From Roll Call:
A source close to Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway said this week that the Democrat will run for Senate in 2010 and that he is expected to announce his candidacy as soon as early April.
This is hardly a surprise — Conway has been leaving strong indications over the past several months that he was inclined to jump into the race.
His decision will set up a major primary battle against Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo, who is seeking a rematch with Jim Bunning after a narrow loss in 2004. Republicans will be hoping for something nasty to emerge out of it, but even a lightly-battered Democratic nominee would stand a good shot against the increasingly beleaguered Bunning; in an open seat situation, a contentious Dem primary could prove problematic depending on whether or not Secretary of State Trey Grayson would be able to have the GOP field to himself.
I’ll be supporting him, hopefully so will Crit and Chandler.
A step up on Mongiardo on the issues and still a very strong statewide candidate.
The only thing I’m scared of is Mongiardo taking the nuclear option and trying to exploit those gay rumors that dog Conway. That would probably backfire in most states (in the primary, anyway), but Kentucky seems like one of the few states where that could completely destroy you in a Dem primary even without a Larry Craig-esque scandal.
Beshear will be behind his LG (same situation as in Ohio with Strickland and Fisher). I wonder if Luallen and Chandler are really that set on Conway or if they are going to turn out mostly neutral during the primary.
I would think Mongiardo would have the upper hand if the election were held today due to higher name recognition, but obviously a lot can change in these coming months.
What are the pluses and minuses of the two Dems?
I prefer Conway, I think he would be the favorite vs. Bunning where as Mongiardo would make it a toss up.
Can someone tell me the political leanings of Mongiardo and Conway? (i.e. who’s more moderate, liberal, etc.)