Jim Bunning swears he’ll run again. After his nearly disastrous re-election campaign in 2004, when Democrat Dan Mongiardo (allegedly one of “Saddam Hussein’s sons“) nearly toppled him, even as Bush won the state by almost 20 points.
Who would you like to see run against Bunning in 2010? Luckily, we are blessed with a fairly deep Dem bench in Kentucky, including many statewide officeholders who won by impressive margins in 2007.
I’d be very surprised if he didn’t run for Senate regardless of whether it’s against Bunning or for an open seat. Hopefully Bunning does run again.
But I’d also like to hear more about these statewide electeds. Are any of them interested in a promotion to DC? I don’t know if Gov. Beshear wants to leave Frankfort, so what are our other options?
If Chandler wants it, I can’t see him losing the primary. But if the CW is wrong and he doesn’t, Jonathan Miller might be our best choice.
He’s progressive, has had eight years as State Treasurer, is liable to strike economically populist notes and has written a book on politics and religion which would appear to have appeal to moderates.
On the downside, he doesn’t appear to have too many connections to the Kentucky Democratic elite, which might hurt in the primary (although it might help in the general), although Steve Beshear owes him big for his primary win.
One of the beauties and one of the weaknesses of the Democratic Party is that culturally and demographically it is simply far more inclusive than the Republican Party. Everybody’s moaning about Appalachian Democrats but a local or statewide candidate running on lunch bucket issues who is not scared of guns will do fine. Look at the states that Bill Clinton carried in the south. In 1992, it was Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Arkansas, Louisianna and Georgia. In 1996, it was Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Florida. That’s pretty strong.
We hold the governorship, 2 Senators, and 2 of 3 House members in West Virginia. Plus a lot of statewide and other offices. Weak?
In Arkansas, it’s the Governorship, 2 Senators, and 3 of 4 House members.
In Tennesse, the Governorship and 5 of 9 House members. No Senators at this time.
In Kentucky, the Governor and 2 of 6 House members.
All told, in these states we hold all 4 Governorships and 12 of 22 House members. Plus 4 of 8 Senate seats.
We can do even better but on a local and state wide basis, these states are competitive and lean Democratic.
John Yarmuth should be the leader of democrats in Kentucky. He destroyed Ann Northup this year after squeaking past her two years ago. When the talking heads said don’t be too liberal, he refused to listen and defended progressive positions with passion. Guess what? People appreciated his candor and now they love him. I think the talking heads that say someone from Louisville can’t win statewide need to be questioned as well.
Last point. When we’re talking the senate seat (the Wendell Ford seat), we should be thinking progressive and not blue dog, corporate sell outs. Our Gov. ran as if he respected the grass roots Union folk of the state and won’t even invite our Union leaders to the roundtable to discuss solutions for problems. Many of us are sick of use us and lose us Dems. I can’t say that Ben Chandler is that way, but I really don’t see him being progressive in the House (in fact I think he is a member of the blue dog caucus). Therefore, I think he should be struck from the list and Mongiardo should be given another shot (assuming the head of the Kentucky democratic party above doesn’t want it.)
Any thoughts on whether he should run again?
(I’m expecting the vast majority of people to vote this down, but I’m still curious.)