patton (D-Pikeville), Julian Carroll (D-Midway), and John Y. Brown (D-Lexington) all were revealed as supporters of Clinton's candidacy in a release dispatched by the campaign.

State Sen. David BoswellState Sen. David Boswell (D-Sorgho) is seeking the Democratic nomination in Kentucky's open Second Congressional District with the support of three former Governors of the Commonwealth.

The Boswell camp also says recent internal polling shows their candidate with a "substantive" double-digit lead over primary opponent and Daviess County Judge/Executive Reid Haire.

FRANKFORT -- Citing the former president's electoral success in Kentucky, State House Speaker Jody Richards (D-Bowling Green) introduced Bill Clinton at the Frankfort Civic Center for a morning Hillary Clinton campaign rally.  read more »