Here's what the presidential ballot will look like in Kentucky (not in this order):

Republican Party ticket John McCain and Sarah Palin, click here for Web site.

Democratic Party ticket Barack Obama and Joe Biden, click here for Web site.

Libertarian Party ticket Bob Barr and Wayne A. Root, click here for Web site.

Independent ticket Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzalez, click here for Web site.

Constitution Party ticket Chuck Baldwin and Robert E. Thornsberry, click here for Web site.

Two write-in tickets also have qualified to be counted in the 2008 presidential election in Kentucky: Leonard C. Habermehl and Steven K. Miller as well as the ticket of Keith Russell Judd and Morty Wayne Judd.

- Ryan Alessi

The two Democrats took part in a fund-raiser for two state Senate candidates – Kathy Groob of Covington, who is challenging Republican incumbent Jack Westwood of Crescent Springs, and Steve Newberry of Hiseville, who faces Republican David Givens of Greensburg and independent Gary G. Elliott of Scottsville for an open seat.

Earlier this year, Jones, who was instrumental in persuading Beshear to run for governor, publicly criticized Beshear’s handling of a constitutional amendment in the legislature to allow casino gambling in Kentucky.

Jones, chairman of the Kentucky Equine Education Project, which pushed casinos, said Beshear was “in the perfect position of getting it done and he did not.”

Jones, who was governor from 1991 to 1995, stopped short of saying he was sorry he backed Beshear for governor but did say Beshear made several “big mistakes” that led to the downfall of the amendment in the 2008 General Assembly.

But Jones and Beshear let it be known at Thursday’s fund-raiser that they want to work together for the state.

“Gov. Beshear and Gov. Jones have been friends for a long time. And they have always shared a commitment to working together in the best interests of Kentucky and, particularly, the state’s signature industry – the equine industry,” Jay Blanton, Beshear’s communications director, said in a statement.

 “While they may have at times in the past differed on an approach to a particular issue, they have never differed on the goals – moving Kentucky and the equine industry forward.

“They reaffirmed that shared commitment last night at the fund-raiser, while also pledging to do what they can to support two terrific public servants in Kathy Groob and Steve Newberry. Both of these candidates share our commitment to moving Kentucky forward.”

Calls to Jones for comment were not returned.

Hosts for the fund-raiser included Jones and his wife Libby, state Finance Secretary Jonathan Miller and his wife Lisa, Tracy and Carol Farmer, state Senate Minority Leader Ed Worley and his wife Jamie, and Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry and his wife, Cheryl Ann. The mayor is Steve Newberry’s brother.

Beshear arrived at the fund-raiser with his wife Jane. About 100 people attended the event.

--Jack Brammer

They are Sarah Vos, a reporter for the Lexington Herald-Leader; Mark Hebert, a reporter for WHAS-TV in Louisville; and John David Dyche, a columnist for The Courier-Journal in Louisville.

The show starts at 8 p.m. Friday on KET1.

--Jack  Brammer

Kentucky delegates gave high marks to the speech of their presidential candidate, John McCain, but still say his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's address the night before may have been the turning point for the election this fall, as Pol Watchers reports.

RNC Chairman Mike Duncan tells CNHI News Service's Ronnie Ellis that the Republican Party raised $1.8 million in donations in small increments after Palin spoke Wednesday night.

Hardin County GOP delegates basked in the northern lights of the Minneapolis-St. Paul convention and will return to Kentucky even more excited to campaign for the McCain-Palin ticket, the Elizabethtown News Enterprise reports.

Kentucky delegate Millie Bush had a front-row seat at the convention Wednesday night when she saw Palin start her speech despite a malfunctioning teleprompter, the Maysville Ledger Independent reported.

Campaign 2008:

Kentucky U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell says McCain should run against Congress as part of his strategy and praised McCain's selection of Palin as his running mate, according to the Associated Press's Bruce Schreiner.

Democratic Sen. Denise Harper Angel of Louisville, whose Republican opponent was arrested last month, is fighting to disqualify a potential independent opponent who is seeking to be on the ballot, WHAS's Mark Hebert reports, as does the Courier-Journal.

In case you missed it, SurveyUSA (via WHAS) released a poll of McConnell's approval rating earlier this week, which showed it had slipped to 44 percent while 47 percent said they disapproved of McConnell's work in office.

Republican candidate for the 2nd Congressional District, Brett Guthrie, spent part of his time as a delegate to the GOP's convention drumming up national support for his bid for that open seat in Congress, PolitickerKY's Trey Pollard reported.

FBI Transportation Probe:

Political candidates and organizations who have received campaign donations from indicted road contractor Leonard Lawson say they have no plans to give the checks back unless Lawson is proven guilty, the Herald-Leader reports.

The indictments of Lawson and former Transportation Cabinet Secretary Bill Nighbert is the latest bump in the road for an agency long known for ethical potholes, the Associated Press's Joe Biesk reports.

Private investigators, who might work for Lawson's attorney, contacted former chief highway engineer Gilbert Newman this week before the indictments were returned to ask about the bidding process, the Frankfort State-Journal reports.

