Can Democrats afford to wait to challenge McConnell?

By Ryan Alessi
ralessi@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT -- Last week's flak over the embattled immigration bill, coupled with increasing frustration among voters with the war in Iraq, has Democrats thinking they have a shot to knock off the Republican leader in the U.S. Senate: Kentucky's Mitch McConnell.

What Democrats haven't yet figured out is whom they should tap to challenge McConnell, a notoriously fierce and well-funded candidate. And early signals hint that the Democrats might wait until this winter to get rolling, giving McConnell as much as a $7 million to $10 million head start.

McConnell is taking no chances.

He said in a recent fund-raising letter to Kentucky Republicans who had not yet given his campaign the maximum contribution of $2,300 that he expects next year to be the most difficult election of his 23-year career in Washington.

However, right now McConnell faces only the promise of challenge -- a ghost, of sorts.

"I think you'll see the campaign for Senate ramp up after November," said state Democratic Party Chairman Jonathan Miller. By that point the governor's race will be decided, he said, and the party is hoping Democrat Steve Beshear can win and give McConnell's challenger a boost.

"There is no way McConnell can be beaten without holding the governor's office," Miller said.

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Comments

Chuck Schumer and Harry Reid need to push hard for Charlie Owen, Bruce Lunsford, Fmr Governor Jones, or Attorney General Greg Stumbo to get into this race and soon.

On a personal note I'd like to see an extremely wealthy candidate take the plunge. Owen or Lunsford would compete dollar for dollar and I think the Democratic establishment is coming around to Lunsford.

[Gadfly]

None of those listed are electable against McConnell. The relationship is too much between Lunsford and McConnell for that to occur.

Is this McConnels Trophy wife?

I was quite stunned to read Parade magazine yesterday. In it, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao is quoted saying that American workers not only have bad attitudes and lousy work ethics, they also need to dress better and to have better personal hygiene. Let's be blunt -- Chao thinks American workers have bad body odor. On top of all that, Chao thinks that Americans need to take anger management classes!

I dont think that we need aouther millionair candidate to run for senate we need a man of the people someone who knows the issues someone who has fought in Iraq and can challenge McConnell with out patriotism being questioned. We Need Lt. Col. Andrew Horne to run for Senate.