[img_assist|nid=622|title=Congressional candidate Anne Northup|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=191|height=200]Anne Northup's bid to regain the congressional seat she lost in 2006 will face its first challenge next Tuesday, when Northup must defeat three challengers to secure the Republican nomination in the race for Kentucky's 2nd congressional district. In the lead up to May 20, Northup says her campaign is focused on turning out large numbers of Republican voters who may not be aware she even faces primary competition.

"The primary person walking around on the street of Louisville thinks there is no GOP primary," Northup said on a conference call last week.

For much of the primary season, there has been uncertainty about who Northup would face for the primary. A credible challenger initial emerged in Chris Thieneman, a Louisville developer and former University of Louisville football player.

However, shortly after he announced his candidacy, Thieneman quit the race in late January and endorsed the seat's incumbent Democrat John Yarmuth. Thieneman alleged he quit out of frustration due to pressure from supporters of Northup and incumbent U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville).

He later called his endorsement of Yarmuth "a mistake."

After several months dormant, he revived his campaign just a few weeks ago.

"It is one of those things where it has been hard to know who was going to run a campaign," said Northup. "Obviously, it doesn't make any sense for us to spend a whole lot of money when the main race is the race in the fall."

Northup said once Thieneman re-entered the race, the attitude of her campaign changed.

"We are very focused on this," said Northup

The former five-term Congresswoman indicated that turnout is a principal focus of her campaign during the primary, given the short notice many of her supporters had about her competition on May 20

"People say to me ‘well, there isn't a primary is there?'" said Northup. "We are encouraging people to vote. We think a strong turnout will be in our favor, so we are really eager to see a lot of people go to the polls."

Northup indicated the context of the primary and the late-arriving competition means low turnout could be taken advantage of by certain interests.

"My hope is that we will have thousands of Republicans who will go to the polls. That's very, very, very important," said Northup. "If we have a small group, it can be a small group that is rounded up by a small group of people, and that will not serve us well."

"Only somebody that would be very motivated to try and make a national statement - and I would say that would probably be Ron Paul supporters - will think of that as a driving reason to go to the polls," Northup continued.

Paul supporters already made waves in the 3rd District by attempting to stage a leadership coup during the Jefferson County Republican Convention in March. Then, Paul supporters made a push to install like-minded Republicans in positions that could help them seize the County chair position, but their efforts were ultimately defeated.

Incidentally, it was during that effort at that convention that Thieneman was removed by police after he was stripped of his position in the party. Outgoing Jefferson County GOP Chair Jack Richardson said this was due to Thieneman's endorsement of Yarmuth.

In the only public poll released for the 3rd District race, Northup was leading Thieneman by 68 points, though Thieneman's campaign was dormant at the time of the poll.

Northup's campaign appears to be taking nothing for granted in the primary, despite these numbers. On last week's call she expressed uncertainty with the poll.

"We are treating this very, very seriously," said Northup. "Primary polls are very difficult, especially when you anticipate that not many people will go to the polls."

In addition to Thieneman, Northup faces opposition in the primary from UPS employee Bob Devore and Property manager Corley Everett. Both are currently running lower-activity campaigns.

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