- Ryan Alessi

"I think it's fair to say we are walking out tonight, and we're 100 percent more energetic and upbeat about our prospects then we were a few months ago," said J. Scott Jennings, a GOP strategist and one of Kentucky's delegates.

Of McCain's speech Thursday night, Jennings said: "I thought he delivered tonight. He laid out a vision that was in sharp contrast to (Democratic candidate) Barack Obama. We always say elections are about choices, and I don't think the choice in this election could be any different."

McCain spent a chunk of his speech talking about core Republican values, which went over well with the Bluegrass delegation.

"The party of Lincoln, Roosevelt and Reagan is going to get back to basics," McCain said. "We believe in low taxes, spending discipline and open markets. We believe in rewarding hard workers and risk takers. We believe in a strong defense, work, faith, service, a culture of life, personal responsibility, the rule of law and judges who ... don't legislate from the bench."

Colleen Chaney, an alternate delegate from Lexington, said the re-stating of those core Republican values was a way for McCain to highlight common ground between moderate and conservative Republicans. And much of that is based on a shared desire for fiscal restraint, she said.

"There's no doubt Sen. McCain wants to make sure taxpayers understand what their money is being spent toward," Chaney said.

Specifically, McCain pledged to veto the first "big spending pork barrel bill that comes across my desk."

McCain went on to say: "We were elected to change Washington and we let Washington change us ... rather than reform government, both parties made it bigger."

Jennings, a former deputy political director for President Bush who is now consulting for U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell's re-election campaign in Kentucky, said he didn't take those remarks as a shot at the Bush administration or incumbents like McConnell who have touted bringing federal money back to their states.

"He was invoking sort of the spirit in 1994 when Republicans took control of the congress with the spirit of small government and lower taxes," Jennings said. "I think the general public believe that some people in Washington, D.C. have lost focus on exactly what they're trying to do."

Jennings said McConnell isn't one of those as he has "continued to fight to deliver for Kentucky or fight for the comprehensive energy policy that Sen. McCain talked about."

State Rep. Alecia Webb-Edgington, an alternate delegate from Fort Wright, said she was moved by McCain's telling of his personal story, including his enhanced love of country that he developed during his more than five year as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. And she said McCain succeeded in firing up the delegates at the Xcel Energy Center with his pledge to "stand up and fight" for Americans -- a call reminiscent of Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore's 2000 nomination acceptance speech.

"The theme I took from it was the position that he's going to continue to fight and he wants us to fight with him to do things better as opposed to Barack Obama's positon that everything is desheveled and 'I need to deliver and help save you from yourselves', essentially," Edgington said.

Edgington said she is leaving Minnesota with a renewed vigor to work for McCain, particularly after his pick of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.

"I think it was an amalgamation of watching Gov. Palin (Wednesday) night delivering that speech that crashed the ceiling for Republican women, and tonight when McCain said he was he going to fight for this country as long as he lived," she said.

And the Kentucky delegates said the turning point not only for McCain but perhaps the party may well have been Palin's address Wednesday night.

Chaney said Palin's speech showed the country that she has "the grit and the teeth" for the vice presidency role and helps McCain balance out Obama's "rockstar status."

"She adds a sense of excitement and energizes us," said Chaney, who works in Secretary of State Trey Grayson's office. "Everyone likes new shiny things. It's like finding Gucci on sale."

- Ryan Alessi

Woodruff, who switched back and forth between questioning Grayson and Maine's U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, asked Grayson "from the perspective of someone who's not in the nation's capital, what needs changing?"

"A lot," Grayson said on national TV. "I think one of the biggest things is that there are so many problems that this country faces that Congress hasn't really worked to address. Democrats and Republicans have opportunities to work together but too often they don't do it. I think a president who is strong and respected by people on both sides, can bring people to the table, find common ground and make them compromise."

Woodruff followed up that Republicans have controlled Congress up until January 2007 and the White House for the last eight years.

"John McCain is a different kind of Republican -- he works with Democrats. He's got a different track record," Grayson replied. "He's also starting with a fresh slate. Any time you've been in office for two terms, even if you're ending on a popular note, it would be difficult to get that energy and enthusiasm."

Grayson also said McCain's best move to bring the moderate and conservative factions of the GOP together was picking Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who is to the right on social issues, as his running mate.

"You could sense a change here on Friday when he announced his nominee," Grayson said.  "I think he's bringing us together and tonight will be the final piece."

- Ryan Alessi

Later, fellow Kentuckian Mitch McConnell, the Republican U.S. Senate leader, took over the program to formally nominate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as the party's vice presidential nominee. He introduced Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., who touted Palin's background. And McConnell introduced the Alaska delegation, which made the motion to nominate her.

"Is there a second?" McConnell asked the delegates who filled the Xcel Energy Center. "The chair hears a sufficient second," he said as the crowd cheered the nomination of their party's first woman to serve on a presidential ticket.

"In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it," McConnell said. "Delegates and alternates, ladies and gentlemen, I'm proud to declare the 39th Republican National Convention has unanimously nominated Sarah Palin for the vice presidency of the United States."

