The Minority Leader Mitch McConnell who has obstructed every good piece of democratic legislation is up for reelection in 2008 and we the people of Kentucky see him as very vulnerable, but because he is so feared in this state by Dems and Reps nobody has decided to run against him yet there is even talk about a Republican Larry Forgy running against him in the primary but nobody has announced. I want to share with the dailykos three of our potential democratic nominees and see which one the Kos readers think is the best.
First lets look at Lt. Col. Andrew Horne, who’s a 44-y.o. retired Marine, that served in Iraq in 2004 and 2005 along with the first Gulf War. Presently, he’s a spokesperson for Iraq Summer, and is a senior adviser for Vote Vets appearing in several commercials for that group. In march 2007, he delivered the Democratic response to one of George W. Bush’s radio addresses. He was also in Washington Tuesday night for the all night senate session and the Iraq Summer rally.
And while Horne has never held elected office before, he’s certainly not a newcomer to Kentucky politics. His classy handling of himself and his campaign in the 2006 Democratic primary against eventual winner John Yarmuth endeared him to many and also proved that he’s a team player: he’s about advancing a progressive, Democratic agenda. That’s good.
To have Horne on stage with McConnell would be a nice juxtaposition, the Marine and the Wimp. And, Horne is a fresh face to Kentuckians, and that might be the very sort of face Kentuckians will be looking for in 2008.
Second Charlie Owen is a successful businessman in Louisville. Owen was working as a federal prosecutor when he was asked by then Kentucky Governor Edward T. Breathitt to return to Kentucky as head of the state crime commission. Owen then left state government to go into business and built a considerable fortune in cable television and real estate development, among other interests and is now worth over 100 million dollars and could write a check to match McConnell's fundraising.
In 1998 Owen ran for the United States Senate seat being vacated by Wendell H. Ford and placed a close second in the Democratic primary, winning 166,472 votes (29.3%). Owen finished behind Congressman Scotty Baesler who won 194,125 votes (34.2%) but ahead of Lieutenant Governor Steve Henry who won 156,576 votes (27.6%).
Third State Attorney General Greg Stumbo is a Democrat with a strong record to stand on. Greg was in the Kentucky State House of Representatives for 24 years--serving 20 years as Majority Leader. Greg's record in the General Assembly is very distinguished as he was a leader in education, in fighting drug abuse, and in protecting rural Kentuckians.
Greg was elected Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 2003 and has an outstanding record that offers much insight into his abilities.
In 2007 primary he ran for Lt. Governor with Bruce Lunsford and lost to nominee Steve Beshear and Daniel Mongiardo.