Ben Chandler

State Sen. David Boswell (D-Owensboro) told reporters today that he had not yet seen the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's ad run in his favor that was pulled from the airwaves of a Louisville television station two days ago.

"I have not seen the DCCC's ad," said Boswell "That’s an independent expenditure."

"What the DCCC's doing, I am really not aware of, so I really don't have a comment without having seen the spot," he added.

The DCCC's spot was yanked from WAVE-TV's rotation on Tuesday after attorneys from allies of the campaign of Boswell's Republican opponent, state Sen. Brett Guthrie (R-Bowling Green), said the ad's claim that Guthrie's family company "shipped manufacturing work to Mexico" was "false and libelous."

Boswell said the advertisements paid for by his campaign thus far were "positive."

"That's the way we like to keep our campaign," said Boswell.

Updated, 10:35 pm, with response from Guthrie camp.

U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler (D-Versailles) joined state Sen. David Boswell (D-Owensboro) on a conference call this afternoon to announce that the 47-member strong Congressional Blue Dog Coalition - of which Chandler is a member - endorsed Boswell's bid for the 2nd Congressional District.

Chandler said an endorsement from the group of "moderate and conservative" elected Democrats was "highly-sought after," though he said the Coalition endorsed Boswell unanimously.

"We believe that you absolutely fit the profile of what the Blue Dogs try to represent," Chandler told Boswell on the call, referencing the group's concerns with the national debt and budget deficits.

"There are a lot of people who have tried to get the endorsement and who have not, so it's not an endorsement everybody gets," Chandler added. "Many more seek it than receive it."

In recent weeks, the campaign of Boswell's opponent, state Sen. Brett Guthrie (R-Bowling Green), and the Republican Party of Kentucky have made comments insinuating that Boswell was aligned with "liberal" facets within the Democratic Party. Chandler said the Blue Dog's endorsement was evidence that was not the case.

DNC Chair Howard Dean speaks to Kentucky's delegates today: Politicker photo

DENVER -- As the surprise opening speaker at this morning's Kentucky delegation breakfast, Democratic National Committee chair Howard Dean spoke with familiarity about Kentucky politics, referencing races up and down the ballot and laying out strategic suggestions for the assembled delegates.

At the beginning of his remarks, Dean referenced the campaign of Democratic Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford as a priority for the state.

"He's in striking distance. How about that?" Dean asked about the challenger to incumbent U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville).

Lunsford was last shown 12 points behind McConnell in a mid-August poll, though his ability to self-finance his campaign has led many analysts to predict an ultimately competitive race.

Beyond that, Dean said another top priority for Kentucky Democrats was more local in scope.

"The first thing that people need - in addition to electing Bruce - is we really want to take back the state Senate," said Dean, referencing the state legislative body currently in Republican hands.

DENVER -- The campaign of incumbent Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) tried to sound a note of confidence in response to the news that U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler (D-Versailles) had officially announced his support of Democratic Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville) - Chandler's former political rival.

"Senator McConnell has enjoyed working with Congressman Chandler on key issues and looks forward to continuing that bipartisan relationship over the next six years," said McConnell's campaign manager Justin Brasell in a statement presupposing a McConnell victory over Lunsford in November.

"We think Congressman Chandler showed particularly good judgment when he said that Senator McConnell's leadership was 'essential' as they worked together on obtaining funding for Kentucky State University, and that he appreciated Senator McConnell's 'ongoing leadership' in cleaning up the chemical weapons stored at the Bluegrass Army Depot," continued Brasell, referencing earlier Chandler quotes culled from two press releases.

"Senator McConnell looks forward to six more years of fostering bipartisan relationships that move Kentucky and our nation forward," added Brasell.

McConnell and Chandler conducted a joint visit to the Blue Grass Army Depot in Richmond just last week to consider the destruction of chemical weapons there, while the two worked together to secure funds for Kentucky State University.

DENVER -- As more of Kentucky's prominent elected Democratic leaders arrived in Denver for their party's national convention today, the line-up of speakers at the delegation breakfast was bolstered - and then supplemented by some special guests.

This morning, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean made a surprise appearance to kick off the line-up. He spoke for nearly 15 minutes on campaign strategy and the prospects for Kentucky Democrats.

Dean was followed by Washington D.C.'s "shadow Senator" Michael Brown, who spoke to assembled delegates about his hometown's lack of official Congressional representation.