Duncan and another Kentuckian, RNC staff attorney Jennifer Sheehan -- a Hickman native and graduate of Centre College and University of Kentucky College of Law -- also will have the responsibility of finalizing all the paperwork for the John McCain-Palin ticket to be on the election ballots in all 50 states.

McCain, who was officially nominated last night, already has signed the necessary paperwork. But Palin still has to add her signature tonight back stage after her formal nomination by the GOP delegates.

Duncan, as RNC chairman, can sign off on some of the state paperwork. Other states require their party's chairman to certify the ticket's forms. Much of that will be done Thursday night.

That paperwork then will be dispatched by Federal Express to many state capitals. But some, which have tighter deadlines, will require personal delivery from GOP staffers.

From there, McCain and Palin will launch into the home stretch of the 2008 presidential campaign, focusing on key swing states. Kentucky, which is widely expected to go for the Republican ticket, won't see many, if any, visits from McCain. Many Kentucky Republicans, such as Secretary of State Trey Grayson, however, hope to land a campaign stop by Palin.

Duncan said that's possible.

"We had been working on scheduling a visit for the vice presidential nominee before we knew who the vice presidential nominee was," Duncan said.  But Palin's schedule hasn't been finalized.

Voters, meanwhile, can follow Duncan's thoughts and observations through the fall election season at his blog, www.ChairmanDuncan.com.

- Ryan Alessi

Others, such as U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, declined to comment on the issue.

Justin Brasell, campaign manager for McConnell, wouldn’t talk about the $8,000 Lawson gave to McConnell and a related political action committee in February 2007 even though McConnell has recently given away contributions from another man indicted on federal corruption charges.

Last month, McConnell said he would donate to charity the $10,000 his campaign received from a political action committee set up by indicted U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, a Republican from Alaska. McConnell is facing a stiff challenge from Democrat Bruce Lunsford this fall.

A grand jury in Lexington indicted Lawson and two other men Wednesday on charges stemming from an investigation of alleged bid tampering on state and federal road projects.

Election records show that Lawson gave more than $17,850 to five candidates and two organizations this election cycle. Some of those candidates say they don’t feel there’s any reason to give back the money unless Lawson is proven guilty.

“I think it’s absolutely fine to take and keep the money,” said Republican state Sen. Brandon Smith of Hazard. “So far, only an accusation has been made against Lawson. People are innocent until proven guilty, and I really appreciate his support.”

Lawson donated $1,000 to Smith’s campaign in January for a special state Senate election to fill the seat formerly held by Democratic Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo.

Likewise, Democratic State Rep. Greg Stumbo of Prestonsburg, said he had no plans to give back the $1,000 Lawson contributed in January to his special election for the 95th House district after the freshman Democrat who held that seat resigned.

“Leonard Lawson has been a friend of mine for well over 30 years,” Stumbo said. “I think he’s entitled to be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”

Lawson’s attorney, Larry Mackey, has pledged that his client would fight the charges and has lambasted federal prosecutors for what he called “leaks” in the case that have “only destroyed Mr. Lawson’s right to a fair trial.”

Lawson, who lives in Lexington and owns a half-dozen road contracting and paving companies, has been a fixture in Kentucky politics for decades and is known as both a prolific campaign donor and fund-raiser who often crosses party lines.

His most recent round of donations in the current two-year election cycle are no exception. He gave to three Democrats and two Republicans, as well as the Kentucky Republican Party and the Kentucky Highway Industries Political Action Committee.

Lawson gave McConnell’s re-election campaign $4,000 in February 2007 and another $4,000 at the same time to a fund-raising organization set up by McConnell to help other Republican U.S. Senators, called the McConnell Majority Committee.

U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler hasn’t yet decided if he will return $4,600 that Lawson gave to Chandler’s re-election campaign in December 2007. That amount — $2,300 for the primary and $2,300 for the general election — is the maximum amount allowed under federal law.

“Having just learned of the matter, we’re going to reserve judgment on the question of contributions until further developments in the case,” said Denis Fleming, chief of staff for Chandler. Chandler faces Republican Jon Larson in the Nov. 4 election.

David Harrod, the chairman of the Kentucky Highway Industries PAC, said he’s heard no talk from his membership on returning the $250 Lawson contributed to the PAC in January. That PAC includes an assortment of asphalt, concrete and other contractors.

The news of Lawson’s indictment has been hard on the entire construction industry, Harrod said. “There are some really good, hardworking people in this industry,” Harrod said.

Democratic state Rep. Susan Westrom of Lexington, who received a $500 contribution from Lawson in May, didn’t return phone calls Thursday. Westrom, at the time of the donation, faced a re-election challenge, but her Republican opponent has since dropped out.

Kentucky Republican Party Chairman Steve Robertson, who is in St. Paul attending the GOP’s national convention, also didn’t return calls about whether he would give away the $2,500 Lawson contributed to the party in June, two months after the federal probe became public.

Larry Forgy, a Republican who has long criticized Lawson and his ties to politicians, said Thursday he wasn’t surprised that no candidate is giving Lawson’s money back.

“They think that he might escape this,” Forgy said.

