BREAKING NEWS: PATTON TO DROP OUT OF SENATE RACE

http://www.kfvs12.com ^ | September 24, 2002 | Heartland News

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Governor Paul Patton appeared live in a news conference to withdraw from the Senate race against Republican Jim Bunning. Governor Patton stated that he had issued a formal statement responding to all questions surrounding the Tina Conner allegations and refused to respond to any questions on that subject. This all stems from the controversy over his admitted affair with a Heartland nursing home operator, Tina Conner, and word of another alleged affair.

Meanwhile The Executive Branch Ethics Commission will be thrust into the spotlight as it examines whether Governor Paul Patton improperly used his office to help a woman with whom he had an affair.

And, Democrats running for office this fall will have to do it without Governor Paul Patton. Patton said today he did not plan to get involved in any campaign in the foreseeable future. He told state Democratic Chairman Jerry Johnson to administer the party without him. 

Tina Conner, who alleges she and the governor had a two-year sexual relationship. Conner claims a vengeful Patton turned regulators on her nursing home in Clinton after she broke off the relationship. Johnson says the party's fund raising for fall campaigns is mostly complete, and Patton's involvement would not be necessary. In addition, Democratic candidates for legislative and congressional offices are running their own campaigns. Johnson says Patton's announcement has little bearing on any race.

[egarvue]

I spoke to a man today from Kentucky, an admitted liberal, and he was genuinely sickened that Patton had been "found out".

Was your friend sicked at Patton's actions, or was he mad because the Democrat governor was caught?

[martin_fierro]

A poor excuse for a man
but a fine Democrat

[RJayneJ]

Kentucky is a neighbor and I can tell you that 30 years ago throughout the state Republicans didn't even run because 90% of the voting public were registered Democrats. A lot of things have happened to reverse that. One was the Dems approach to tobacco, but Clinton was the type that appealed to older voters especially when he did his humble country preacher bit, but they became completely disillusioned. I have a friend that was born and reared there. He was from Russel Springs and said at one time he was the only registered Republican there.

[Timesink]

I spoke to a man today from Kentucky, an admitted liberal, and he was genuinely sickened that Patton had been "found out."

Sickened that Patton did what he did, or merely sickened that Patton was caught?

[July 4th]

So you think Lott will be dependable?

The only way we'll get rid of Lott is if we get slammed as a party in November. That's not going to happen. But what should happen is our party getting a new Senate leader. Someone with enough guts to counteract the demonic tendencies of Daschle. (DeLay?)

[kcar]

Yeah. Good bet. He pitched a perfect game for the Phillies versus the Mets on Fathers Day 196x? 64?

[Bluegrass Federalist]

I live in Kentucky, and can clear some of this up. McConnell is running in November against Dem challenger Lois Combs Weinberg, who has no chance. That seat is safe. Patton was set to run against incumbent GOP Sen. Jim Bunning in 2004, and was considered a strong challenger - very strong. This is very good news for the GOP, even though the benefits may not be felt for a few years. Most of the high-profile Dems in the state are planning to run for Governor in 2004, so they really have no big challengers unless one pulls out of the governor's race. State politics have been slower to change, but for our national offices, KY has voted very solidly GOP. Both senators and 5 of 6 reps are GOP, although we did disgustingly go for Clinton the second time around (though not the first, and heavily against Gore).

[PianoMan]

So what you're saying, jackbill, is that this isn't even about an election happening this fall. Everyone can stop salivating about being handed another senate seat. And perhaps this should be pulled from breaking news before too many people think the Republicans are suddenly on the road to a majority in November.

[Rensselaer]

I don't think Bunning is up this term. Patton must be dropping out against Mitch McConnell. THere are other contenders i the democratic race. Bunning just came in in 1996. His term will be up in 2006. Bunning is a former professional baseball player. His son just won a judicial seat after an outrageous senate judiciary hearing with the dems, Leahy and Kennedy doing all the damage they could. Senator Bunning hads nine children. He is a good man and strongly supports Bush on Irag.

As others have noted, Bunning is up in 2004. McConnell is running this year against Louise Combs Weinberg, the daughter of a former Dem governor. As a candidate, she has some attractive surface qualities, which is why she is the Dems' nominee, but her campaign has been poorly run, she barely won the Dem primary against a former one term congressman who spent virtually no money, she's 25 points down in the polls and McConnell is sitting on about $4 million in cash. The 2002 race is effectively over.

2004 is another matter. Patton would have been a very strong candidate against Bunning - indeed, he would probably have been favored, having romped to a second term as Governor in 1999 (Kentucky gov is elected in odd numbered years); whereas Bunning barely won in 1998. As Governor, Patton would have started as Bunning's equal in name recognition. He is a "moderate" Democrat, or at least portrayed as such in the press, and it would have been a very tough race. The Dems will field another credible candidate, but their biggest, baddest challenger to Bunning, the one guy who would really threaten to take the seat, is now on the sidelines.

This is a big development.

[YaYa123]

thanks for the clarification.

[Howlin]

A government official who has an affair doesn't run? What's the world coming to? /sarcasm off.

[Howlin]

Crying because he got caught.

[BohDaThone]

Ky for clinton both times -- actually a tiny bit closer the second time, IIRC.

[Theodore R.]

KY never turned its back on "its" bill, for Bill Clinton won the state in 1992 AND 1996.

[putupon]

a vengeful Patton turned regulators on her nursing home in Clinton after she broke off the relationship.

What a coincidence.

[Verginius Rufus]

1992 race: Clinton 665,104...Bush 617,178...Perot 203,944

1996 race: Clinton 636,614...Dole 623,283...Perot 120,396

Bunning won by a margin of 7,000 votes out of more than a million votes cast.

[PhiKapMom]

Lott is not going to be majority leader when the Republicans take over. There will be a challenge from at least Senator Nickles and he will win. Lott is finished as majority leader because his handling of all of this has been really bad!

You could tell when the President was here in OK for Steve Largent and Jim Inhofe that Sen Nickles was most likely going to be his choice for Majority Leader.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Exactly i seen that pityful display of fake tears and snotgobbling what an oaf !

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Have you seen the commercials on ileagles or heard them on the radio Bunning took out a full page add in the Cincinnati Enquirer i kept it and im going to frame it lol if this guy keeps the promises he talks about kentucky will be much better for it

[Howlin]

LOL

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> snotgobbling!