| Rumors, more rumors and idle speculation |
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| November 17, 2009 |
Dream Team? Are Richie Farmer & Trey Grayson thinking about teaming up for a run in 2012? Richie Farmer, Commissioner of Agriculture, has performed a political miracle over the past few years. He's stayed out of trouble and hasn't made any enemies. (Okay, everybody makes enemies, but his are very quiet). The former Kentucky Wildcat who used a basketball goal for his last run for Ag Com'r has parlayed his blue and white jersey into a career. Rumor has it that he's done it by surrounding himself with smart people - and not asking their party affiliation before they sign on.
If Grayson loses the Senate race or just finds it too rich for his blood, he would be the perfect foil for Farmer. A smart lawyer who, in the past, hasn't scared the whoo out of Democrats, must find a race that is making him lean farther to the right than he's ever been, galling.
Expect some Repubs to be putting this Dream Team on their Santa wish list.
Leeper's Seat: If the Dem wins Dan Kelly's seat in the upcoming special election scheduled for early December, does that put Sen. Bob Leeper in the catbird or the hot seat?
Independent McCracken Senator Bob Leeper is used to tough races. His last - against Carroll Hubbard - was a squeaker. He beat Hubbard with around 100 votes. Leeper has survived being a Democrat, a Republican, and now an Independent. He caucuses with the GOP and votes with the majority in the Senate. The deceptively mild mannered senator has the survival instincts of a grizzly bear.
Those instincts must be screaming with the upcoming 2010 campaign. He has formidable opposition in 2010 in a well funded, well known Democrat, Rex Smith. Smith will be able to do a great deal of self funding. If another Dem in the Senate makes the head count too close to count, Sen. Leeper may find himself with a bigger bullseye on his chest than a big buck in hunting season.
If nothing else, this may well be THE race to watch, with nothing less than control of the Kentucky Senate at stake.
The Divine Sarah: Will either major GOP candidate for US Senate, Trey Grayson or Rand Paul, invite the hottest rogue politician in the country right now to stump the Bluegrass State? How many books could Sarah Palin sell in Kentucky if she rolls through on her book sellin' bus?
"Going Rogue" just came out as no. 1 on Amazon and it is sure to be a bestseller - especially with the dirt being dished about the McCain campaign. The former Alaska governor is very popular with conservatives and Kentucky is full of conservatives yearning to get a signed book from their frontier heroine. Even if her national popularity fades a bit over time, Palin will have the Kentucky star power to shine a warm light on whatever candidate can grab her to bolster his campaign.
Rand Paul, another rogue politician (sorry, Rand, you are a politician), seems to be the logical choice. But Trey Grayson, needing to bolster his numbers among independent Republicans and get them to the polls for him may be able to persuade the Governor to saddle up and come south to support him.
Or she may just disdain them both and come south to sell a lot of books. Stay tuned. |
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