After nary a peep in months from the office of Dem Rep. Ben Chandler on the subject of a potential challenge to GOP crumb-bum extraordinaire Jim Bunning, Chandler tells the AP that he’s considering making a bid after receiving encouragement from the DSCC. He’s even gone so far as to meet with Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear on Friday to discuss his potential run. (Hat-tip: Senate Guru)
If Chandler were to jump in, this would set up a primary battle with Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo. Attorney General Jack Conway and state Auditor Crit Luallen are also considering the race, with Conway seemingly being the most eager of the pair to run. However, in a recent interview with Page One, Conway said he was “regularly speaking” with both Luallen and Chandler about a bid, and I would expect both of them to back off if Chandler pulls the trigger.
Meanwhile, Jim Bunning is already casting aspersions on wide swaths of his home state:
At a Fourth District Lincoln/Reagan Day Dinner in Boone County, Bunning said, “I need your support to offset Lexington, Louisville and some other people who don’t think like we do in Northern Kentucky.”
True, Bunning didn’t go so far as to call these folks “fake Kentuckians”, but I still don’t think a strategy of polarizing the vote around the Cinci ‘burbs is going to cut it for him.
His Congressional seat would be odds-on to swing Republican in an off-year election. Given that the Dems already have a great chance of beating Bunning no matter who they run, it doesn’t strike me as wise to sacrifice a House seat if we don’t need to.
Considering that outside of a few counties in the Cincy suburbs, most of Bunning’s old district are Democratic-leaning coal counties, he is REALLY putting all his marbles on Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties pulling him across the finish line.
Didn’t Bunning endorse Northup for Govenror in 2007? She’s FROM Louisville.
I can’t bring myself to get excited about Mongiardo, considering how socially conservative he is. Chandler is a little better, although not a lot, but it seems like he’d have an easier time of it, so more resources would be available for other Senate races.
candidate since he first won this seat. luellen and conway seem a little like the new flavors, but chandler might still be our top recruit and the fact that he’s taking it so seriously is a very hopeful sign.
i kind of hope the rest stand down and chandler becomes THE GUY.
have suggested that Chandler is just “considering” to dry up Mongiardo’s fundraising until his friend Jack Conway jumps in. I would be fine with that as well, although Conway has only ran two elections, one unsuccessful (against Northup in 2002) and one against a joke GOP opponent.