He said many politicians have long ties to Lawson. “Once these politicians are bought, they stay bought.”

- Ryan Alessi and Beth Musgrave

Alecia Webb-Edgington,42, of Fort Wright is serving her first term as state representative for the 63rd House District. She is a retired Kentucky State Police major and former director of the Kentucky office of homeland security. Webb-Edgington is an alternate delegate attending her first national convention, although her father participated in the 1972 GOP convention in Miami. Before flying to Minneapolis, Webb-Edgington said one of her goals would be to visit the downtown and toss her hat in the air Mary Tyler Moore-style.

Dear Kentucky,

As my colleagues and I left my Fort Wright home on Sunday shortly before daybreak for our first national party convention, crossing the heartland of America, we were uncertain what to expect upon our arrival in the Twin Cities.

Growing closer to our destination the anticipation continued to mount. We arrived at the Hyatt Regency to find welcome signs in the corridors and a staff ever ready to assist us with our stay.

Having served as the commonwealth’s executive director of homeland security, I was impressed with the level of heightened security provided for the delegates both at the hotel and the Xcel Energy Center.

Our first event was a community celebration entitled “Civicfest."  Literally the red carpet was rolled out for all visitors and both sides of the carpet was staffed with Minnesotans welcoming us to their great state.  It was like a family reunion.

The Civicfest was a display of historical political memorabilia and presidential displays on loan from the Smithsonian. Vendors were present with a wide array of merchandise highlighting the national convention. I can proudly say I was a contributor to the economic renewal in the Twin Cities.

When we made our first journey to the Xcel Center the delegates were all anxious and cautiously optimistic about the schedule we would follow given uncertainty of storms brewing in the Gulf Coast region. Out of respect for the peril confronting our fellow Americans, the program was cut short, but the grandeur and historical significance of this gathering offered a glimpse of the greatness to come.

The stage upon which our party would conduct business was elegant in it’s simplistic design, the platform is black enamel surrounded red, white and blue l.e.d. lighting. The podium appears to be mahogany and is sitting unaccompanied in the middle of the stage with a screen continuously showing the flag or photos from across America.

I had the good fortune to spend time in the suites of U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell and Republican National Committee Chairman Robert "Mike" Duncan, who is from Inez. The suites are comprised of an area for food and drink and then theater-style seating that overlooks center stage. The experience was electrifying.

Throughout the programs there have been musical interludes that whip the crowd into a frenzy. This has been so exciting for me, and every night I have called my dad (a '72 delegate) to report my events for the day!

And yes, I did visit the Mary Tyler Moore statue, sang the theme song and had my photo taken.

This has been an experience of a lifetime!

H/T: PageOne

- John Stamper

Republican Rep. Alecia Webb-Edgington of Fort Wright is seeking her first full term after winning a special election this winter to replace Rep. Jon Draud, who became education commissioner.

Webb-Edgington, a retired Kentucky State Police major and former state office of homeland security director, is currently serving as an alternate Republican delegate at the GOP National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

She said she was surprised and pleased to learn she's now running unopposed in the Nov. 4 election.

"I respect Mr. Padgett for having the courage and commitment to offer himself for elected office," she said. "It is particularly rewarding to learn of Mr. Padgett's decision on the morning following the historical nomination of Gov. Sarah Palin for vice president of the United States. Gov. Palin shattered the ceiling for women in the Republican Party."

She added that she will focus her campaigning efforts on helping the re-election bids of U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell and U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis, for whom she offered up her living room last week for him to film a campaign commercial.

Padgett, a retired attorney and Lakeside Park councilman, said he decided not to run for "personal reasons."

"I'm retired. I had plenty of time. I had the resources. I just discussed it with my family and decided it wasn't something I wanted to pursue," he said. "Ms. Webb-Edgington will be the representative and I hope she does a good job."

Padgett represents the latest of a string of challengers -- Republican and Democrats -- to drop out of the races this summer, leaving only a handful of competitive state House races left heading into the Nov. 4 election.

That will leave a total of 29 competitive races in the 100-seat House once the paperwork is filed at the Board of Elections for Jason Mays, a Republican who has said he is dropping out of the 62nd House district race.

One race that is back on is the 51st district race, which is for an open seat vacated by retiring Rep. Russ Mobley of Campbellsville. Doug Mullins, a Democrat, dropped out last month for health reasons.

But district Democrats nominated Billy Joe Fudge of Columbia to replace Mullins in the race, where he faces Republican John "Bam" Carney of Campbellsville in the district that includes Taylor and Adair counties.

In total, 15 Democratic House seats are contested, including those of Rep. Harry Moberly of Richmond, who has drawn a Libertarian Party candidate, and Rep. Dennis Keene of Wilder, who has drawn an independent challenger.

Fourteen Republican-held seats are contested, including Lancaster Rep. Lonnie Napier's 36th District seat, who has drawn an independent challenger.

- Ryan Alessi

Grayson, one of Kentucky's delegates at the GOP national convention, told reporters on a conference call from Minneapolis-St. Paul that McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, must continue to describe themselves as outsider-maverick types.

