From the Louisville Courier-Journal
Attorney General Greg Stumbo today announced the formation of an exploratory committee to test the waters in a run against U.S. Senate minority leader and former whip Mitch McConnell (R-Softmoney).
Although the above link highlights some of Stumbo's weaknesses, he's viewed by many as an effective and tough Attorney General, hopefully enough to overcome his personal negatives.
It's exciting to see someone finally get this campaign cycle started. McConnell has the national crosshairs on him, and I'm sure this is just the first of many diaries I'll be writing on this race. I know the Kossack community is highly motivated to see him go, and we're all brainstorming ways to put you good people to work.
But it won't be easy:
Despite Bush's problems, McConnell's seat is generally viewed not to be at risk. University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato, in his newsletter earlier this week, listed McConnell as one of the 17 Republicans who are considered "safe."
McConnell has already raised $7.6 million for his re-election -- the most ever for a Senate candidate in Kentucky -- and he has more than $5.7 million on hand. And he's still raising more money.
If Stumbo ultimately decides to enter the race, he said he would count on help from national Democratic sources including the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
That last paragraph was a bad omen. Any candidate trying to beat Mitch will have to seek the help of the DNC and the DSCC, but in doing so may risk the alienation of the netroots, who are vehemently opposed to the consultantocracy.
I'd really like to see a popularity / approval poll for Senator McConnell, since my gut feeling is this once blue, turned red state may be heading back to blue territory. Fort Campbell has the 3rd largest military population in the U.S. (appx. 45,000); Fort Knox is home to about 12,000 service-men and women. Recent campaign finance reports show US military donations going 70% to anti-war candidates (this was front-paged but I can't find the link), and I believe this statistic will be the key to swaying popular opinion.
Update: I came out too strongly against the DNC & DSCC, especially in the way I worded it on behalf of the netroots. However I have personally seen the way the DNC has "helped" a campaign in the past; I don't see their involvement as the panacea that the Courier article does, and in some ways they de-energize a campaign.