Obama's Kentucky team expects campaign to go on

While key Kentucky supporters for U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's presidential bid say they'd like their candidate to wrap up the nomination, they fully expect the primary battle to continue through Kentucky's May 20 primary.

"I think there will be a full campaign in Kentucky because I believe there's enough energy to warrant it, and I believe the people in the state want it," said U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, a Louisville Democrat and Obama supporter. "They’ve never had this opportunity before."

Yarmuth said he doesn't want Clinton to drop out of the race "until after May 21 because I think that would temper the enthusiasm a little bit for the election."

He said in the results in the Kentucky primary between Obama and U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will be important groundwork for the fall general election.

"Regardless of what may happen in the next two weeks in terms of superdelegates or her campaign, we need to make a show of strength for Sen. Obama because we are not writing off Kentucky in the general election at all."

The Obama campaign also snared endorsements from state Rep. Dennis Keane of Wilder and  Madisonville Mayor Will Cox, who hosted Obama's primary rival, U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, in his city in March for a Democratic Party event.

In a statement read by Obama spokesman Clark Stevens on a conference call, Cox said Obama provides "honest, inspiring and fresh leadership" the country needs and said the results of Tuesday's election should signal to Democrats that Obama should be the nominee.
"Kentucky stands at a crossroads. We truly can put an end to this primary race that we have if Kentucky can turn around and join the close race that happened in Indiana," Keane said.

Keane and May will be among several dozen local and state officials who will serve on Obama's "leadership committee" in counties across the state. Click on the link below to see the full list of officials on that team.

- Ryan Alessi 

Former Louisville Councilman Bill Allison, Jefferson

Former Councilwoman Denise Bentley, Jefferson

Elizabethtown City Council Member, Anthony Bishop, Hardin

Former City Council Member George Brown, Fayette

Congressman Ben Chandler, Woodford

Mayor of Madisonville, Will Cox, Hopkins 

State Representative Jim Glenn, Daviess

Former Franklin County Judge William Graham, Franklin

Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton, Jefferson

Former State Senator Nicholas Kafoglis, Warren

Former State Senator David Karem, Jefferson

State Representative, Dennis Keene, Campbell

County Judge Executive Darrell Link, Grant

Former Congressman Ken Lucas, Boone 

Former State Senator Michael Maloney, Fayette

Former Congressman Romano Mazzoli, Jefferson

State Representative Reginald Meeks, Jefferson

Former State Senator Danny Meyer, Oldham

Former Lexington Mayor Pam Miller, Fayette

Former State Treasurer Jonathan Miller, Fayette

State Senator Gerald Neal, Jefferson

County Judge Executive Billy O'Banion, Owen

Louisville Councilman Tom Owen, Jefferson

State Representative Darryl Owens, Jefferson

Former Circuit Judge Lewis Paisley, Fayette

State Representative Ruth Palumbo, Fayette

Former State Senator Georgia Powers, Jefferson

Campbell County Commissioner, Ken Rechtin, Campbell

State Senator Ernesto Scorsone, Fayette

Councilwoman Barbara Shanklin, Jefferson

State Senator Tim Shaughnessy, Jefferson

County Commonwealth Attorney Gordie Shaw, Woodford

Bardstown City Council Member, Bill Sheckles, Nelson 

Former Bowling Green Mayor Patsy Sloan, Warren

Louisville Councilman David Tandy, Jefferson

Councilman George Unseld, Jefferson

Former Congressman Mike Ward, Jefferson

State Representative Jim Wayne, Jefferson

State Representative Susan Westrom, Fayette

Councilwoman Mary Woolridge, Jefferson

Congressman John Yarmuth, Jefferson