Boswell will challenge Lewis in congressional race

By Ryan Alessi
RALESSI@HERALD-LEADER.COM

FRANKFORT -- Fresh off Tuesday's election wins, Democrats turned their focus to 2008 campaigns, with the new governor pledging to take a hands-on role, an expected change in the Democratic Party chairmanship, and a congressional candidate stepping forward.

Democratic State Sen. David Boswell of Owensboro said he is planning a press conference "in the very, very near future" to officially announce his candidacy to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Ron Lewis of Cecilia.

"I do plan to run for the U.S. Congress in the 2nd District," Boswell said yesterday. "I think people, overall, are ready for change. They're ready for a new guard."

Boswell, who was agriculture commissioner from 1984 to 1988 and has been a senator since 1991, said the win by fellow Democrat Steve Beshear in Tuesday's governor's race gives him and other potential candidates for next year's election a huge boost.

"It's very, very important to have a governor at the top of the party," he said. "The governor certainly can and should play a pivotal role in helping to be the main bond, if you will, that keeps all the players together and helps to build the party and make it stronger."

Beshear pledged to do just that yesterday, in his first press conference as governor-elect at the Capital Plaza Hotel.

He said he expects to help recruit legislative candidates and help them raise money.

"We will continue to do that kind of building of the party as we go along," Beshear said.

One of his first tasks as the titular head of the state Democratic Party will be to name a new chairman.

Jonathan Miller, the outgoing state treasurer who has served as Democratic Party chairman since June, has said that he would leave after Tuesday's election. Miller said last month he planned to talk with Beshear about potentially taking a job in the administration.

Several top Democrats said they expect Miller's successor to be Jennifer Moore, a Louisville lawyer and the party's vice chairman during the fall general election.

"She would be my choice," said House Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green. "I think Jennifer Moore is bright. She is progressive. She would just do a marvelous job."

Jim Cauley, Beshear's campaign manager, said he wasn't interested in moving to party headquarters, as some political strategists fresh off a governor's race win have done in the past. He, too, pointed to Moore.

"If Jonathan left, I think Jennifer would be a great choice," Cauley said.

Moore said last night she hadn't been offered the post.

"If that offer is made, I will of course do whatever to move the Democratic Party forward," she said.

Beshear to give direction

Kentucky Democrats struggled to regain their footing after losing the 2003 governor's race. For the first time in 32 years, the party didn't have a governor to look to for political leadership, guidance and fund-raising.

Although they turned to a loose coalition of leaders -- Richards, state Auditor Crit Luallen, Attorney General Greg Stumbo and Miller, the treasurer -- most Democratic officials say the direction of the party will be clearer with a governor at the helm.

For instance, Richards said Beshear can offer fund-raising muscle to help the Democratic House Caucus meet its goal of $750,000 next year.

"There's no question that having a governor helps the fund-raising," he said. "We want him to help us."

Danny Briscoe, who served as Democratic Party chairman for eight months in 1987-88 after Wallace Wilkinson won his party's nomination for governor, said he expects Beshear to be the most active governor in party politics since the 1970s, when Wendell Ford and Julian Carroll were in power.

"I think he'll pay more attention to the Democratic Party than has been paid to it in a number of years, going back several administrations," Briscoe said.

Beshear was careful to add that although he plans to help his fellow Democrats in elections, he still intends to work with Republicans.

"I'm the head of the Democratic Party as governor," Beshear said. "And certainly I'll be involved in partisan political contests. I will expect the Republicans to try to elect as many Republicans as they can. And I'm sure the Democrats will do the same. But that should not get in the way of us working together."

Looking ahead to 2008

As for 2008, early attention is focused on Kentucky's delegation in Washington.

Boswell is the first high-profile Democratic congressional candidate to emerge for next year. "Boswell '08" bumper stickers have been circulating in Owensboro in recent weeks, but it had been unclear whether they were for his state Senate re-election or for Congress.

Lewis, who last year withstood his first tough re-election fight in a decade, declined to comment.

The Democrats also are targeting U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell. Stumbo, the outgoing attorney general, and Luallen, who was re-elected auditor Tuesday, are two prominent potential challengers.

Yesterday, a DraftCrit.com Web site emerged. Luallen's camp denied knowing about it.

Liz Fossett, a Georgetown College student, said she and a friend have started the site with a "grass-roots coalition" of other activists to encourage Luallen to run. "We think she's the best candidate out there even considering the race," Fossett said, noting that 50 people have already signed the online petition.

Comments

[JW]

The flight of the lemmings has started.

[Hazel]

Lemmings have wings???

[JIm Anderson Stivers]

JW\Hazel

But, do LEMMINGS have stingers?

Lemmings eh? It looks to me like the republican minions don't know what to do now that their king has lost his throne. Poor things, rofl

I hope Boswell hands Lewis his keister on a silver platter. I can think of no one in Washington who deserves it more...... well maybe McConnell. lol Lewis has had his lips permanently attached to Bush since the bumbling court jester took office. It would be nice to have a Rep. who actually listens to his constituents for a change.

This is a joke. Didn't the Democrats try this last year with Mike Weaver? I'm not complaining, though. The more they blow on this race the less they will have to spend other places. Lewis will win easily.

[MOO]

You can bet the RNC will have a folder six inches thick on Boswell before the end of next week. We'll see where he stands when the first bit of information is leaked to the media (if they print it).

Beshear only won Hardin County by 51%...and that's the same county that voted overwhelmingly for Ann Northup over Fletcher in the primary. The Lewis' came out strong for Fletcher in the general, which is why he did so much better there than in surrounding parts of the state. Ain't no chance that Boswell dude can seriously challenge Ron Lewis. Folks in Etown and Hardin County will womp on him! Bring it on, baby!

Isn't Boswell carrying the water for the Executive Inn owners on this casino thing? He might make some enemies in other towns that might want one if he pushes too hard for Owensboro. Bowling Green might want a casino and might be shut out if Boswell gets one sited in Owensboro.

The placement of the casinos must be done very carefully. Many towns will want one - those that do not get one may get mad.