John Yarmuth

Ballot access for 3rd Congressional District Libertarian candidate Edward Martin has been challenged by Brad Cummings, the chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party.

Martin submitted the requisite number of petition signatures to place his name on the ballot, but he is also a registered Republican – a status that may threaten his candidacy as a libertarian.

The challenge will go before a judge, who will consider its legal viability. The Libertarian Party, however, aims to contest the challenge.

"We've got a Supreme Court case, I've just got to find a lawyer," said Libertarian Party chair Ken Moellman.

DENVER -- U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) will be hitting national television airwaves tomorrow as he is scheduled to make an appearance on the MSNBC program "Hardball."

The popular political program, hosted by Chris Matthews, will be taped in Denver, the host town of the Democratic National Convention.

It is scheduled to air tomorrow at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET.

DNC Chair Howard Dean speaks to Kentucky's delegates today: Politicker photo

DENVER -- As the surprise opening speaker at this morning's Kentucky delegation breakfast, Democratic National Committee chair Howard Dean spoke with familiarity about Kentucky politics, referencing races up and down the ballot and laying out strategic suggestions for the assembled delegates.

At the beginning of his remarks, Dean referenced the campaign of Democratic Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford as a priority for the state.

"He's in striking distance. How about that?" Dean asked about the challenger to incumbent U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville).

Lunsford was last shown 12 points behind McConnell in a mid-August poll, though his ability to self-finance his campaign has led many analysts to predict an ultimately competitive race.

Beyond that, Dean said another top priority for Kentucky Democrats was more local in scope.

"The first thing that people need - in addition to electing Bruce - is we really want to take back the state Senate," said Dean, referencing the state legislative body currently in Republican hands.

DENVER – U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) framed the significance of the 2008 election in no uncertain terms during his address to the Kentucky Democratic National Convention delegation this morning.

“This literally is life or death. There are 4,100 Americans who gave up their lives because of a Republican president; a miscalculation, dishonesty and totally poor judgment about what should happen around the world and what our role was,” said Yarmuth, referencing the casualty figures from the war in Iraq. “We can’t afford another four years of the policies of George Bush.”

“I don’t think people realize how much damage they have done,” added Yarmuth. “We have got a lot of work to do.”

Yarmuth also bemoaned contemporary politics within Kentucky, pointing to the work of the last legislative session as seriously flawed.

“Because of what that General Assembly did this year, people are going to die,” said Yarmuth. “I am not mincing words. We have got tons at stake.”

DENVER -- The whirlwind of activity surrounding the Democratic National Convention will find Kentucky's delegation all over Denver today, with events capped off by a party jointly hosted by those from the Bluegrass state, Ohio, and Alabama.

Delegates started the day this morning with their daily breakfast at their downtown Denver hotel.

Keynoting today's meeting was U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, who blasted the Bush administration as a galvanizing force to unify Democrats across the nation.

Kentucky Democratic Party chair Jennifer Moore emceed the event and announced that, during each day's breakfast, she would highlight a different set of races. Today she spoke about Kentucky's state Senate races.

Much of the Kentucky Democratic delegation was also in attendance, including Attorney General Jack Conway (D-Louisville), Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo (D-Hazard), Louisville attorney and Obama fundraiser Matthew Barzun, former party chairs Terry McBrayer and Jerry Lundergan, state Auditor Crit Luallen (D-Frankfort), and several Louisville metro council members.

DENVER - U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) is set for a busy morning in Denver on this, the first day of the Democratic National Convention.

Politicker.com caught up with Yarmuth at the Denver Airport's baggage claim yesterday as he arrived in the convention host city. Shortly afterwards he headed to a welcome event at the Denver Art Museum.

An early Kentucky supporter of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), Yarmuth said he was eager to work at the convention to unite the state's delegation behind the Illinois Senator's candidacy.

"I am really looking forward to working with the Kentucky delegation to make sure we have a unified front for Barack Obama," said Yarmuth "It's important that we work hard for him because we have a lot of important races down the ballot this year."

Kentucky went heavily for Obama's opponent in the May 20 Democratic primary, U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) 

This morning, Yarmuth participated in a string of five radio interviews, including The Bill Press Show. At 8am, he will speak at the Kentucky delegation's morning breakfast in downtown Denver.

U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) voiced his support for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama's selection of Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) as his running mate.

"Senator Biden will make a great Vice President," Yarmuth said in a statement. "I have known him for 35 years, and I have always admired his post-partisan approach to governing. Senator Biden has been a leader in our efforts to fully support our veterans, expand the children's health care program, protect America's workers, and ensure that all students have access to a high-quality education."

The Washington offices of two members of Kentucky's Congressional delegation are undergoing some shuffling this week.

The Louisville Courier-Journal reports U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning's (R-Southgate) chief of staff Blake Brickman is leaving D.C. to pursue a legal education.

Brickman will reportedly be replaced by Bunning's current legislative director, Kim Dean, while staffer William Henderson will move up to fill Dean's position.

James Carroll of the Courier-Journal also reports U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) has hired Lennie Shewmaker, of Danville, as a health issues legislative assistant.

After what has already been a turbulent election season for the Libertarian Party of Kentucky, chairman Ken Moellman said today that any challenges to ballot access for his party's presidential and congressional candidates would be ill-advised.

"A challenge shows desperation," Moellman told PolitickerKY.com.

Earlier this week, Polwatchers reported that Edward Martin - the Libertarian's candidate in the 3rd Congressional District - is a registered Republican. Such a status raises questions as to whether he can actually seek office as a Libertarian, according to state law.

"I don't suspect anyone will challenge," said Moellman. "If they did though, they would challenge Ed."

Moellman said allies of the Libertarian Party had researched the issue, and they are confident they have a defense for Martin's candidacy, should it be necessary. Martin has already collected and submitted the requisite signatures and paperwork to obtain ballot access, though his candidacy could still be subjected to a legal challenge, should one be registered.

An effort to distribute 1 million stickers opposing presumptive Democratic presidential nominee and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is being led by Louisville-based Republican strategist Ted Jackson, who also serves as spokesperson and campaign chair for former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup's (R-Louisville) bid for the 3rd Congressional District.

The Louisville Courier-Journal reports Jackson and his company, the Spalding Group, announced earlier this month that they would distribute up to one million stickers reading "NOBAMA" to those who request them, free of charge.

Jackson is a longtime official distributor of merchandise for Republican presidential candidates. This year, his company was not selected to work with presumptive Republican presidential nominee and U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), though they are still selling merchandise in support of the candidate in addition to 29 anti-Obama items.

The sticker effort contrasts one by the liberal public policy advocacy group, MoveOn.org, which itself is aiming to distribute 1 million bumper stickers in support of Obama.