U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler (D-Versailles) then took the podium for remarks in which he announced his support of Democratic Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville), who later closed the morning speaking program.

Chandler was followed by delegate Ken Koch, a labor organizer. Koch introduced United Mine Workers of America President Cecil Roberts, who delivered a fiery speech slamming Republicans and the current nationwide advertising campaign targeting Democrats for their support of the Employee Free Choice Act.

DENVER – During the 2003 Democratic gubernatorial primary, candidates Ben Chandler (D-Versailles) and Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville) waged a contentious fight against each other. Attacks were frequent and the television ads were vicious, with then-Attorney General Chandler’s campaign airing out allegations of business impropriety against Lunsford. Lunsford subsequently dropped out of the race before the primary and said he would vote against Chandler if he won the nomination.

Chandler did, and Lunsford endorsed the Republican candidate – and eventual winner – Ernie Fletcher.

This morning – some five years later - the two former opponents shared a table at the Kentucky delegation’s breakfast in Denver, the site of this year’s Democratic National Convention. Chandler is in Denver as a superdelegate while Lunsford is here to rally support for his U.S. Senate bid against incumbent Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville).

Perhaps the seating arrangement was suitable foreshadowing for what was to come when Chandler took the podium to speak to the gathered delegates, dashing any rumors that he was not supporting Lunsford’s candidacy.

Chandler commenced his remarks by referring to a less contentious primary battle than that one from 2003 – this year’s Democratic presidential primary between U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.). Chandler made a call for unity between supporters of the two candidates and then delivered an appropriate segue.

“You all may remember just 5 years ago we had a somewhat difficult primary in the governor’s race in Kentucky,” said Chandler to some chuckles from the crowd. “There were some of us that weren’t terribly happy about it. On all sides, there were some bruised feelings.”

U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler (D-Versailles) embraces Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville): Politicker photo

DENVER -- Fierce opponents in the 2003 Democratic gubernatorial primary, Rep. U.S. Ben Chandler (D-Versailles) and Democratic Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford embraced today after Chandler announced his full support for Lunsford's Senate bid during remarks at the Kentucky delegation's pre-DNC breakfast in Denver.

Details to follow.

DENVER -- The whirlwind of activity surrounding the Democratic National Convention will find Kentucky's delegation all over Denver today, with events capped off by a party jointly hosted by those from the Bluegrass state, Ohio, and Alabama.

Delegates started the day this morning with their daily breakfast at their downtown Denver hotel.

Keynoting today's meeting was U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, who blasted the Bush administration as a galvanizing force to unify Democrats across the nation.

Kentucky Democratic Party chair Jennifer Moore emceed the event and announced that, during each day's breakfast, she would highlight a different set of races. Today she spoke about Kentucky's state Senate races.

Much of the Kentucky Democratic delegation was also in attendance, including Attorney General Jack Conway (D-Louisville), Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo (D-Hazard), Louisville attorney and Obama fundraiser Matthew Barzun, former party chairs Terry McBrayer and Jerry Lundergan, state Auditor Crit Luallen (D-Frankfort), and several Louisville metro council members.

U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth's (D-Louisville) race for the 3rd Congressional District is still the only U.S. House campaign in Kentucky on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's list for targeted television ad buys, even after the list was expanded by 20 in recent days.

Yarmuth's re-election effort against former U.S. Rep Anne Northup (R-Louisville) was included in the DCCC's initial target list of 31 races, for which the organization aims to buy ad time in September and October. The DCCC reportedly allocated $659,000 for ad buys in the 3rd District.

The liberal news outlet Talking Points Memo reported yesterday that the DCCC had expanded their list to include 20 more races, but none of the additions are in Kentucky.

According to reports, the DCCC has now allocated a total of $53 million towards ad buys for the 51 targeted races.

LOUISVILLE -- Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville) kept the focus of Kentucky's U.S. Senate race on energy policy during his remarks before members and guests at last night's meeting of the Metro Democratic Club in Louisville.

Lunsford targeted his opponent, four-term incumbent Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville), for voting against cloture on legislation that would have imposed a "windfall profits tax" on oil companies.

Of McConnell, Lunsford argued "Rather than debate on the issues, he personally stood in the way of the windfall profits tax with companies that have taken out over half a trillion dollars in profits during the bush administration. That's what he's doing to the country."