Robin Webb (D) Wins Senate Seat in 18th District

It’s kinda official, the Democrats will take the 18th district State Senate seat from the Republicans. From BGPolitics:

Robertson County goes for Webb: Dem. Robin Webb, 168; GOP Jack Ditty, 142; independent Guy Gibbons, 12.

Lewis County goes for Ditty: GOP Jack Ditty, 1,184; Dem Robin Webb, 1,072; independent Guy Gibbons, 63.

Greenup County goes for Ditty: GOP Jack Ditty, 3,407; Dem Robin Webb, 2,737; and independent Guy Gibbons, 538.

Bracken County goes for Ditty: GOP Jack Ditty, 520; Dem Robin Webb, 474; and independent Guy Gibbons, 62.

Mason County goes for Ditty: GOP Ditty, 1,194; Dem Robin Webb, 1,128; and independent Guy Gibbons, 79.

Carter County goes for Webb: Dem Webb, 3105; GOP Ditty, 1955; and independent Guy Gibbons, 199.

A super contested race, that is a rare win for Beshear in his  attempt to pass gambling legislation. We wish the best of luck to Robin in her new position. Here’s the total numbers:

Jack Ditty: 8,402 (46.6%)
Robin Webb: 8,684 (48.1%)
Guy Gibbons Jr. 953 (5.3%)

Source: WSAZ

Only 282 votes separation, wow!

September is Kentucky “Bourbon Heritage Month”

Beshear just MAY just be good for something, and that thing is giving months different names. Stevie B’s Press Release:

Gov. Steve Beshear today honored Kentucky’s signature bourbon industry for its tremendous economic and tourism impact by declaring September “Bourbon Heritage Month” in the Commonwealth.“From jobs to investment to tourism, bourbon is a vital part of the Bluegrass economy that benefits all of Kentucky’s citizens,” Gov. Beshear said. “It’s also a key export and a proud symbol of our heritage that’s known and acknowledged around the world.

“It’s a privilege to proclaim September ‘Bourbon Heritage Month’ in recognition of our historic distilling industry. My administration is committed to working with our distillers to help this essential part of our economy grow and thrive.”

I love that, “grow and thrive”. Which is why you approved of the new alcohol tax that has the potential to cripple the very same industry. AWESOME.

But, uh, I’m sure a lot of people are happy or give a durn about this. Right? Right? No? Then why am I writing this?

McConnell Plans to Fundraise with Other Senate GOPers for Grayson

Image via Wikipedia

I can hear the conversation now:

“Mitch, I think we may have a problem.”

“What is it, Trey?’

“Rand Paul just dropped a ‘money bomb‘. It didn’t do as well as they expected, but Paul has a lot of money on hand now.”

“What do you want me to do about it?”

“Could you come help me out here? I don’t really know what I’m doing.”

And thus, this happens:

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell and 22 other Republican senators are hosting a $500-per-person fundraiser Sept. 23 for Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson’s Senate campaign.

The event will be held at the National Republican Senatorial Committee headquarters in Washington, Roll Call reported Tuesday.

This could be taken one of 2 ways: The Grayson camp is showing it’s grief after Rand Paul’s money bomb that earned over $600,000 OR, which I think is most likely, Trey Grayson and friends want to appear like they’re essentially already a shoo – in for the Republican nomination (they almost are). By giving themselves the legitimacy of Mitch and others joining him for a fundraiser, it would appear to most that the deal is done.

HOwever, that won’t stop Paul from using all that fancy cash he earned to exploit Grayson’s coziness with the GOP elite.

On a barely related note, tomorrow Trey starts his “announcement” tour and will be coming to “Ashland” which to him seems to meant the Worthington Airport. He’s probably landing, giving a speech and heading elsewhere. Niiiice.

John Waltz (D) is Using Dennis Kucinich’s Old Campaign Team

John Waltz, the Democrat running against Geoff Davis (R) next year, just sent out an email announcing how the 4th district need a representative “who is not a “business-as-usual” congressman; someone who has not been influenced by special interests; and someone who does not use obstruction as a political expedient.” Which, to my knowledge, is quite a big stretch if he’s criticizing Davis – who has proven to be a pretty straightforward and clean politician despite how oxymoron-ic that sounds.

The juiciest part though was the last paragraph: “This week marks a turning point in our campaign to reclaim Kentucky’s Fourth for the people with the addition of the same team that helped run Congressman Dennis Kucinich’s Presidential campaign. With their help and yours, we can finally see progress ahead on the issues that most trouble the people of our great state.”

