Allison Lundergan Grimes Endorses Charlie Booker for Senate

[jorgevlorgan]

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/16/kentucky-democrat-backs-charles-booker-322109

Former Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes on Tuesday endorsed Senate candidate Charles Booker in the Democratic primary to challenge Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in November.

“Proud to endorse my friend @Booker4KY for U.S. Senate in the Kentucky Democratic Primary! Together, let’s elect a new generation of leadership in KY! #Booker4KY,” Lundergan Grimes tweeted.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

1. Have they not had their primary yet?

I thought that McGrath was the nominee and that she was doing well against McConnell?

[jorgevlorgan]

5. The latter is true in terms of her polling well against him. The former is not.

The primary is next week, on June 23.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

6. Oh ok. I didn't realize that

[jorgevlorgan]

7. ohhh she's also doing very well with fundraising!

I think she out raised McConnell this quarter

[budkin]

2. McGrath polls so much better against McConnell

I know Booker is more progressive but we actually have a shot of winning with McGrath.

[still_one]

3. +++

[jorgevlorgan]

4. Booker actually won his election in his district.

McGrath didn't (although she obviously did well in a purple district with a longtime incumbent). Booker is the more quality candidate, with a better shot at winning IMHO and head to head polls don't say everything.

[Hortensis]

8. I wonder why. Her record is mainly moderate liberal, solidly conservative

when required. Mostly in line with Democratic positions, but presumably nowhere near as far left as Booker. "Grimes opposes further EPA rules on powerplant emissions, claiming they will result in job losses in Kentucky's coal industry." "Grimes claimed that as a member of the National Rifle Association, her "strong support for the Second Amendment is unquestioned" yada, yada..."

Booker was not even close to being a contender before George Floyd was murdered but has gotten a huge boost from that. Two possibilities, she really believes he has the best chance to beat McConnell. Or she doesn't but has different priorities. Grimes has been accused of various ethical violations while in office, including accessing confidential voter records as a way of getting ammunition to use against people, and her father is as well.

Propublica:

Trey Grayson, who held the position from 2004-11, said he could not think of a reason he or his staff would have needed it. ... In fact, when Grayson served as secretary of state, Kentucky’s ethics commission ruled he could run for a Senate seat without recusing himself as chief elections officer expressly because he had no access to the rolls, which could have given him an advantage. The ethics commission has since said that opinion no longer stands in light of Grimes’ access.

https://www.propublica.org/article/alison-lundergan-grimes-kentucky-onetime-rising-democratic-star-voter-privacy