Kerr in Washington to raise money for high-profile race

Associated Press via Lexington Herald-Leader ^ | Dec. 18, 2003 | NANCY ZUCKERBROD

[Republican Wildcat]

WASHINGTON - Congressional hopeful Alice Forgy Kerr made the rounds in the nation's capital this week in an effort to get key endorsements and cash.

"I'm feeling very good about the response I've been getting," Kerr said during a stop at the National Republican Congressional Committee, which recruits GOP candidates.

Kerr is the Republican nominee for the Lexington-based seat that Gov. Ernie Fletcher just vacated.

A state senator, Kerr is running in the special election slated to take place in February. Her opponent is Ben Chandler, the Democratic attorney general who lost to Fletcher in the governor's race.

Kerr's two-day schedule Wednesday and Thursday included stops at the American Trucking Association for a fund-raiser with White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card and a Chamber of Commerce fund-raiser.

In addition, Kerr met with representatives from anti-tax and anti-abortion groups that dole out money to help elect conservative candidates.

Kerr also spent time getting tips from veteran House members and the politicos at the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Chandler visited with the group's Democratic counterpart, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, shortly before deciding to enter the race this week, according to his campaign director Mark Nickolas.

Nickolas said Chandler had no immediate plans to return to Washington to raise money.

The candidates have to file reports at the end of the month showing how much money they've collected so far.

Kerr says she'll start spending her money on advertising soon. She says her first campaign ad will go up shortly after Christmas. Nickolas said the Chandler camp had not decided when it would run ads.

[Dane]

When Chandler gave his concession speech(I was watching on C-Span), he droned on and on. What a windbag.

[Republican Wildcat]

Special Election Ping

[Republican Wildcat]

Yes, and he just won't take a breather from running for political office. This isn't a great way to shake the "career politician" label he's got.

[MeekOneGOP]

[skinkinthegrass]

thanks.. :)) Kerr ping

BTTT

[Theodore R.]

I guess Ben Chandler gets his "political animal" coloration by inheritance. His grandfather "Happy" was always running for something, mostly governor and U.S. senator. "Happy" lost about as much as he won, but the exhiliration of winning compensated for the defeats. In that Chandler is much better known than Kerr, he could have an advantage. Still, it seems like KY is at last on a GOP roll, but can we be sure?

[Republican Wildcat]

Well, yes, Kerr is less known than Chandler, but an unknown with adequate money for TV advertising can become "known" rather quickly. She is going to have plenty of that, and also the NRCC will be advertising heavily the race. Chandler's name ID also includes negatives from the governor's race and he lost the disctrict overwhelmingly. Still, it won't be a walk in the park, but I think Kerr will win in the end.

[JohnnyZ]

I think the Kerrs are pretty well known in Kentucky politics, too. And, as you say, a couple 3 million in advertising covers a lot of ground in a congressional district. Chandler's name ID includes substantial *negative* name ID, too, a problem I doubt Alice FKerr has to contend with.

[windchime]

Bump!