Tagged: Noise&Notes

The latest fundraising reports from the Federal Election Commission show Democratic Congressman John Yarmuth with an immense lead over Republican challenger Brooks Wicker in Kentucky's Third Congressional District race.

Seeking a fourth term, Yarmuth raised over $80,000 in contributions during the first three months of the year and has more than $432,000 in cash on-hand. The incumbent does have a primary opponent in perennial candidate Burrel Farnsley, but he hasn't raised any money.

In a push to younger voters, President Barack Obama is touring college campuses this week to discuss the problems of student loan debt. But Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is blaming the president for the poor job market that college graduates enter.

Interest rates for subsidized Stafford Loans are set to double this summer, going from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. The White House projects more than 7.5 million students will face steeper debt if lawmakers don't act to freeze the interest rate. Mr. Obama says that should be a higher priority than protecting tax breaks for wealthy Americans.

But in a Senate floor speech, McConnell says the president is too busy pointing fingers and not taking responsibility for the poor economy that students face. "It’s the millionaires. It’s the banks. It’s big oil. It’s the weather. It’s Fox News. It’s anything but him. And it’s absurd. I mean, if you believe that a president who got everything he wanted for two years—two whole years—has nothing to do with the problems we face, then I’ve got a solar panel company to sell you," he says.

Republican congressional candidate Thomas Massie released an internal poll showing him leading the crowded primary race for Kentucky's Fourth Congressional seat.

The poll of approximately 800 likely voters conducted by Wenzel Strategies shows Massie up by 10 points over state Rep. Alecia Webb-Edgington, who comes in second. Massie gobbles up 32 percent, Webb-Edgington has 22 percent and Boone County Judge-Executive Gary Moore finishes third with 17 percent. The other four GOP candidates come in with single-digit numbers among them approximately 800 likely GOP voters.

From Wenzel Strategies:

The survey shows Massie leads in all regions of the district except Louisville, where he and Webb-Edgington are tied at 19% support. Massie also leads among men and women. He also leads among self-identified TEA Party conservatives, which comprised 55% of the survey sample. Among TEA Party conservatives, Massie wins 42%, compared to 18% for Webb-Edgington and 12% for Moore.

Congressman Geoff Davis and former U.S. Senator Jim Bunning announced they are backing Republican congressional candidate Alecia Webb-Edgington in the crowded primary race for Kentucky’s Fourth Congressional District seat.

The two endorsements are a needed boost for Webb-Edgington's campaign, which trails third in fundraising behind Boone County Judge-Executive Gary Moore and Lewis County Judge-Executive Thomas Massie.

Bunning held the congressional seat for 12 years before being elected to the Senate, and Davis currently holds the office, but announced his retirement late last year.

"Jim Bunning and Geoff Davis have set the gold standard for principled conservative leadership in Congress and effective constituent services," says Webb-Edgington. "I am truly honored to have their support and will seek to follow their example if I’m elected."

BuzzFeed found the new ad by Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer's Healthy Hometown Movement to be a bit frightening. From BuzzFeed:

The ad, part of the Louisville mayor's Healthy Hometown initiative, aims to—not scare the living crap out of African-American moms—but to boost breastfeeding among them. If it achieves that goal, I will eat my words (washed down with cow's milk).

Check it out: