Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes

Poll: McConnell in Close Races With Potential Opponents

Kenny Colston — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 16:46:58 +0000

A new poll shows Sen. Mitch McConnell with a precarious lead over potential Democratic challengers.

The survey from Public Policy Polling shows McConnell with a four point lead over Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes—45 to 41—and a five point lead over former Congressman Ben Chandler.

Despite the leads, McConnell polls below the 50 percent mark in both races. And it shows he only has an 11 point lead over contractor Ed Marksberry, 46 to 35.

Alison Lundergan Grimes, Screaming and a Goat

Phillip M. Bailey — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:00:41 +0000

Now that actress Ashley Judd is officially not running for U.S. Senate against Republican Mitch McConnell, critics have wasted no time to lampoon the next presumptive Democratic nominee—Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes.

Grimes is being encouraged to fill the apparent void in 2014, and supporters argue she has a number of assets: no record for McConnell to attack, the daughter of a former Kentucky Democratic Party chairman and a tight relationship with former President Bill Clinton.

It appears the best jabs circulating about Grimes for now are the secretary of state's speeches—where she often refers to herself in the third-person and shouts repteadly.

A new video featuring Grimes is making the rounds, and it pokes fun at her and other screamers, including former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, a goat and Judd (in Normal Life).

Watch:

Democrats Run 'Sweet 16' Style Radio Ad Against Mitch McConnell

Phillip M. Bailey — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:20:58 +0000

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is launching a basketball-themed radio ad targeting U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., ahead of his beloved Louisville Cardinal's Sweet 16 game.

The spot begins airing Thursday and uses a faux play-by-play commentary describing how McConnell "scores for Washington special interests and himself" while blocking economic policies that would help Kentucky.

Listen:

Deal Reached on Kentucky Military Voting Legislation, Passes in Final Minutes of Session

Kenny Colston and Rae Hodge — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 05:06:02 +0000

Kentucky military personnel serving overseas will be able to get ballots electronically under legislation approved late Tuesday in the Kentucky General Assembly. How they send them back is still to be determined.

Working until the last minute of the 2013 session, legislators went back to the original Senate version of the military voting bill that allowed for electronic sending of ballots to overseas military, but snail mail return of the ballot.

Pros and Cons for Potential 2014 Mitch McConnell Challengers Judd, Grimes and Bevin

Kenny Colston — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 17:26:01 +0000

Kentuckians have 590 days-plus before the 2014 general election, but already the political chatter is centered on potential challengers to U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell—chiefly actress Ashley Judd and her potential candidacy's supposed strengths and weaknesses.

But Judd isn't the only possible candidate.

House Passes Military Voting Bill, With Electronic Return Included

Kenny Colston — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 23:31:39 +0000

A bill designed to allow Kentuckians in the military deployed overseas vote electronically has cleared the House, after amendments returned Senate Bill 1 to a full electronic system.

Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes is the main promoter of the bill and urged House lawmakers to return to full electronic provisions after the Senate did not include the electronic return of a ballot.

United Kentucky Tea Party Accuses Mitch McConnell of Delaying Military Voting Bill

Phillip M. Bailey — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:30:00 +0000

United Kentucky Tea Party is blaming Republican U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell for stalling a bill in the General Assembly that would have allowed Kentucky's military service members to vote electronically while overseas.

The legislation was spearheaded by Democratic Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes and backed by Republican state Senate President Robert Stivers.

In January, Stivers told WFPL Frankfort Bureau Chief Kenny Colston he wanted the bill to pass quickly. But at a committee meeting this week, Stivers urged an amendment that weakened the measure.

From The Lexington Herald-Leader:

After the committee unanimously approved the amended version of Senate Bill 1, Stivers acknowledged that he had consulted with U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell about the measure. McConnell, a Republican, is seeking re-election next year. Many Democrats are urging Grimes to run against him.

Under Amended Electronic Voting Bill, Kentucky Military Voters Would Have to Snail Mail Ballots

Kenny Colston — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 16:42:49 +0000

Kentucky military personnel could get their election ballots electronically—but the ballots would have to be printed and returned to county clerks via snail mail, under changes made to a bill Thursday in a state Senate committee meeting.

The bill—a priority for Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes—originally called for military personnel to be able to get and return ballots electronically.

Team Mitch Ad Mocks Democratic Candidate Search

Phillip M. Bailey — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 14:40:29 +0000

In the first ad of the 2014 Kentucky Senate race, Republican Mitch McConnell pokes fun at Democrats for being unable to find an opponent for the general election.

The online spot utilizes clips of President Obama, and shows him looking at a number of rumored challengers including actress Ashley Judd, former U.S. Ambassador Matthew Barzun and Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes.

It also notes how a number of prominent Democrats in the state have said flat out they are not interested in taking on McConnell in 2014.

Watch:

Kentucky Senate Designates Electronic Military Voting as Chief Priority

Kenny Colston — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 19:53:58 +0000

Giving Kentucky service members and their spouses the ability to cast absentee ballots electronically is the priority of the Kentucky State Senate heading into the 2013 legislative session, Senate President-elect Robert Stivers said on Monday.

Stivers says he’s taking recommendations from Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes to allow electronic voting for overseas military personnel.