"It’s pretty clear that the Democratic charge for the rest of the campaign is that he represents the third term of the Bush administration," Grayson said. "Folks around the country are mad at Washington, they’re mad at the current president and what they're looking for is change."

Grayson said McCain must deliver that to Americans in his key speech Thursday night at the conclusion of the Republican National Convention.

"He’s not known as a great public speaker. He’s probably not as good of a public speaker as his running mate," Grayson said. But he has a great personal story."

And in addition to "showing that he can change and reform and fix Washington," McCain must outline to viewers how he'll handle the role of president.

Grayson said the convention has been successful in merging the conservative and moderate party loyalists together to gear up for the fall campaign.

"I get the sense they really are there," Grayson said, adding that his wife, Nancy, said to him last night: "Who would have thought how excited people would be when they hear the word  'maverick.' That’s a credit to John McCain."

As for Palin, Grayson said he and many delegates at the Xcel Energy Center considered her speech Wednesday night as the "best speech of any one at the conventions to date."

"I’m not sure she stepped on any of the lines. Her inflection was correct," Grayson said. He said after seeing her on stage, he went back to watch the address on TV instead of going to the convention after parties to see how it looked to the rest of the country.

"She was great on TV. We were so proud of her," he said.

- Ryan Alessi

"Unbelievable," said state Rep. Alecia Webb-Edgington of Fort Wright, who is in St. Paul serving as an alternate delegate. "She went through the ceiling. I stood here and thought about all the struggles of being one of 30 women in the state police, and I saw her walk across the stage and I couldn’t believe it."

Webb-Edgington, a former state police major, said she was impressed how Palin was able to hit all the right notes as she spoke up for herself, touted presidential candidate John McCain and took jabs at Democratic nominee Barack Obama.

Palin, echoing former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani who spoke before her, poked fun at Obama's experience after law school as a community activist in Chicago and juxtaposed that to her own experience as chief executive of Wasilla, Alaska.

"I guess a small town mayor is sort of like a community organizer, except you have actual responsibilities," Palin said.

"Tonight it was important for her to step up. And my own personal opinion and those in attendance, she hit a homerun," said Mike Goins, a delegate from Georgetown.

Goins said her speech not only rallied Republicans -- those in the Xcel Energy Center arena cheered and reacted after nearly every one of her lines during the 36-minute  speech -- but also should appeal to "anyone on the fence."

"I think if anything this rallied Republicans behind her, this rallied independents, Democrats, working moms and single moms," Goins said.

Palin touted her small town roots, saying that she grew up with those people who do the hard work -- the people who "grow our food, work in our factories and fight our wars."

She attempted to draw a sharp contrast between McCain and Obama: "There are those who use change to promote their careers and then there are those who use their careers to promote change -- like John McCain."

And she addressed her family, which has been the subject of much news this week in light of revelations that her 17-year-old daughter Bristol is five months pregnant. Palin said from the inside, no family perfect and that each family has ups and downs and challenges and joys.

Webb-Edgington said that line was particular poignant -- a reference to Palin's  four-month-old son Trig, who has Down Syndrome.

"That lady right there knows what a blessing is," Webb-Edgington said. "And her going up there and realizing what she had to do tonight and knowhing what had been said about her all week, she’s as hard as a pine knot."

- Ryan Alessi

McConnell, the first speaker of the night, said McCain doesn't talk about his "heroism," fighting for his country, surviving years in a "barren prison cell" as a prisoner of war and declining an offer of early release because of his father's high-ranking position in the Navy.

"Those historic deeds are not the only reasons to vote for John McCain. But they tell us important things about the man because when the crowds fall silent and the teleprompters are rolled away, what is left is character -- proven character," McConnell said. "In the end, this is what matters most."

McConnell's remarks also touted McCain's family's military service, dating back to his ancestor's role in the American Revolution.

"The McCain's have fought in every American War. They have earned a place of honor in our history," McConnell said. "And the party of Lincoln is honored to nominate John McCain to be our nation's next commander in chief."

McConnell also banged the gavel to call to order the third day of the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

As part of his opening emcee duties, McConnell introduced the presentation of colors by the Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Association, as well as the participants who led the pledge of allegiance and sang "America the Beautiful" as well as Father Edward Reese of Phoenix, Ariz., who gave the invocation.

While McCain's running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is the eagerly anticipated speaker of the night, two of McCain's former rivals in the GOP's presidential primary also will take the stage: former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani.

- Ryan Alessi

Michael Goins, 41, is serving as a delegate at his first Republican National Convention. Goins, of Georgetown, is director of public relations for the Forcht Group of Kentucky. He previously served as spokesman for former Gov. Ernie Fletcher and Fletcher's budget director, Brad Cowgill. Goins began his professional career as a television reporter, which included a stint at WYMT in Hazard, where he said always wanted to cover a national political convention.

Dear Kentucky,
Greetings from Minneapolis! It's certainly been an exciting time at the 2008 Republican National Convention.  