Did anyone elese’s boogers fly out their nose when they read that? Dennis Kucinich’s campaign team? The same on that is writing up legislation proposing a ban on the purchase, sale, transfer, or possession of handguns by civilians? The same Kucinich who supports the Fairness Doctrine and pushed to impeach Bush? And SAW AND HEARD ALIENS? Yeah, I think so. This is hilarious.

State Sec. Finance Johnathan Miller Endorses Jack Conway (D)

Image via Wikipedia

So says an email from the Conway camp and Miller’s Twitter, anyway:

We are thrilled to announce former State Treasurer, State Party Chair, author and current Secretary of Finance Jonathan Miller endorsed Jack Conway in the 2010 United States Senate race. Jonathan and Jack first made their announcement on Twitter and Facebook (www.facebook.com/JonathanMillerKY or http://twitter.com/MillerKY).

This endorsement comes on the heels of U.S. News and World Report (8/10/09) calling Conway the “Democratic favorite” in the Kentucky Senate race.

“I am deeply honored to have Jonathan Miller’s endorsement,” said Jack Conway. “Jonathan  is one of Kentucky’s best and brightest public servants.  Jonathan and his entire family have worked hard to make Kentucky a better place to live, work and raise a family.”

Video: Rand Paul (R) Announces His Candidacy

Told you I’d get it!

Let’s Put Conway’s Stupid Remarks and Fancy Farm to Bed

Obviously, there have been some good laughs that came from Fancy Farm itself and even more from Jack Conway’s rich language that set off a faux firestorm of “controversy”. There are understandable suspicions that the Daniel Mongiardo campaign was behind a couple videos on YouTube that poked fun (actually worse) at Conway and and his “tough hide”. This is my personal favorite and the most controversial:

Note: My hair is almost exactly like Jack Conway’s, minus the color changes (legit or not, as according to Jake at PageOne) so the ending stepped on my toes a bit.

Anywayyy… This is positively ridiculous. I don’t praise liberals very often, but when I do, I’ll likely do it in spades. The liberals who realize that this is a non-issue are right. If it’s mentioned on The Colbert Report, you know it’s dumb. Why can’t Mongiardo and Conway debate Cap and Trade, the 2nd amendment, or even who’s got a fancier website? Anything, anything, would make more sense than this. Fow what it’s worth Conway’s even apologized.

I’m moving on, and I hope everyone else can too.

KY Tidbits: Beshear’s Cabinet, Ol’ Lady Northup and a Governor Reunion!

Beshear shuffles cabinet:

Larry Hayes named Secretary for Economic Development (Warning: Press Release)

Gov. Beshear names Mary Lassiter Secretary of Executive Cabinet (Warning: Press Release)

Senate OKs Northup, Barzun Woo! She gets to approve things!

The Races: Senate 18 – All Six Living Democrat Governors to Raise Funds Wait, Rand Paul catches heck for rasing funds outside, KY, shouldn’t Webb for doing so outside her district? Of course not… it’s called a double standard.

Polls!: New Poll Regarding Conway’s Fancy Farm Language

SuveyUSA has a new poll out taken from 800 Louisville citizens about Jack Conway(D) and his remarks about being an “SOB”, his “hide” and whatnot. Here’s the results:

Are you familiar with the comments U.S. Senate candidate Jack Conway made during the Fancy Farm political speeches on Saturday?

Poll Report Popup via kwout

Do Conways’ comments make your opinion of Conway more positive? More negative? Or does it have no effect either way?

Poll Report Popup via kwout

Now to pontificate. This poll was taken in Louisville, a metro area considered a Conway stronghold. Of those who heard of his remarks, 44% considered them negative – again, in a Conway stronghold. What of those in rural Kentucky who heard it on the local 10 o’clock news? Wouldn’t they see it even worse  than the urban Kentuckians? I believe they would. One thing is clear: Mongiardo successfully milked a non-issue (I’ll get into that in a later post) into a talking point and poll twister.

Rand Paul (R) to Announce Official Senate Bid Today // Updated!

The eye surgeon from Bowling Green will be announcing his bid for the current senate seat held by the retiring Jim Bunning (R). Rand Paul, yes he’s Ron Paul‘ son, will likely announce it today on the Glenn Beck program. This is all happening after a recent redesign of his website, randpaul2010.com and announcement that there will be a conference call at 9:15 am tomorrow.

So, Paul is going to go national for support and hope it spreads into Kentucky. I’m nonplussed, especially considering he’s running as an “outsider” candidate. How can you run as an outsider when you’re announcing your candidacy on the national Fox News network?

Either way, this is going to be one heck of a primary. I’m still wondering when the 1st polls are going to come out. I’ll be watching, and will update when it’s official.

UPDATE:

Rand just made it officially official in an official way w/ Neil Cavuto that he is indeed running as an “independent republican”. We could go for that. Video if it’s ever available, coming soon.