Richards names some Republican-held targets for 2008

DENVER – Several Republican-held state House districts were named by state House speaker Jody Richards (D-Bowling Green) as targets for Democratic campaign efforts during an interview with PolitickerKY.com today.

Richards said campaigns for the legislature were on his mind as he met with fellow Kentuckians as a delegate at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

"I talk about House races because that is my interest - that is my main focus. That is my responsibility," said Richards.

The races pointed to by the speaker include Travis Calhoun’s (D-Hopkinsville) run to unseat state Rep. Myron Dossett (R-Pembroke) in the 9th District, Mike Weaver’s (D-Elizabethtown) campaign to knock off Rep. Tim Moore (R-Elizabethtown) in the 26th, Merrick Krey’s (D-Erlanger) effort against state rep. Adam Koenig (R-Erlanger) in the 69th, David Sparrow (D-Danville) and his race against Rep. Mike Harmon (R-Junction City)in the 54th, and Charlene Rabold’s (D-Bowling Green) bid counter to Rep. Jim DeCesare (R-Rockfield) in the 21st.

The losing Democratic challengers in 2006 in each of those districts all finished within 6 points of the Republican winners, with some losing margins sitting at less than 2 percent.

“We feel really good about where we are,” said Richards, who noted some other Republican-held districts were also under consideration.

The speaker also sounded confident about three open seat races for districts previously held by Democrats – the 3rd, 22nd, and 75th.

“We will make sure they are well-funded,” said Richards. “I believe we will win all of them.”

“We only have 8 incumbents that have opposition and most of those are not really competitive,” added Richards about fellow Democratic state representatives up for election.

Just two Democratic incumbents won by less than five percent in 2006 – Larry Belcher (D-Shepherdsville) in the 49th and Jim Glenn (D-Owensboro) in the 13th.

Richards also said two Democrats – Martha Jane King (D-Lewisburg) in the 16th and Kevin Sinnette (D-Ashland) in the 100th – were also well-positioned in open seat races previously held by Republicans.