We've heard remarks from an array of citizens discussing how John and Cindy McCain have spent their lives giving of themselves and their country. One person who spoke was Wes Gullet of Phoenix, who was joined on stage by his adopted daughter Nikki. Gullet told the crowd how Mrs. McCain helped bring Nikki and her sister Bridget to the United States, holding them when they were infants as she made the long trip back to American from Asia.

There were also several video tributes to former Republican presidents, including our own President Abe Lincoln who was the standard bearer for our party and saw our country through one of the darkest times in our history. Other former presidents honored through video included President Teddy Roosevelt, President George H.W. Bush, who was in attendance along with former first lady Laura Bush, and President Ronald Reagan. President Reagan was the person who first prompted me to get involved in the political process. Among those who hold President Reagan as a person and a leader as an example they follow is our current nominee, John McCain.
    
We heard again from first lady Laura Bush, who introduced President George W. Bush to the crowd.  Although President Bush couldn’t join us in person it was still exciting to hear from him.

We then heard from two outstanding political leaders. Former Sen. Fred Thompson gave a rousing speech about the McCain-Palin ticket, pointing out why Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin are the ticket for real change.

"While others were talking reform, John McCain led efforts to make reform happen, always pressing, always working for what he believed was right and necessary to restore the people's faith in their government,” Sen. Thompson told the crowd. 

But the speech of the night came from the 2000 Democrat candidate for vice president and independent Sen. Joe Lieberman, who asked the question as to what is “a Democrat like me doing at a Republican convention like this?” 

His answer was again the theme of the evening: country matters more than party. 

In his speech Lieberman touched on his 20-plus year friendship with Sen. McCain and how when most wanted to back out of Iraq and many in Congress, including Sen. Obama wanted to cut funding for our troops that Sen. McCain stuck with his conventions and didn’t go along with the flow.

“John McCain had the courage to stand against the tide of public opinion and support the surge,” Sen. Lieberman told the crowd. “And because of that, today, our troops are at last beginning to come home, not in failure, but in honor!”

Sen. Lieberman’s remarks were well received by our delegation and the convention as a whole. This election is about change, but it’s also about experience and the conviction to stand on your principals.  That’s why our party picked Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin to steer us toward the bi-partisan philosophy of working together and to put COUNTRY FIRST.

McConnell's campaign confirmed the senator will appear there.

The forum starts at 8:30 a.m. at the Receptions Banquet and Conference Center at 1379.

In the meantime, the two campaigns have not only used press releases and their campaign Web pages to spar with each other but both camps have set up dueling Web sites slamming the other candidate.

McConnell started first with a "Bruce Lunsford Gas Tax" site that has served as a repository for McConnell's critical ads and taped statements by Lunsford about a 28-year-old provision Lunsford supported as a member of former Gov. John Y. Brown Jr.'s cabinet that raised the state gas tax about a penny a year after wholesale gasoline prices jump a certain rate.

McConnell succeeded in making energy issues and the gas tax the primary topic during this summer's portion of the Senate race.

Lunsford has responded with a Web site entitled "McCon Job" -- which is his most recent advertising theme against McConnell.

Much of that site focuses on McConnell's fund-raising from "special interests" and his support for President Bush, as well as other issues such as McConnell's opposition to a minimum wage increase.

Finally, these Web sites and the in-person debate at the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce could be just the beginning of the inter-play between McConnell and Lunsford. McConnell, the Senate Republican leader, told reporters last month that he enjoyed debating on the Senate floor and is looking forward to going toe-to-toe with Lunsford.

Lunsford said he'd like to debate weekly until the Nov. 4 Election.

At the very least, both are scheduled to be on Kentucky Educational Television for a forum on Monday Oct. 27 -- the week before the election -- at 8 p.m.

- Ryan Alessi

A federal grand jury indicted former state Transportation Secretary Bill Nighbert and politically influential road contractor Leonard Lawson on Wednesday, as well as Lawson employee Brian Russell Billings for conspiracy theft from the government and obstruction of justice.

The three are accused of rigging bids for road work in the Transportation Cabinet.

Lawyers for Nighbert, Billings and Lawson denied the allegations and said each of their clients will enter not-guilty pleas.

"The indictment is evidence of nothing," said Larry A. Mackey, Lawson's attorney, in a statement. "In time, evidence will show that Leonard Lawson committed no crime and should have never been charged."

Nighbert and Lawson were indicted on six counts, ranging from conspiracy to misapplication of property. Billings was indicted on three counts. The indictment is 22 pages long.

According to the indictment, Lawson, 69, and Nighbert, 57, engaged in a two-year conspiracy to give Lawson's companies access to confidential cabinet bid estimates. That allowed Lawson to avoid the competitive bidding process by submitting bids at the high end of what the cabinet considered an acceptable price range. Lawson's projects ended up being worth about $130 million.

According to the indictment, on eight occasions in 2006 and 2007, Nighbert and/or Lawson told cabinet official James Rummage to get the bid estimates -- prepared by cabinet engineers -- on projects that Lawson wanted.

Rummage delivered the estimates to Lawson's home or office in Lexington five times. The other times, he gave them to Nighbert, who passed them along to Lawson, the indictment said.

