From Pol Watchers:
Kentucky Attorney General Greg Stumbo said he intends to form an exploratory committee later today in preparation for a possible challenge to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in 2008.“I am keeping my options open; I am excited about gathering the facts and doing the ground work on this important election,” Stumbo said in an email sent to reporters. “It is time we remind Mitch McConnell that he represents Kentucky not George Bush.”
Stumbo, a Democrat, said he decided to explore entering the race last week after watching McConnell, R-Ky., lead Republicans in an effort to block an up or down vote related to the Iraq War.
“The American People deserve better, the families of Kentucky deserve better, most of all, our troops deserve better,” Stumbo said in a statement.
Stumbo, who ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor this spring on a slate with Louisville businessman Bruce Lunsford, said he doesn’t want to interfere with ongoing fund-raising efforts for statewide offices. However, he will proceed to raise money from out-of-state donors or close family and friends before the Nov. 6 election.
“With McConnell’s overwhelming war chest, we must start now,” he said.
McConnell’s re-election campaign took in $1.25 million between April 1 and June 30 and has $5.7 million in the bank heading into next year’s election.
It remains to be seen whether or not Charlie Owen, a businessman and unsuccessful candidate for the House, Senate and Lt. Governor in elections past, will run. Owen has been making noises about running against McConnell for months, including a recent discussion with Harry Reid and DSCC Chair Chuck Schumer. In Owen’s favor, he is considerably wealthy and could at least partially self-fund his Senate campaign. Against him, if elected, he would be 70 years old by the time he’d be sworn-in–a pretty ripe age for a freshman Senator.
Any nominee against McConnell will have to be prepared to get dragged through the mud. Hitting McConnell on his reckless support of the Bush agenda is a good place to start, though.
(Hat-tip: Ditch Mitch)
I had a friend call em earlier today about this, but I saw no word about it anywhere across the blogosphere. I was starting to think he misread something.
Is Horne still a possibility for this race?
I believe that Greg Stumbo is the 2nd strongest candidate we can potentially run – after Chandler. A statewide elected Democrat, someone who can bring Democrats in KY together, someone who has a nice profile from the Fletcher era, and someone who is reverred greatly in Eastern Kentucky (which we need to win).
Since Ben Chandler and Crit Luallen are not going to run against McConnell, I think Greg Stumbo is the best candidate the Democrats could get. He has won statewide and is popular in the Eastern part of the state. With the Democratic gains in the last election and the success the Democrats will have this year, Kentucky may be a suprise state in 2008.