Jennifer Moore

DENVER – While a good deal of the political discussion among Kentucky Democrats and their counterparts from other states at the Democratic National Convention has touched on the state’s U.S. Senate contest, some delegates are continuing to push to get the 2nd Congressional District race more attention.

Owensboro Attorney and Obama delegate Charlie Moore and Hindman Attorney Bill Weinberg, a Clinton delegate, both said they discussed the open seat contest between state Sen. David Boswell (D-Owensboro) and state Sen. Brett Guthrie (R-Bowling Green) with U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Cali.) at a party yesterday and planned to follow up on their discussion with her at another function today.

“She was receptive,” Moore said.

“I am excited about the potential of this race,” he added. “We want to do what we can to make sure that race is on the national radar and that it shines as bright as we can make it shine.”

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 – Some Kentuckians at the Democratic National Convention are talking up the possibility of the party winning the open-seat race in the 2nd Congressional District.

State Auditor Crit Luallen (D-Frankfort) told PolitickerKY.com that she and Kentucky Democratic Party chair Jennifer Moore spoke with Brian Wolff, the executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, about the race between state Sen. David Boswell (D-Owensboro) and state Sen. Brett Guthrie (R-Bowling Green) at a Sunday night fundraising reception in Denver.

“Jennifer Moore -- and I was with Jennifer Moore -- we spoke to the executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee about the 2nd district, and encouraged their support and participation there,” said Luallen.

“They are very aware of that race. They see it as one that has real possibilities for pick-up,” she added. “So, I think that is one that people are watching.”

Luallen and Moore were not the only ones lauding Boswell’s chances in the 2nd. U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) referenced the race during his address at the Kentucky delegation’s breakfast today.

“We can win that 2nd district seat,” Yarmuth told the crowd of influential Kentucky Democrats. “David Boswell’s got a great chance.”

DENVER -- At this morning's delegation breakfast prior to the Democratic National Convention, Kentucky Democratic Party chair Jennifer Moore announced that the presidential campaign of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) had hired a state director in the Commonwealth.

Kenya McGruder is now on board with the Obama campaign. She previously served as the Director of the majority caucus in the Louisville Metro Council.

Moore said the hiring showed the Obama camp was working towards implementing the so-called "50 state strategy."

"They are serious about making sure there are people on the ground," said Moore.

After the May 20 Democratic presidential primary, Obama's campaign shuttered their headquarters around the state and reallocated most staffers.

The chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party said she expects the newly-selected Democratic vice-presidential pick, U.S. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), to visit the Bluegrass state before the general election.

"He has strong Kentucky connections," said KDP chair Jennifer Moore. "I expect him to be in Kentucky."

Moore noted Biden has some family ties to Kentucky, as his sister-in-law is a native of the state.

Biden, an active campaigner for Democrats nationwide, has previously made political visits to the Commonwealth on several occasions.

"He campaigned here four years ago for Daniel Mongiardo," noted Moore, referencing the now-Lt. Governor's unsuccessful 2004 bid for U.S. Senate.

Biden also visited the state in 2006 for campaign stops in Greenup, Owensboro, Taylorsville, Shepherdsville, and Maysville on behalf of Kentucky Democrats, including congressional candidates Mike Weaver in the 2nd District and Ken Lucas in the 4th.

Former U.S. Rep Carol Hubbard (D-Lowes) speaks on Monday in Murray: Politicker photo

MURRAY - Speaking to Democratic activists at the Purchase Area Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in Murray on Monday night, former U.S. Rep and state Senator Carroll Hubbard (D-Lowes) put his race for the 1st state Senate district on a list of three key races he said could help swing the Republican-controlled state Senate back to the Democrats.

In addition to his own bid, Hubbard said wins by Democratic challengers Steve Newberry in the 9th district and Kathy Groob in the 23rd district would push the minority party in the Senate to within one seat of a majority.

Republicans currently hold a 22 to 15 advantage over Democrats in the Senate, with one independent. Democratic wins in Hubbard's proposed targets would push that advantage down to 19 to 18.

Then, Hubbard suggested, Democratic Governor Steve Beshear (D-Lexington) might take over the rest of the work in putting the Senate back in Democratic hands.

Calling the governor's mansion in Frankfort "the people's house," Republican Party of Kentucky (RPK) Chair Steve Robertson attacked Governor Steve Beshear (D-Lexington) for using his official residence for a late June fundraiser.

"Using the Governor's Mansion for political fundraisers does not represent the kind of ethical and moral leadership the people of Kentucky deserve," said Robertson. "Governor Beshear has said that his administration should be held accountable and that it starts at the top with him. I call on Governor Beshear to make real ethics reform part of the special session call."

Invitations to join the "Capitol Club" via attendance at a June 24 fundraiser at the mansion and a coinciding golf open - entitled the "Beshear Open" were dispatched this past weekend.

LOUISVILLE -- As part of the national Democratic Party's effort to expand their operations to all fifty states, the Kentucky Democratic Party (KDP) is aiming to implement a new get-out-the-vote effort in Kentucky that enlists party activists to campaign in their own neighborhoods. On Wednesday evening, KDP Chair Jennifer Moore told a meeting of the Metro Democratic Club in Louisville of the ‘Neighbor-to-Neighbor' program and the logic behind it.

"How would you rather hear from - a stranger or someone that you know?" Moore asked the crowd. "We are the best people to go and talk to our neighbors and tell our neighbors why we are a Democrat, why they should be a Democrat, and - most importantly - why they should vote a straight Democratic ticket in the fall."

"They are going to talk to you because they know you," added Moore. "That is a world of difference from a paid walker or a volunteer who doesn't live in that neighborhood going to that door."

With today's "decision deadline" set by Democratic National Committee chair Howard Dean looming, Kentucky's three remaining undecided superdelegates have finally made their endorsement in the now-completed Democratic presidential race today.

Governor Steve Beshear (D-Lexington), Kentucky Democratic Party [KDP] Chair Jennifer Moore, and KDP Vice Chair Nathan Smith sat on the fence between the camps of candidates Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) for weeks following Clinton's 35 point defeat of Obama in Kentucky's May 20 presidential primary.

According to a release dispatched today by the Kentucky Democratic Party, the three superdelegates will vote for Senator Obama at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

FRANKFORT -- Following his defeat in a hard-fought Democratic Senate primary campaign against ultimate nominee Bruce Lunsford, Louisville businessman Greg Fischer has been encouraged by both his former opponent and other top Kentucky Democrats to stay involved in politics.

"I'm here to say this is not the last step for Greg Fischer," said Kentucky Democratic Party Chairwoman Jennifer Moore, introducing Fischer at today's ‘unity' press conference in Frankfort.

Fischer, who ran a combative campaign against Lunsford and positioned himself as an "outsider" at times, told PolitickerKY.com today that this year's race meant a lot to him, but he couldn't say what the future held.

"I've had a lot of inquiries the past several days in terms of what my next steps are. I really am gratified and humbled. We got a lot of votes. People embraced my message and got a feeling of community and family around my campaign. I think people would like to see more of that in terms of what we can do in Kentucky," said Fischer.