Nighbert tried to conceal his favors for Lawson by asking Rummage to also retrieve estimates on unrelated projects as "camouflage," according to the indictment.

Lawson gave Rummage four payments of $5,000 each, according to the indictment.

Lawson gave Nighbert $36,000 disguised as an employment contract through a Pikeville utility management company that allegedly hired him shortly after he left state government last December, at the end of Gov. Ernie Fletcher's administration.

Lawson gave Nighbert an additional $31,251 in payments through the utility company from January through March of this year while Nighbert was an adviser on transportation issues to Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville.

Mackey, Lawson's attorney, said his firm has conducted its own investigation into the allegations of bid-rigging.

"There is simply no credible evidence that Leonard Lawson violated any laws," Mackey's statement said. "Mr. Lawson built businesses which served the public and employed hundreds of his fellow Kentuckians. He won every contract fair and square and because he builds safe and sound roads."

Mackey also criticized federal prosecutors for "earlier leaks of grand jury information" -- a reference to a sworn statement from FBI special agent Clay Mason that was filed into the U.S. District Court record and left unsealed last month before any indictments were returned.

"The earlier leaks have only destroyed Mr. Lawson's right to a fair trial," Mackey wrote.

Nighbert's attorney, Howard Mann, issued a statement saying Nighbert will "enter a not guilty plea and will vigorously defend any and all charges."

He called into question the integrity of Rummage, whose cooperation with the FBI provided a foundation for the indictment.

Mann's statement says Rummage "had admitted lying on multiple occasions and admitted to other illegal activity." Because Rummage wasn't charged Wednesday, "this would indicate that he has made a very good deal to avoid charges," Mann wrote. 

Rummage, according to an FBI affidavit made public last month, first denied to investigators that he improperly sought the confidential bid information. Upon hiring a lawyer, Rummage later claimed to the FBI that he did take money from Lawson in exchange for the bid information.

Billings -- the third defendant -- once was the transportation engineering branch manager of construction for the Transportation Cabinet's Lexington district office, according to his biography on a University of Kentucky Web site. UK named Billings its "Young Civil Engineer of the Year" in 2004. On Wednesday, the U.S. attorney's office said Billings, 37, is a Lawson employee and said Billings tried to discourage Rummage from coming forward in the case.

Kent Wicker, the lawyer representing Billings, said his client "vigorously denies the charges."

He said he and Billings did have "discussions" with investigators about the direction of the case and are "very disappointed that the government has chosen to seek an indictment against Brian."

Specifically, Wicker said his client spends "weeks putting together bid packages."

"If the suggestion is that the state estimates are stolen or obtained by bribes so that they can be used in putting together an estimate, that didn’t happen," Wicker said. "Brian has his own process for putting together those bids."

The conspiracy charges stem from conversations that Rummage had with Nighbert, Lawson and Billings.

The indictments quote heavily from phone conversations between Lawson and Rummage in which Lawson repeatedly urges Rummage to use a lawyer that Lawson suggests.

"What I don't wanna get into here is obstruction of justice, that's the reason it's so hard to ... talk to ya," Lawson says at one point during a call with Rummage on March 26, 2008, according to the indictments. "I'm a givin' ya good sound advice. It's the best you'll ever get. You need to go see that -- that attorney (selected by Lawson) ...

Rummage has been represented by Marc Murphy of Stites & Harbison in Louisville. But Lawson kept referring him to another lawyer whom the indictment doesn't name and steering him away from Murphy.

"He'll do something for you and throw everybody under the bus or try to and then everybody goes to court and you be -- you be splattered all over the world ... I don't want to ever think that I'd obstruct any justice by sayin' something like 'at ... I never gave you any money and I ain't gonna give you any."

The indictments also say Rummage met with Billings at a Lexington restaurant on March 19 and March 21 in which Billings also asked in writing about Rummage's legal representation.

On March 25, the two men met again in a hotel parking lot in Lexington where, according to the indictments, Billings used hand gestures and text messaging on his cell phone and "again encouraged James Rummage to drop his current attorney and take the one selected by Leonard Lawson," the indictment says.

Gov. Steve Beshear issued the following statement on the indictments:

“For too long, the important work of the Transportation Cabinet – and of its thousands of conscientious employees – has been tainted by misguided leadership and a culture of cronyism and corruption.

"Eliminating this culture, a culture we inherited, has been one of our chief goals – and biggest challenges.

"We welcome and have cooperated fully with this federal investigation into the previous administration, recognizing its potential for helping us scrub clean this cabinet.

"At the same time, we have instituted new policies, created new practices and have carried out strict ethics standards at the cabinet – all designed to maximize the taxpayer dollars and trust invested in us.

" I was elected to create a culture of integrity at the Transportation Cabinet and throughout state government, and I intend to do so. I hope for a quick and thorough conclusion to this legal process. For Kentuckians who like us are dedicated to clean, honest and efficient government, this is a day of hope.”

In his statement, Beshear did not mention a reference to him in the indictment.

