Posted on 12/17/2014 9:46:06 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Defeated Democrat declines to address her political future.
Alison Lundergan Grimes, Kentucky’s secretary of State, is threatening to take Rand Paul to court to block him from running both for president and reelection to the Senate in 2016.
In her first television interview since Sen. Mitch McConnell routed her by 15 points last month, the Democratic Senate nominee declared that she will not be “bullied” by Paul, who is a heavy favorite to win a second Senate term if he’s allowed to stay on the ballot.
“The law is clear,” Grimes told WHAS-TV in Louisville. “You can’t be on the ballot twice for two offices.”
“We’ll look to the court for any guidance that is needed,” she added. “And at the end of the day, we’re not going to be bullied.”
Grimes also told the Louisville ABC affiliate in the interview published on Wednesday that she has not decided whether to seek a second term as secretary of State in the 2015 election.
The 36-year-old left no doubt that she continues to harbor political ambitions beyond the Bluegrass State’s chief elections official. She would be a top Democratic recruit to run for Senate in 2016 if Paul bows out.
Grimes said she knows “there’s a bigger plan in store” and pronounced herself “excited for 2015.” She’s also been talked about as a Democratic primary challenger to Attorney General Jack Conway in next year’s Kentucky governor’s race or against GOP Rep. Andy Barr in 2016.
“There’s encouragement from all different directions, no shortage of opinions, that’s for sure,” she told the station. “But no election should be run unless it’s in your heart and the facts are there to win, and that’s what I will weigh and to make sure is there before I make any determination.”
Grimes’ comments about Paul seem aimed as much at rallying her liberal base after a tough loss as anything else. If she doesn’t run for reelection as the state’s chief election official, she would have no legal basis to challenge Paul’s dual candidacy.
Republicans failed to take over the Kentucky state House last month, which would have given them control of the state legislature and the ability to override the veto of Kentucky’s Democratic governor, Steve Beshear. That would have enabled Paul’s allies to change the law to allow him to appear on the ballot twice, as some other states allow; Vice President Joe Biden was elected to a new Senate term in Delaware the same day he ran as Barack Obama’s running mate.
Paul has announced that he will run for reelection to the Senate, and his team expresses confidence that they will find a way legally to allow him to also run for president.
A Paul spokesman did not have an immediate comment on Grimes’ legal threat.
if that is what the law of Ky says then fine, but if not, this is typical lib BS sour grapes because she got creamed in the election.
Gee, that’s too bad, anyway, what’s for dinner?
As I understand it, that is the law in Kentucky.
Shut up. Rats never learn humility.
Can Rand run for Loose-Cannon-on-Deck too?
then he will have to decide which post he wants and thinks he can hold.
Rand will only be on the ballot once for each office....
Says the woman who got her ass handed to her in the midterm election..how much did she lose by again..30 points?
It will be interesting to see how clumsily he handles this.
is there a chance of replacing Paul with a conservative? if he does get to run for Pres.
Nope, she’s actually right.
That’s fine, the law is the law.
What’s unfortunate is that Grimes can run for any office she wants. Now on that, there ought to be a law saying she can’t because she’s too damn stupid. :)
BOTH statements are true. I think the Law reads differently from both statements.
She wants to run again, this time for Paul’s slot.
She was the sweetheart of too many posters here. I couldn’t believe how many wanted her to win.
I hope Rand stays in the Senate, I’m all in for Future President Cruz.
As a loose cannon, Rand is well suited for the Senate...
No, most wanted McConnell to be able to spend more time with his family....
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