Just a teaser from Page One Kentucky:
Sources close to Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo tell us that he has informed Governor Steve Beshear that he will announce his campaign for the U.S. Senate tomorrow.
I like Dr. Dan, who lost just 51-49 to Bunning in 2004, despite getting almost no love and outside money. Now we’ll see if this move clears the primary field – and if it pushes Bunning into retirement.
It’s good to see a top tier candidate in this race and he will be a great senator. I hope Bunning stays and fights though. This is a rare case when a retirement would help the incumbent party.
otherwise, it could be like Guthrie v. Boswell, and we know how that ended up (though it was a Presidential year with higher GOP turnout). Chandler may be the stronger Dem but hey..that is what primaries are for.
Even though I probably agree with Conway more on some key issues in a Democratic primary such as abortion rights I think Mongiardo deserves a clear Democratic field. Every other person ran away from challenging Bunning in 2004 and Dan had the guts to do so thus he should be rewarded.
As I’ve said before, I REALLY like him, and think he deserves another shot at Bunning (who, if I’d have to bet, will run again).
I think this is a case of him having run against Bunning before will really, really help him. He was a long shot the first time who made a great run at it (and with one more week might have won) — and most importantly, has only gotten better known, more experienced, and more accomplished since then. All Jim Bunning has done has gotten six years older and loonier.
The same Dr. Dan who AUTHORED the anti-gay amendment in 2004 and the same Dr. Dan who says that mountaintop removal mining is a positive thing, because it creates flat land to build Wal-Mart and shit on.
If we want better democrats, this guy sure as hell isn’t one of them.
Let’s get behind Conway, or hopefully Crit if she jumps in (don’t count her out, and Chandler ain’t running)
They dont want to look TOO strong early on, in this race, or else it might convince Bunning to retire. As this is one of those races where itd be easier for the Dems to win against the incumbent than in an open election.
I wish it was Conway. I’m not a very big fan of Dr. Dan but if he gets the nomination I’ll live with it, he’d be a big improvement over Bruning.
I don’t think he ran away from challenging Bunning in ’04 as someone suggested above. The good news here is that this move by Mongiardo will force Conway’s hand at some point in the near future. He can’t let Mongiardo get too big of a headstart with endorsements and fundraising. Conway is the better Democrat and the candidate who helps us more electorally.
It’s great that the Democrats are sure to have a major candidate in this race – but there are a lot of other appealing candidates who could make a race of this. I’d like to see Jack Conway, Jonathan Miller or Crit Luallen think about jumping into this race too.
I like Dr. Dan a lot but it’s worth asking whether he actually ran a decent 2004 campaign or if he was the lucky beneficiary of Jim Bunning’s growing incapacity.
I guess that’s what primaries are for, though; if Mongiardo’s a mediocre candidate, Jack Conway or someone should beat him.