Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway (D) brought some big names with him to his kickoff rally in Lousiville yesterday.
Conway, who will take on Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo (D) for the chance to challenge Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.), touted the endorsements of both Kentucky’s Democratic Congressmen, the mayor of Lousiville, the state auditor and the state House Speaker.
Rep. Ben Chandler (D-Ky.) who many national Democrats hoped would enter the race, backed Conway, telling the Louisville Courier that having a candidate of Conway’s “caliber” in the race makes it easier for him to take a pass.
Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) said it was out of his respect for Conway, not antipathy towards Mongiardo, that he made an endorsement. “I’ve said before that I wouldn’t get involved in a Democratic primary unless Jack Conway ran,” Yarmuth said.
Mongiardo’s campaign responded by emphasizing the Lt. Governor’s support for Barack Obama and the endorsement of Kentucky’s Governor, Steve Beshear (D).
“Endorsed by Governor Beshear, Daniel Mongiardo is the only candidate in this race to publicly support Barack Obama in the Democratic Primary and the only candidate with an actual record of fighting for working families, better health care and jobs,” the campaign said in a statement to the Courier.