Who should take on Mitch McConnell? Why?

[groovedaddy]

Just interested in Kentucky DUers take on this important race for '08.

[MasonJar]

1. We need a really strong candidate this time, and we need to put all

our energy behind that one person. Mitch is finally vulnerable; we must act with precision and strength. I am willing to work hard and to put up donations but only for someone who can win. We need to start as soon as the governor is sworn in.

[groovedaddy]

2. But who CAN WIN?

Ben Chandler / Crit Luallen / Greg Stumbo / Charlie Owen ??????????????

[BridgeTheGap]

3. Ben Chandler or Crit Luallen

A recent poll showed Chandler just a point ahead of Luallen (41-40). I think Chandler would have the best shot at beating McConnell but he'll probably wait until 2010 to run for a Senate seat. Luallen would be a great candidate with a ton of credibility. The downside may be whatever illness she has faced in the last several years and whether or not that's behind her. Probably so, because it didn't come up at all in her race to retain her position as State Auditor and she won handily. McConnell is a much taller order.

[alfredo]

6. Ben seems happy in the house, but when Bunning's seat comes up,

he could jump into the fray. Running for senate is very expensive, very difficult.

I think Ben will stay in his very safe seat in the 6th.

[MasonJar]

4. We need someone who can win and we need that candidate SOON.

Who should that be? Well, someone who is well-known throughout the state is essential. Or else we put big money into getting someone honorable like Andrew Horne known asap. Mitch has the money already, but he is not popular right now, so we must get under way.

[BridgeTheGap]

5. I like Horne, except for his position on health care

WE NEED SINGLE Payer!!!

[focusfan]

7. if there;s a democrate thats running against Mitch MCConnell

I would vote for them Mitch McConell ain't worth crap.

[BridgeTheGap]

8. Senate race might need a candidate - H-L

Senate race might need a candidate // Luallen, Stumbo unlikely to challenge McConnell
By Ryan Alessi - Herald Leader

FRANKFORT --Two high-profile Democratic officials who had considered taking on U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell next year are signalling that they're less likely to take the plunge after all.

State Auditor Crit Luallen, in addition to losing key advisers to incoming Gov. Steve Beshear's administration, has told party leaders in Washington that she's decided against running, and that word has filtered back to Kentucky.

And outgoing Attorney General Greg Stumbo, who started an exploratory committee to consider the race, is saying that he's now looking at getting his old job back as state representative from Floyd County.

"I represented that district for over 20 years and still live there. They have a representative up there now who is doing a good job," he told the Herald-Leader this week. "But I love the state House. It's an option."

http://www.kentucky.com/454/story/252069.html

[groovedaddy]

9. Is fear keeping McConnell free of real challenger? Joe Gerth - CJ

Who's next?

Potential Democratic challengers to U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell continue to fall by the wayside. Last week it was state Auditor Crit Luallen who announced she wouldn't face him.

And Attorney General Greg Stumbo was making noises like he might try to return to the Kentucky House of Representatives rather than take on the state's senior senator, the most powerful Republican on Capitol Hill.

Luallen, who has battled cancer in the past, expressed a desire to keep some balance in her life in announcing her decision not to run.

But why aren't any of the other big-name candidates out there willing to challenge McConnell?

One Democratic consultant believes many in his party lack the, um, intestinal fortitude to enter a race that, in all likelihood, they'll lose.

http://tinyurl.com/35y6ty

Also from Bluegrass Report:
National Dems Lobbying Mongiardo To Challenge McConnell
A rock-solid source tell me that national Democrats are making a strong push to get Lt. Gov.-elect Daniel Mongiardo (D) to consider challenging U.S. Sen. McConnell (R) for his seat next year in light of Auditor Crit Luallen's (D) announcement today that she will not run. Recall that Mongiardo nearly defeated U.S. Sen. Bunning (R) in 2004, losing by 1.4 percent in a year that was clearly the high-water mark for Republicans in a very long time.

I have no reason to believe that Mongiardo is considering it, but I know the recruiting effort is underway.

http://www.bluegrassreport.org/

[BRB_TheFireball]

10. Andrew Horne is in!

http://polwatchers.typepad.com/pol_watchers/2007/12/horne-announces.html

[groovedaddy]

11. I like Horne and think he has a legitimate shot in this race

Iraq vet Horne seeks McConnell's Senate seat in '08 By Joseph Gerth - Courier Journal

Iraq war veteran Andrew Horne yesterday became the third Democrat to announce that he will seek the Senate seat held by Republican Mitch McConnell in next year's election.

Horne, 46, is a retired Marine lieutenant colonel who grew up in Louisville and made an unsuccessful race for the 3rd District congressional seat last year.

He said in an interview that he's running because Kentuckians need a change.

"People know that not so much in their head as in their hearts," Horne said. "… Instead of taking on issues, he (McConnell) is busy playing partisan politics."

http://tinyurl.com/yvfuyv

[BridgeTheGap]

12. Stumbo is out

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071220/NEWS01/712200387/1008/NEWS01

[alfredo]

13. Change for Kentucky has endorsed Andrew Horne. If you want to

help, see my Change For Kentucky link below.