Clinton talks Kentucky politics with delegates in Denver

U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton addresses the Kentucky delegation at the Democratic National Convention: Politicker PhotoDENVER – U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) met with diehard delegates from Kentucky this afternoon shortly before heading to Invesco Field to hear the nomination acceptance speech of her party’s presidential nominee, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) “Well, you’ve survived,” said Clinton the thirty-plus Kentuckians gathered around her at Denver’s Brown Palace hotel.

The Kentucky delegation still gave Clinton 22 of its 60 votes during a roll call yesterday, even after alleged “arm-twisting” from some Obama supporters.

But it was other races that Clinton spoke to the Kentuckians about during their private meeting – those races that may impact her as she continues her work in the U.S. Senate..

“How’s the Senate race going?” Clinton asked, referencing the contest between Democratic Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford and incumbent U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell.

The response to the New York senator was a chorus of “Ditch Mitch,” the rallying call of opponents of McConnell.

“Yes, we will,” said Clinton. “We’ll sure help you on that.”

“We want to move those numbers in the Senate to try and avoid filibusters because that’s what we have to spend all our time doing,” said Clinton. “But, because of your senior senator, we can’t get anything done.”

The meeting between Clinton and the delegates was brief, but she was more than willing to talk politics.

One delegate asked Clinton to come to the 2nd Congressional District to support state Sen. David Boswell’s (D-Owensboro) effort while another referred to the campaign of 1st District candidate Heather Ryan (D-Paducah).

When told Ryan was a vet, Clinton remarked “I knew that,” and nodded.

“I’ll try to help you,” she said.

“We’ve got a lot of folks that we are going to work hard for to try and get elected,” Clinton added.

Finally, while talking to delegates, Clinton made a remark about the presidential contest that officially ended for her last night.

“We’ve got to win this,” said Clinton. “We can’t take another four years.”