A section on page 11 of the indictment said that on March 7, 2008, Lawson spoke by phone to Rummage and told him that he should not worry about the FBI investigation in part because he had talked to Beshear about the mistreatment of Rummage and that Beshear replied that it was going to stop.

Beshear spokesman Jay Blanton said Lawson and Beshear did talk to each other by phone about that time but the conversation did not deal with Rummage.

"It was about Lawson's intention that his company was not being treated fairly by the state," Blanton said. "The governor told him that he expects people to be treated honestly and fairly."

 Blanton said he did nothing about Lawson's call because he already had told Transportation Secretary Joe Prather to treat everyone honestly and fairly.

Blanton added that Beshear has not testified before the grand jury but he did talk to investigators.

- Jack Brammer and John Cheves

PHOTO CAPTION: U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, left, contractor Leonard Lawson, center, and Bill Nighbert, then-acting Transportation Secretary, talk on Friday, April 22, 2005 near Whitesburg, Ky. at a celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony held after a two-year $50.4 million improvement and straightening project on 7.7 miles of U.S. 119 across Pine Mountain. DAVID PERRY/STAFF

"I'd love to tell you I'm going be the majority leader next year, but the numbers are daunting," he told the Utah delegation at the Republican National Convention Tuesday. "There's virtually no chance we can get the Senate back."

According to Congressional Quarterly, a Washington, D.C.-based political publication, McConnell told the gathering to focus instead on keeping hard-won Senate seats as a “firewall” to prevent a Democratic takeover.

McConnell said he wants "to have enough firemen and firewomen to help 'President' McCain next year.”

The Senate currently has 49 Republican members. McConnell is facing his own tough re-election battle against Democratic challenger Bruce Lunsford, a wealthy Louisville businessman.

- Halimah Abdullah

 "Last night, I noticed that whenever her name was mentioned, there was really loud applause," he told reporters on a conference call from the Republican National Convention in St. Paul Wednesday morning. "There's a great deal of anticipation for tonight's speech. Tonight it will probably be the Sarah Palin show."

Grayson said it will be a good move for Palin to bring her family on stage with her, including the father of her 17-year-old daughter's baby in light of news this week that Bristol Palin is five months pregnant.

"He's going to be part of the family, and I think it’s important to have them all there," Grayson said. "I think it would be politically risky to hide the family, especially with the news that came out."

Grayson said he's not bothered by other revelations about Palin, such as an ethics investigation into whether she urged the firing of an Alaska state trooper, who is the ex-husband of her sister.

"The larger concern is that she is new to this stage. She’s never run for a national office," Grayson said. That means having to deal with televised speeches to millions, handling tough questions from reporters on the trail and having to do all of that while balancing her opinions with those of McCain, who leads that ticket, he said.

Therein remains the risk for McCain if she "doesn't perform well under pressure, he added, because voters could then question his judgment.

"If she turns out to be a liability, there’s a problem with the vetting process," Grayson said. "It’s one of those risk-reward scenarios. A lot of how this election will turnout will depend on how she is perceived to be performing."

Grayson also said that with McCain leading Barack Obama by double-digits in most Kentucky polls, it will be more likely that Kentuckians get a visit from Palin this fall than McCain, who will be focused on key battlegrounds such as neighbors Ohio and Missouri.

Two other notes from Grayson:

• He said he talked to former University of Kentucky basketball coach Tubby Smith at a Maker's Mark party for GOP delegates Tuesday night. "He says he misses Kentucky and tells everyone 'Hello'" Grayson reported.

• Grayson also said the speech by Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman Tuesday night was so far the highlight of the convention speakers.

"I think the crowd responded pretty well. It seemed like a couple of times when he was speaking he was almost laughing at the fact that he was standing there delivering a speech at the Republican National Convention" considering the fact that just eight years ago he was the Democratic nominee for vice president, Grayson said. "At the end of the day, we’re trying to win the election and the way we’re going to win the election is to get independents and Democrats to cross over."

- Ryan Alessi

Three photographers with connections to the University of Kentucky's student newspaper were arrested Monday night at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.

James Winn, the photo adviser for the Kentucky Kernel, and Ed Matthews, a student photographer at the paper, were arrested Monday night and booked into the Ramsey County Adult Detention Center in Minnesota on charges of felony rioting, according to staff at the jail. Britney McIntosh, also a Kernel student photographer, was charged with rioting.

A Western Kentucky University graduate and photographer, Nathan Weber, was arrested on a charge of gross misdemeanor rioting.

As of Tuesday night, none had been formally charged. That could come Wednesday, a jail staffer said, adding that several hundred people faced similar charges. A total of 284 people were arrested, according to several news reports.

The arrests came Monday after a planned march in downtown St. Paul. "Breakaway anarchists" who left the parade route caused havoc in parts of the city, leaving slashed tires, broken windows and glass bottles heaved at police, according to TwinCities.com and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Police used pepper spray, tear gas and Tasers to subdue some crowds.

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PHOTO CAPTION: Police used pepper spray Monday to break up a group of protesters in St. Paul, Minn., site of the Republican National Convention. University of Kentucky student photographer Ed Matthews, foreground, was arrested. Photo by Matt Rourke | Associated Press