NRA

The National Rifle Association, as well as the Buckeye Firearms Association, has endorsed state Sen. Steve Austria (R-Beavercreek) in the race for Ohio's 7th Congressional district.

Austria is running against attorney Sharen Neuhardt (D-Yellow Springs) to replace retiring U.S. Rep. David Hobson (R-Springfield) in the seat.

In addition, Austria's legislative record in the Ohio statehouse earned him an "A" grade from the NRA's Political Victory Fund.

In accepting the endorsement, Austria said that protecting second amendment rights has always been a top priority of his.

Democratic Congressman Jason Altmire picked up a major endorsement today when the National Rifle Association endorsed his candidacy against Melissa Hart. The NRA endorsement is a major blow to Hart who needs every conservative group she can obtain to rally behind her and work for her effort to take back the seat she lost two years ago.

LOUISVILLE - The remarks of presumptive Republican Presidential nominee and Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) at today's National Rifle Association Leadership Forum not surprisingly revolved around gun rights.

The Arizona Senator has not had a perfect record with the NRA, and has come under their criticism in the past for supporting background checks for firearms purchased at gun shows. He addressed this history today and stuck to his position on the matter.

"Over the years, I haven't agreed with the NRA on every issue. I have supported efforts to have NICS [National Instant Criminal Background Check System] background checks apply to gun sales at gun shows," said McCain. "I recognize that gun shows are enjoyed by millions of law-abiding Americans. I do not support efforts by those who seek to regulate them out of existence. But I believe an accurate, fair and instant background check at guns shows is a reasonable requirement."

LOUISVILLE -- Amid a day of ceaseless criticism at the National Rifle Association's Leadership Forum in Louisville, the Kentucky campaign of Presidential candidate and Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois) released a statement particularly focused on comments made by his potential Republican opponent.

 "The 2000 version of John McCain stood up to the NRA, saying that they shouldn't play a major policymaking role in the Republican Party.  But the 2008 version of McCain is more concerned with playing election-year politics," said Obama's Kentucky campaign directory, Carolyn Tandy.

LOUISVILLE -- Even though today's National Rifle Association Leadership Forum took place in Kentucky - a state where Presidential candidate and Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) leads her primary opponent, Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois), by 27 points in recent polls - it was Obama who got the "presumptive nominee treatment" at the forum.

Of course, that treatment means Republicans did not cease attacking him for the entirety of the day's events.

"I dont believe our nation can survive four years of Barack Obama" - Author, talk show host, and Iran-Contra figure, Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North

U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville): Politicker photo

LOUISVILLE -- Kentucky's senior Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) was honored by the National Rifle Association at this afternoon's NRA Leadership forum in Louisville with the annual "Defender of the Constitution" award from the organization. After receiving the award, McConnell's speech went a long way towards showing why he was in the group's good graces.

"I happen to believe more guns in lawful hands means less crime," said McConnell. "I'm sleeping well tonight knowing the NRA is in town."

LOUISVILLE-- While some comments from speakers at Friday's National Rifle Association Leadership Forum have already been widely reported, a few other gems may have slipped through the cracks.

Here are just of few of the more significant or humorous lines of the day:

• "Does that make us clingers or does that make us Klingons? I don't know, I don't get it." - former Deputy Chief of Staff for George W. Bush, Karl Rove, referencing Senator Barack Obama's (D-Illinois) earlier statement that some rural Americans "cling to guns and religion."

• "It is important that you sign this, because we want to protect every citizen's right to be shot by the Vice President." - Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), on what she told Vice President Dick Cheney to get him to sign the Amicus Curae brief opposing the Washington, D.C. handgun ban.

LOUISVILLE -- Following up on recent debates over Senator Barack Obama's (D-Illinois) proposal to engage in discussions with nations hostile to America's interests, presumptive Republican nominee and Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) fired a verbal shot at Obama on the same issue today while speaking at the National Rifle Association's Leadership Forum in Louisville today.

"Senator Obama would meet unconditionally with some of the world's worst dictators and state sponsors of terrorists. I would not add to the prestige of those who support violent extremists or seek to destroy our allies," said McCain.

While the Republican presidential nomination is all but official for Arizona Senator John McCain, he and the only other candidate remaining in the field will be swinging through Kentucky prior to the May 20 primary.

As reported by Ryan Alessi of the Lexington Herald-Leader, McCain will appear in conjunction with the National Rifle Association's annual meeting in Louisville on May 16. McCain will speak as part of the American Values Leadership Forum on the first day of the three day affair.