RADCLIFF -- Former Democratic U.S. Sen. and Nebraska Gov. Bob Kerrey took to the trail today along with a slate of high-profile Democrats to campaign for Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville), 2nd Congressional District candidate and state Sen. David Boswell (D-Owensboro), and other local Democratic candidates.

Kerrey ripped Lunsford's opponent - U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) - for a vote against the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act - or Webb G.I. Bill - of 2008. That legislation was an effort to provide funding for college costs to Iraq War veterans.

"I thought that bill would pass 100-0 in the Senate. Mitch McConnell was one of 22 that voted ‘no,'" said Kerrey at a rally in Radcliff. "I would not support Mitch McConnell just on that basis."

Calling Lunsford's race against McConnell the "most important election" in the country behind the Presidential election, Kerrey's appearance in a school gymnasium in Radcliff was one of several on the day he was making with Lunsford and Boswell and other local Democrats.

Kerrey also was one of several speakers in Radcliff to praise Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama. At one instance, Kerrey said he had to "respectfully disagree" with comments made by Obama's running mate, Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.).

Last Sunday in Seattle, Biden delivered some remarks that Republican presidential candidate John McCain has seized upon.

"Watch, we're gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy. . . . I can give you at least four or five scenarios from where it might originate. And he's gonna need help," said Biden at the time.

Kerrey took exception to that sentiment, arguing the election of Obama would change world attitudes of the United States after in the wake of the Bush Administration

"It's far more likely that the rest of the world would start cooperating with the United States," said Kerrey.

"It's far more likely that this country is going to be safer with a President Obama than its going to be with a President McCain," added Kerrey to the cheers of about seventy to eighty attendees.

Kerrey was joined in Radcliff by an array of Democrats. In addition to Boswell and Lunsford, Gov. Steve Beshear, former Gov. John Y. Brown, Jr., former U.S. Sen. Dee Huddleston, state Rep. Jimmie Lee (D-Elizabethtown), former state Rep. and again a candidate, Mike Weaver (D-Radcliff), and former U.S. Sen. candidate Greg Fischer (D-Louisville).

Also in the district for the Radcliff event was 3rd Congressional District U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville), taking a respite from campaigning just north in Louisville to speak on behalf of Lunsford and Boswell.

"We need somebody who is going to make sure that Kentucky shares in the wealth and the prosperity that we all hope that we can have in this country," said Yarmuth from the podium in Radcliff. "Mitch McConnell has never tried to do that, never in 24 years."

Yarmuth also referenced McConnell's wife, U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao.

"I think it's appropriate now that his wife is retiring that he join her," said Yarmuth.

Nearly each speaker talked up the candidacies of both Boswell and Lunsford, but also Lee and Weaver, who are facing competition in their bids for the state legislature.

Boswell v. Guthrie

Boswell took the stump briefly, pointing to the growing federal debt and defecit as a principal problem and touting his extended experience in state government. Similar to earlier remarks in the area, he pledged to open a field office in the Hardin County area if elected.

He also threw a jab at his opponent for the 2nd District, state Sen. Brett Guthrie (R-Bowling Green), targeting - as his campaign has been wont to do - a Republican who fundraised in Kentucky on Guthrie's campaign earlier this year.

"I didn't have Dick Cheney come in here with a wheelbarrow full of money for my campaign," said Boswell, who suggested much of his funding came from small money donors.

The swing at Guthrie regarding the support of Cheney is duplicated in a new Boswell campaign ad, as well.

As evidenced by the large banner behind the speaker's podium, the central focus of the event was Lunsford.

During his brief remarks in Radcliff, Beshear's delivered a line similar to the sentiment expressed by President Bill Clinton when he was stumping in Bowling Green on Friday, arguing Lunsford's election would benefit an Obama administration.

"President Obama is going to need a lot of help in the U.S. Senate," said Beshear.

Lunsford did his own part from the podium, continuing to push the argument that McConnell's attacks on him were because of Republican hesitation to talk about the activity occurring during the Bush administration.

"He puts more on TV about me than he does himself," said Lunsford.  "He doesn't have anything to say that will make you feel good about the last 8 years."

Fischer and Lunsford

The Democratic candidate also referenced Fischer, who ran a losing effort against Lunsford in this year's Democratic primary. Currently serving as a finance chair for Boswell, Fischer was among the attendees at the event.

Lunsford said he now had a "great relationship" with Fischer.

"He made me a better candidate and he made me a better person," said Lunsford.