Nancy Pelosi

A scheduled Washington, D.C., fundraiser for state Sen. David Boswell’s 2nd Congressional District campaign is the latest point of contention in a race drawing more and more attention in recent weeks. The Republican Party of Kentucky targeted this evening’s event -- which is headlined by U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) -- as evidence that the Owensboro Democrat is taking funds from the “extreme left-wing” of his party.

“David Boswell raised so little money in Kentucky that he’s been forced to turn to Nancy Pelosi’s closest friends to bail him out. There is no doubt where his loyalty would be in Congress,” Steve Robertson, chairman of the state GOP, said in a statement released Thursday.

After initial fundraising struggles, Boswell’s bid against state Sen. Brett Guthrie (R-Bowling Green) was recently added to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Red-to-Blue list, as a race in a Republican-held district targeted for pick-up. Races on that list often enjoy fundraising help from around the nation.

Along with the news that its candidate was added to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's Red-to-Blue list, State Sen. David Boswell's (D-Owensboro) campaign team announced it was expanding to incorporate some veterans of Kentucky and national politics.

Boswell was added to the DCCC's Red-to-Blue list as a candidate in a Republican-held district targeted for Democratic takeover. Boswell is facing state Sen. Brett Guthrie (R-Bowling Green) for the 2nd Congressional District, which is open following the retirement of U.S. Rep. Ron Lewis (R-Cecilia).

"Senator Boswell is running a real grassroots campaign focusing on changing our country, and his message is catching fire throughout the district," said Mark Riddle, chief strategist for Boswell, in a statement released today "Senator Boswell was chosen for the DCCC's Red to Blue program because his vision of putting America first is resonating all over the Commonwealth."

There is no shortage of second and third generations of American political families addressing delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Denver this week: Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, the daughter of President John F. Kennedy; James Roosevelt, Jr., the grandson of President Franklin D. Roosevelt; U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL), the son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988; U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), the daughter of former New Orleans Mayor/U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Moon Landrieu; U.S. Sen. Robert Casey (D-PA), the son of former Pennsylvania Gov. Bob Casey; Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, the daughter of former Ohio Gov. John Gilligan; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the daughter of former Baltimore Mayor/U.S. Rep. Thomas D’Alesandro; Iowa Gov. Chet Culver, the son of former U.S. Sen. John Culver (D-IA); New York Gov. David Paterson, the son of former New York Secretary of State Basil Paterson; and Cecile Richards, the daughter of former Texas Governor Anne Richards.

Also: U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), the son of former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Joseph Kennedy, and the grandson of former Boston Mayor John Fitzgerald.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif), left rear, and U.S. Rep John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) check out a plug-in hybrid: Politicker photo

LOUISVILLE -- A Saturday afternoon closed-door meeting in Louisville between U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), U.S. Rep John Yarmuth (D-Louisville), officials from Ford Motor Company, the United Auto Workers, and state government officials touched on Ford's efforts to develop "gasoline-independent" technologies for new automobile designs.

"What I think was impressive to me and the Speaker is that they are taking a very broad look at all the possible technological answers to our crisis," said Yarmuth of the meeting, during a brief press conference held at Ford's Louisville Assembly plant after the meeting.

"This issue of reducing our dependence on foreign oil and addressing the climate crisis is a flagship issue of our speakership. For me this is an educational visit," said Pelosi. "I hope that what we get out of this today also is better public policy."

Arguing "it would be like robbing a bank only to return later and open a checking account," the Jefferson County Republican Party has taken aim at the forthcoming visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and U.S. Rep John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) to Ford's Louisville Assembly plant.

"We are truly shocked that Speaker Pelosi and Congressman Yarmuth would have the audacity to step foot into that plant after passing an SUV tax earlier this year, only adding to Ford's current problems and further threatening their workers," Jefferson County Republican Chair Brad Cummings said in a statement dispatched today. "It's the height of hypocrisy to pretend they care about these dedicated people."

Yarmuth and Pelosi are scheduled to hold a closed-door roundtable discussion at the Ford plant tomorrow afternoon.

A Saturday visit to Louisville by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will include two stops and a media availability, all with U.S. Rep John Yarmuth (D-Louisville).

Pelosi and Yarmuth will visit the Louisville Ford Assembly Plant Saturday afternoon, where they will participate in a "roundtable discussion" with Ford management and labor union officials. That meeting will be closed to the public and the media.

Following that event, the Speaker and Yarmuth will have a brief media availability in the early evening prior to a fundraiser for Yarmuth at the 21 C Museum Hotel in downtown Louisville.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) is scheduled to visit the Louisville area this weekend for a series of events with U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville), including an evening fundraiser.

According to Yarmuth's weekly schedule, the freshman Rep. will be joined by Speaker Pelosi for events starting at 2pm on Saturday.

While specifics of their joint appearances were not finalized at this time, a Yarmuth spokesperson confirmed that Pelosi would headline a "high-dollar" fundraiser for Yarmuth's campaign Saturday evening. That even will be held at the downtown 21 C Museum Hotel.

3rd District Congressman John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) dispatched a letter to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) today requesting House leadership support the creation of a National Infrastructure Bank.  read more »

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