BluegrassReport.org

Lt. Col. Andrew Horne Reporting For Duty

While I realize John Y Brown III posted about this already this morning, I wanted to jump in and say how glad I am that we have a formal top-tier candidate -- Lt. Col. Andrew Horne (D) -- to take on President Bush's waterboy and the leader of the party that got us in the unimaginable debacle of the Iraq War -- Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R).

While there is still another month or so before the filing deadline, I believe this is Horne's primary race to lose. I don't say that with any contempt for the other possible candidates who are considering a run, like Attorney General Stumbo (D) or even businessman Greg Fischer (D) -- but I believe Lt. Col. Horne matches-up well with McConnell, particularly on the most important issue of the day -- the war. While McConnell can lecture us about his bird's eye view of the situation in Iraq and then puts soldiers in his campaign ads, Horne is a real soldier who actually led Marine combat forces during this very war. And with one race under his belt (the 2006 Third Congressional District congressional primary), he will no doubt be a stronger, smarter, savvier opponent, as is usually the case with talented candidates the second time around.

Most here know that I supported current U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D) last year against Horne. I supported John because I knew he would become the very rockstar congressman he now is. But once the primary was over, there were few stronger advocates for him than Andrew Horne, who campaigned his heart out to help John win the general election. My opposition to Horne was nothing more than my passionate support of Yarmuth. It was only after that November election that I got a chance to know Andrew on a personal level. He's a rock-solid person, has a remarkable story to tell -- and has been doing so this past year on behalf of VoteVets.org -- and Kentucky would be well-served with Lt. Col. Horne reporting for duty in the United States Senate on its behalf.

So, I'm very happy Lt. Col. Horne has volunteered to serve us once again and I look forward to a spirited primary campaign and a general election ass-kicking of the highest order of the man who has offered us these incomprehensible bits of wisdom:

• “I’ve never met a finer man than our governor, Ernie Fletcher,” said McConnell. “I’m proud of Ernie Fletcher. I’m proud of Glenna Fletcher. And I’m proud of the image they present for our state.” (link)

• Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell of Kentucky called Bush "one of the great presidents in the history of the United States." (link)

• Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the war in Iraq has been an "extremely successful undertaking." (link)

• Senator Mitch McConnell called Rumsfeld “a spectacular secretary of defense, one of the best in American history." (link)

Don't you think Kentucky deserves someone with better judgment to serve them in the U.S. Senate?

Me too.

http://andrewhorne.org/

Stumbo Formally Launches U.S. Senate Exploratory Campaign

Today, Attorney General Greg Stumbo (D) launched what he termed an "Exploratory Committee" for a possible race against Senate Minority Leader McConnell (R) next year.

However, as we discussed earlier this year concerning former Lt. Governor Steve Henry (D), I'm pretty certain that there is no such "exploratory" designation for federal office, other than running for president. There is a "testing the waters" provision in federal law as far as how much a candidate can raise and spend before they must file their candidacy papers, but there's no interim exploratory designation.

While Stumbo is likely in compliance with the law as a result of the "testing the waters" language, this exploratory thingee appears to be a designation of Stumbo's own making to try to get more than one bite at the apple as far as media coverage goes, if he really takes on McConnell.

Though, I think Stumbo's action today moves-up the timeline for Andrew Horne (D) to make a decision as to whether he will run. While I understand that Bruce Lunsford (D) is taking a look at the race in an informal way, and he has the luxury of taking his time since he's able to self-finance, it's hard to imagine he'd run against his 2007 running mate for the nomination.

That makes me wonder whether Stumbo is partially a stalking horse for Lunsford, trying to keep the field relatively free so that if Lunsford decided to run after the November election, he wouldn't face a crowded field, giving him a clearer shot at McConnell. And if Lunsford chose not to run, Stumbo would stay in and take his best shot at McConnell.

Regardless, I can't help but think Stumbo would have a better shot taking out U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers (R) in a staunchly Democratic region where he's beloved and where he could compete financially, as opposed to running statewide against McConnell (and his $10 million) where Stumbo likely will have to overcome serious pockets of resistance along the way.

Just my two cents.

Here is Stumbo's announcement:

I am writing you because I recently formed an Exploratory Committee to look into the possibility of running for US Senate against Mitch McConnell. After spending twenty-four years in the Kentucky State House, nineteen as Majority Floor Leader, and the last four as Kentucky's attorney general, I don't recall ever feeling the sense urgency to serve that I do now. We desperately need someone in Washington who cares more about Kentucky's hardworking families and the America we leave our children than he does about Karl Rove's "permanent majority" and George W. Bush's destructive agenda.

Now more than ever, Democrats need to unite and send a clear message to the Senior Senator from Kentucky that enough is enough. Mitch McConnell has blindly followed President Bush regardless of the cost - political, financial, and otherwise - and without heeding the wishes of his constituents and the nation as a whole.

So far I am the only person who has stepped forward as a potential candidate to take on the McConnell machine, and I need your help. Your contribution to my Exploratory Committee would be a step towards removing the man personally responsible for ousting Senator Tom Daschle and blocking the Senate vote to bring our troops home.

Mitch McConnell gave a generic stump speech a couple of weeks ago which he ended by saying he was, "outta time." Let's show him that we agree. Please give whatever you can today.

http://www.actblue.com/page/gregstumbo

Thanks so much for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Greg Stumbo