Tommy Thompson

Pat Crowley of the Kentucky Enquirer reports state Rep. Arnold Simpson (D-Covington) is expecting a handful of competitors as he vies for the Majority Whip position in the state House.

Though he said his campaign for the leadership position won't start in earnest until late September, Simpson expects any number of possible challengers from among a list of Rick Rand (D-Bedford), Ruth Ann Palumbo (D-Lexington), Tom McKee (D-Cynthiana) John Will Stacy (D-West Liberty), and Tommy Thompson (D-Owensboro).

The position is open after current whip Rob Wilkey (D-Scottsville) decided to retire from the state House in early May.

Democratic Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel of Evansville, Indiana stumps for Barack Obama at the Owensboro International BBQ Festival

OWENSBORO -- The 29th annual International BBQ Festival in the western Kentucky riverside town of Owensboro not only offers visitors a multitude of culinary delights, but also a chance to hear from a number of the candidates seeking their vote in the forthcoming elections.

The festival's coinciding political forum on Saturday was held inside a convention hall at an Owensboro hotel this year. In past years, the forum was staged on a flatbed truck parked next to the Daviess County courthouse. Perhaps because of the change of location and the warm weather, the size of the crowd was limited.

Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel of Evansville, Indiana was present at the event on behalf of the Obama campaign. Evansville sits just under 50 miles north of Owensboro, across the Ohio River - a symbol utilized by Weinzapfel in his speech for Obama.

"We often talk about what a barrier this river is and, unfortunately, it kind of keeps us from having these kinds of political dialogues on a regular basis," said Mayor Weinzapfel. "Senator Obama has been talking about bringing people together. Well, he brought me across that river, right over here to Owensboro. That is a feat in and of itself."