Posted on 11/26/2003 10:35:01 AM PST by Republican Wildcat
Nick Clooney's bid for Congress won't stop GOP plans to capture the state's only Democratically held congressional seat, Republicans said Monday after Congressman Ken Lucas announced his retirement Monday and endorsed Clooney as his replacement in the 4th District. Geoff Davis, the Hebron businessman who narrowly lost to Lucas in 2002, said he's not deterred by Clooney, a household name in the tri-state for his long career in radio, television and newspapers, and as the father of Hollywood star George Clooney.
About the 4th district
• The 4th Congressional District stretches along the Ohio River over 23 counties, from Ashland to the Louisville suburbs.
• About 45 percent of the district's registered voters are in three core counties: Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties.
• Voter registration favors Democrats over Republicans, 251,220 to 167,561.
• Recent voting patterns favor the GOP. President Bush won the district in 2000, as did GOP gubernatorial candidate Ernie Fletcher.
"This doesn't change our plans one bit," Davis said. "I think that at the end of the day, people will vote for who they think will do the best job, and who they think is more qualified."
Davis said the GOP establishment supports him, including former 4th District Rep. Gene Snyder, U.S. Reps. Anne Northup and Ed Whitfield, and U.S. House speaker Dennis Hastert.
Lucas, 70, is Kentucky's only Democrat in Congress. That's a particular sore point with Republicans because the GOP held the 4th District for 32 years until Lucas won the seat. Unable to defeat him at the polls, the GOP has recruited Lucas to switch parties -- and he nearly did after his 2002 re-election.
When Lucas first won the seat in 1998, he pledged to serve just three terms, but indicated earlier this year he would run for a fourth in 2004.
But in a surprise statement announcing his retirement Monday, Lucas said he would stick to his three-term pledge, and that Clooney, 69, would be a viable Democratic candidate.
Lucas said Clooney was a "fresh face on the political scene" who would be a "strong and effective advocate for the people of this area and this state."
But Kevin Murphy, also seeking the Republican nomination, said he received at least 100 phone calls Monday, many from Lucas supporters, saying they'll now support Murphy's campaign. Murphy declined to name any of the callers.
"You'll see them on my FEC report," Murphy said, referring to the forms candidates must file to report their campaign contributions.
Murphy, an Erlanger attorney, said Lucas's exit bodes well for his candidacy.
"Conservative people, especially those in the business community, are finding their way into my camp," Murphy said.
Lloyd Rogers, a former Campbell County judge-executive, is also in the Republican race.
The National Republican Congressional Committee supported Davis' campaign in 2002 and has made winning Kentucky's 4th District a top priority next year. Committee spokesman Carl Forti said Republicans have a better shot in '04.
"It's a lot easier to win an open seat," he said.
Forti said Lucas' 3-point win over Davis in 2002 shows the seat is vulnerable.
"(Lucas) had a tough election last time, which clearly played a role in his decision," Forti said.
Ellen Williams, chairwoman of the Kentucky Republican Party, did not return calls Monday requesting comment.
U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., of Louisville, Senate whip and a driving force in Kentucky state politics, had backed his former chief of staff Hunter Bates for the 4th District seat just days after Davis lost. McConnell was busy with healthcare legislation in Washington and was not available for comment, a spokeswoman said.
Clooney, of Augusta, brother of the late singer Rosemary Clooney, announced his candidacy Monday.
In a statement he said he and his wife, Nina, would soon start touring the district, and he would begin preparing position papers.
Clooney, a fixture on Cincinnati radio and television since coming to the market in the 1960s, gained nationwide notoriety in the mid-90s introducing films on the cable TV channel American Movie Classics. He's a former Channel 12 news anchor who has been inducted into the Journalism Hall of Fame in Kentucky and Cincinnati. Clooney also wrote a column for The Post until last week, but is on indefinite leave as a candidate.
Clooney couldn't be reached for comment Monday night, but his wife said the response to his announcement has been "overwhelming."
"I had expected that there would be a reasonable amount of interest, but the message machine is full, and every time I try to empty it the phone rings again. I've been on the phone literally all day," she said.
She said she didn't know what role her famous son would play in the campaign.
"It all depends upon what he wants to do. We certainly have not asked," she said.
George Clooney is on Thanksgiving break at his L.A. area-home, but expressed support for his father.
"There isn't a person who has dedicated more of his life and career to the citizens of Kentucky and I couldn't be more proud of him," he said through his Los Angeles publicist, Stan Rosenfield.
Kenton County Democratic chairman Nathan Smith said he thinks Nick Clooney will run a populist campaign that will resonate with 4th District voters.
"He's a statesman. He's already said he's going to travel around the district, and I think the Republicans are scared to death that he's going to take them to task," he said.
"He'll tell you where he stands. He doesn't need the big bosses in Washington to tell him how to vote. People don't want to vote for a party whip, we've got enough of them."
Nina Clooney said her husband would reach out to all voters, regardless of party: "All I know is that you just go out and talk to everybody that you can talk to and work just as hard as you can. I don't know what else you do other than that. And frankly, hard work, I think, pays off."
She said for as long as she's known him, Nick "has been thinking about the larger picture, as he has been concerned with state and local and national and international situations."
Yeah, I always show support for my family through my publicist as well...
Right there is one of the big problems with the Democrats today. Between Frank Lautenburg in New Jersey, Walter Mondale in Minnissota, and now Clooney in Kentucky, the Democrats are becoming the party of old white guys.
-PJ
GOP not about to roll over dead for Clooney Excerpt:"George Clooney is on Thanksgiving break at his L.A. area-home, but expressed support for his father.
"There isn't a person who has dedicated more of his life and career to the citizens of Kentucky and I couldn't be more proud of him," he said through his Los Angeles publicist, Stan Rosenfield."
Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my General Interest ping list!. . .don't be shy.
Stupid excuse for an oxygen-breathing organism is so proud of dear old Dad that he needed to speak through his publicist.
The Hollyweird crowd hasn't got a clue.
Clooney a 'strong and effective advocate'?? Yeah right. Lucas may be fairly conservative but it comes right down to it, a bad Republican is better than a 'good' Democrat any day of the week. Their loyalties lie with the party.
"Dead" is what one feels like after sitting through one of Nick's newscasts...
I wonder if he'll use "For those you see, and those you don't see" as his campaign slogan?
LOL!! You ***ROCK*** onyx!
Have a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!
Meek --- I can *see* e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g!Excellent ! Glad to hear (see) that !
Yee - haaaaa ! :O)
Ditto! Long time no see --- this is great.
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