Boswell camp keeps 'dual focus' despite potential of special session

The race for the 2nd Congressional District in Kentucky is targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee as a potential pick-up, after the seat was left open by the retirement of incumbent Republican Ron Lewis (R-Cecilia). State Senator David Boswell (D-Sorgho) seized his party's nomination for the 2nd on May 20, and now is working to raise funds and assemble a team to face a well-supported opponent in fellow state Senator Brett Guthrie (R-Bowling Green).

"We have a dual focus," said Boswell's campaign spokesperson, Jim Cole. "We are fundraising and working on getting the team we want to use for the fall election. We are adding some people and hope to be done by next week."

"We are very happy with the people we have to select from," added Cole.

The Boswell campaign started in earnest just about a month prior to the Democratic primary, as Boswell was embroiled in the legislative session in Frankfort. He decided to not concentrate on fundraising during that period, only beginning full-fledged efforts after the mid-April termination of the session.

Now, as a late-June special session is a possibility, Cole speculates that could have a significant impact on Boswell's campaign schedule, arguing it would impact his campaign more than that of Guthrie, given the prominent support Guthrie has already received from national Republican figures.

"It'll have a big impact," said Cole. "It will impact [Boswell] more than Brett Guthrie. Brett can bring in Dick Cheney to raise $300,000 for him."

Cheney appeared at a Lexington fundraiser for Guthrie in late March.

Governor Steve Beshear floated the idea of a special session to confront problems in the state pension system. However, Beshear said the session would only become reality if legislators could reach an agreement on reform in the coming weeks.

Cole said assembling a campaign staff would ease the burden potentially imposed by a special session.

"We are getting a team in place now, so we will have good things moving forward during the session. It won't be like it was in the primary, where we didn't get out of the gate until 30 days before the election," said Cole.

With their race on the DCCC's list, Cole said plans are still being formulated between the Boswell campaign and the national organization.

"We are still in that process," said Cole. " Those plans won't be done for a couple of weeks."

As for now, Boswell is continuing to focus on fundraising before he will take a short break before the general election campaign kicks into high gear.

"We will put a team together and then [Boswell] will spend some time with his family and refresh before the next marathon," said Cole.

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