McConnell Supporting Candidate in GOP Primary for Congress (why is he interfering?)

http://www.courierjournal.com/localnews/2003/11/24ky/met-3-kerr11240-5148.html ^

[UKFan]

McConnell supporting Kerr in 6th District race Senator reverses stand on backing GOP candidate

By AL CROSS across@courier-journal.com The Courier-Journal

Reversing a stand he took three weeks ago, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell is supporting state Sen. Alice Forgy Kerr for the Republican nomination for the 6th District congressional seat of Gov.-elect Ernie Fletcher.

McConnell's chief of staff, Louisville native Billy Piper, will be Kerr's campaign manager, and two other senior McConnell staff members will join the campaign, Kerr said in a statement that quoted McConnell.

In an interview before the Nov.4 election, McConnell, then the undisputed leader of the state GOP, was asked what role he would play in filling the 6th District seat if Fletcher won the governor's race. "I don't think I have a role to play in that," he replied, adding that approach should apply to all elected officials. "I don't think any of us should try to broker it. I think the delegates are not stupid, and they should try to pick a good candidate."

Nominees for a special election to fill Fletcher's seat will be chosen Dec.13 by party officials in the district. Their votes will be weighted according to the number of registered party members in each county. Fletcher will set the date of the special election, which is expected to be in mid-January.

A telephone call to McConnell's office, seeking comment on why he reversed course, was returned by Piper. "We're just going to let the release speak for itself," he said.

The statement quoted McConnell as saying that Piper, senior legislative assistant Scott Raab and deputy press secretary Julie Adams "are three of my most valuable staffers, and I am delighted that they are willing to help Sen. Kerr win this race."

McConnell also referred to Kerr's recent hiring of his longtime pollster, Jan van Lohuizen, and media consultant Larry McCarthy, who worked on McConnell's first Senate race, the campaigns of several McConnell-backed Republicans and the recent television campaign by the Republican Governors Association for Fletcher. Three other candidates for the nomination said McConnell is pulling out the stops to salvage Kerr's candidacy, which she began pursuing about a week before the Nov.4 election.

"You've got a rescue mission at work here," said state Sen. Tom Buford of Nicholasville. "You've got the movie cliffhanger here and the rescue squad is on its way, trying to salvage their investment." Buford said he was referring to the $10,000 contribution that Kerr received from McConnell's political action committee.

McConnell would not send staff members to help Kerr unless she needed help getting delegate votes, said state Rep. Stan Lee of Lexington and another candidate, state Rep. Lonnie Napier of Lancaster. Kerr could not be reached for comment last night.

The Republican chairman of the 6th District, Frank Schwendemann of Lexington, said the impact of McConnell's "going all out for Alice Lynn" is likely to be felt more on a second ballot of the delegates, because so many delegates have already committed to a candidate on the first ballot, but "it may even sway some people on the first ballot."

Buford said McConnell and Kerr are probably focusing on the first ballot.

"If one of the U.S. senators gets behind someone and they can't win on the first round, or they get knocked out on the first round, that would be embarrassing," he said.

On a second ballot, the lowest vote-getter on the first ballot is omitted.

Attorney General Ben Chandler, who lost the election to Fletcher, is the favorite for the Democratic nomination but has not said whether he will seek it.

[UKFan]

Appears that Mitch McConnell is now backing a candidate among the 4 GOP primary candidates for congress, to replace Congressman Fletcher as he he leaves to be sworn-in as the new KY governor.

Anyone other than me feel uncomfortable with the heavy hand of Mitch annointing a candidate? I think this is wrong. All 4 candidates are current state legislators and this just seems to play into the hands of RATS that continue to say that Mitch is the puppetmaster. I am fan of state senator Tom Buford and feel that this is not right.

Thoughts?

[LexingtonGOP]

I have to agree with this assessment. I live in Lexington as I am a bit troubled by McConnell's not-so-shy involvement in this special election. Though, I suspect this is less about picking one Republican over another, as much as it is to have one strong candidate ready to go should Attorney General Chandler opt for a run. I think he's the only RAT that could/would win this one and obviously, that's what Mitch's involvement has been geared to deal with.

Actually, I prefer Buford as well as I think Forgy-Kerr -- while a very nice woman -- is a bit of a lightweight and I do really fear what Chandler would be able to do to her. There are some rumors that the DNC has polled and it shows Chandler with big leads on all the possible candidates but I suspect that's more a factor of his name ID, though he remains well-liked among many here.

It would be quite ironic if Chandler took Fletcher's seat, given that running this state is the much harder of the two jobs right now and Chandler might actually fare better by losing.

In any event, I hope Mitch doesn't co-opt this process. I'd rather he focus on fundraising for Northup and leave the candidate selection to us...

Just my two cents.

[GraniteStateConservative]

He's the leader of the state party. He's responsible for much of the growth of the state party in the past 20 years. He has earned his power and he's using it. It's not new.

[UKFan]

I agree he's the leader, but as a leader should stay out of party primary selections. He said publicly 3 weeks ago "I don't think any of us should try to broker it. I think the delegates are not stupid, and they should try to pick a good candidate." I agreed with that.

I think this is wrong. I really love Mitch, think he's done an incredible job as our senator, and hope he succeeds Colin Powell after Bush gets re-elected, but I think these heavy-handed tactics are going to backfire on us. Chandler spent quite a bit of time during the campaign talking about Fletcher being Mitch's puppet and this only gives the RATS even more ammunition that Mitch is trying to become Senator, Governor and Congressman. It's wrong. It's not like we're dealing with having to disavow some nutjob wacko fringe candidate -- all 4 candidates are elected state reps or senators.

I hope the party sends a strong message by backing someone other than Forgy-Kerr. Besides, with all due respect to Ms. Kerr, she's not the best and most qualified candidate and it looks like the establishment selecting another of the establishment (FORGY-Kerr).

[coyotekid]

Mitch should stay out of this.

[LexingtonGOP]

Interesting that we haven't heard where Gov-elect Fletcher stands on this issue. There was talk that his COS Daniel Groves was interesting in running, but there is well-known dislike of Groves by McConnell, hence the rush to back someone else.

I have some friends on the Fayette County Executive Committee and there is great concern about what is happening.

Also, the 4 republicans are debating tonight, so I hope the press covers the event and reports on it well.

[Republican Wildcat]

McConnell stepped in after it was apparent Chandler was going to get into the race.

Senator Kerr was favored to be the victor anyway. He was just getting a head start on trying to thwart Chandler and get the organization set up.

As far as him being the "puppeteer", let the Democrats crow. They haven't exactly gained ground with that attack.

[Republican Wildcat]

there is well-known dislike of Groves by McConnell

There is well-known dislike of Groves by just about everyone but Groves himself.

[Republican Wildcat]

By the way, how come you folks aren't flying your Kentucky flags?