Another Kentucky candidate, Rand Paul, is having some bumps along the way, mainly because he is slow to understand that he’s no longer running in a Primary where the most energized part of his base is leading in enthusiasm, but rather in a General election where he must appeal to all the voters. No one can be elected in our American form of democracy by sticking with the extreme of either party. The majority of folks who are in the middle will decide elections, every time, and I believe that is a good thing for our Country.

In my race for the U.S. House, I’m asking for the votes and support of all southeast Kentuckians, and I’ve done so right from the start.

Yes, I'm a Democrat, but I don't carry the water for any group I believe is on the wrong track, and I believe that the Democratic Party needs to re-brand itself as the "Party of the Common People." Democrats need to re-focus on the issues which are important to working people and our once-great middle class, namely a secure and stable peace, and jobs, jobs, jobs. And this is exactly the kind of Democrat I am, and I won't be any other, and to the Democratic voters in the 5th District, I say that if you want to see a return to the roots of the Democratic Party, then vote for me in November and I will not let you down in Congress.

And I’m asking for the votes of the Republican voters who are sick and tired of seeing their once-strong Party decline as a result of being hijacked by a bunch of Washington insiders who labeled themselves "conservative" while growing government, cutting taxes, and spending, spending, spending, so that surpluses became deficits. There is nothing "conservative" in any of that! I believe that the great principles of the Party of Lincoln that have been trashed by this bunch, and I think a lot of Republican voters would like to see our Country go back to avoiding meddlesome foreign involvements while maintaining a strong and effective national defense, and also returning to sound economic, trade and fiscal policies that will secure a long-term future for our troubled American free enterprise system.

And I'm making an appeal for the support of the Independent voters who want to see real reform in our political system. I support non-partisan re-districting and open primaries that will restore responsiveness and statesmanship to American politics and in Congress I will work for these things.

Yes, I'm asking for the support of all the voters of the 5th District, so please copy this and pass it to your family, friends, and neighbors by any means possible. This November 2nd, let's shake some mountains down here in Kentucky's 5th District in a way that doesn't involve dynamite! Let's move beyond Party and partisanship to progress, and show the rest of America how it can be done! Let's eliminate the "business-as-usual" in Washington and begin to take action for the common good instead of the special interests, and let's bring better representation to Congress for Kentucky's 5th District and for America!

--Jim Holbert
www.holbertforcongress.com