Hebert: Democrats will have primary; Fischer will enter race
Matt Gunterman January 11th, 2008
So, WHAS’s Mark Hebert has posted that Louisville businessman Greg Fischer (D) will announce next week that he’s entering the Democratic primary for the opportunity to oppose Sen. Mitch McConnell (R).
If that’s the case, and Fischer does run, then I think the Democratic primary between Fischer and Lt. Col. Andrew Horne (D) [I'm assuming here that millionaire Bruce Lunsford (D) isn't getting into the race] will tell us a lot about how strong a force the progressive grassroots in Kentucky really are.
The race between Horne and Fischer will be between passion and the pocketbook, respectively. I’m told Fischer can only plop down a few million of his own dollars into the race. That’s enough to get him through the primary. He’s wealthy, but not wealthy enough to match McConnell’s war chest. Now, you and I both know that a Democratic candidate doesn’t need to match Mitch McConnell dollar-for-dollar to take the bugger out. We saw that in contest after contest in the 2006 defeats of Republican incumbents.
The Democratic primary this May will tell us how closely Kentucky Democrats are listening, how engaged they are in taking on McConnell, how much they’re hungering for his defeat. If the pocketbook wins and there’s no accompanying passion behind Fischer, then Kentucky Democrats might well be disinterested in the process — content with McConnell and voting for a name made familiar by millions of dollars spent on advertising. I write that last sentence fully aware that passion may fire up around Fischer. I’m not discounting the possibility.
But I know there’s passion around Horne. His supporters are die-hard. And his supporters will be out telling their friends and neighbors about Horne, and they will be doing it around a candidate who’s built up an impressive network around the state. Horne may not be well known among the electorate outside of Louisville, but he’s not unknown within the Democratic activist networks.
A primary will be good for Kentucky Democrats and for the candidates. It will hone their messages, keep them in the eyes and minds of the voters, and make their campaigns stronger and make them stronger campaigners.
Fischer is Running, Announcing Next Week
Louisville businessman Greg Fischer has told several people that he’s running for the U.S. Senate. He will apparently make his candidacy official next week.
Fischer’s entry into the race will set up a tough democratic primary with the winner taking on Mitch McConnell in the fall. Fischer is a wealthy Louisville business CEO and the son of well-known Louisville businessman and former Brown administration cabinet secretary George Fischer. One would expect Fischer to personally fund most of his campaign.
His main competition is Andrew Horne, a Louisville attorney and Iraq war veteran. Horne has some political experience, having lost the democratic primary for 3rd district congress to John Yarmuth last year. This will be Fischer’s first run for public office. Neither Horne nor Fischer is well known outside Jefferson County and Fischer is hardly known inside the Louisville Metro limits.
Horne says, if Fischer runs, he’ll discover the same thing Bruce Lunsford has, that money can’t buy a win in a democratic primary race. Horne says, since he announced his campaign a couple of weeks ago, he’s gotten positive responses across Kentucky. His biggest problem will be fundraising and articulating his positions on issues other than Iraq. As you’ve seen in a posting earlier today, most Kentucky voters think the economy and health care are the top two issues in the presidential race, not Iraq. We look forward to finding out Fischer’s views.
- 2008 KY U.S. Senate Race , Andrew Horne , Greg Fischer , Mitch McConnell
- Comments(18)
Ky Dems should keep their eyes on the prize — Mitch McConnell. Fischer’s announcement is a disappointment. He should support Andrew Horne and put his money and energy against McConnell, starting today.
I actually think it would be good for Horny. Afterall, since nobody but the biggest Dem boosters (i.e. you guys and whoever used to read bluegrass report)have ever heard of him, it would do him good to get his name in the news around the primary and then for winning the primary.
Of course you might just be scared that your vision of a progressive democratic party is based on fantasy and some cranky rich Louisvillian will still sweep you away with his money.
About as accurate of a description of Sen. McConnell as I’ve ever heard.
snap.
If Fischer wants to throw away a bunch of his money and get embarrassed this May, then Greg, knock yourself out. You’ll be appetizer before Horne’s main course this Fall.
We have a new slogan for Sen. Mitch McWar: The Cranky Rich Louisvillian. Maybe we can add arrogant corrupt war-monger, and Bush-Cheney lapdog.
Herodotus actually makes a good point. A primary could really boost Horne’s name recognition, as well as help build up the grassroots organization. I for one think it wouldn’t be a bad thing to have a primary election.
Bruce Lundsford?
He couldn’t carry his home county (Kenton), in the gov. primary.
Someone please bury him, he’s stinking up the place.
Don’t sell Fischer short. He is choosing not to self-finance because he doesn’t think it’s the way elections should be decided. He’s building a grass roots effort to rival the terrific one built by Andrew Horne. His ideas are as progressive as Andrew’s. The primary will be healthy and the winner will go into the Fall election with a tight message and an enthusiastic organization.
Uh, just so people aren’t confused, the above “Jake” is NOT me.
Fischer is worthless.
Grassroots campaigns actually need….um… what’s it called?
People.
Actually I was calling Fischer the cranky rich Louisvillian. His money will role away your “grassroots” fantasy, then McConnell’s years of service will roll him away.
By the way, who says “snap” anymore? Old white guys trying to be hip, that’s who. That’s almost as pathetic as saying “served” or whatever else you caught from a re-run of a MTV show.
Also, I love how all the time you guys falesly claim that Republicans expect their followers to fall in step on every issue, when in fact you Dems throw the biggest fit whenever anyone differs from you within your own party.
Sorry you don’t get to pick your nominee and you have to have a primary. I know you guys love to rig those things (just look at the number of “superdelegates” you have to make sure you can settle your nominating process for president without having to let it actually be decided by the people alone).
Also, when’s the last time a pro-life Democrat was allowed to run for pres? When’s the last time one spoke in prime-time at the convention? Hell, when was the last time a pro-abortion but against partial birth Democrat spoke on TV on behalf of the party? 1996 Evan Bayh was supposed too, but the pro-abortion group bumped him to after Hillary and after the cameras shut off on all but C-Span.
Yeah, and you’re the open-minded party? What a joke.
I’ll change my screen name since PageOne Jake is worried about the confusion. I’m a little surprised at how brittle Andrew’s supporters sound. Let’s face it Andrew isn’t a master on the stump. I know, because I heard him his last campaign. You know, the one where Yarmuth trounced him. A little warm up of a primary will help him sharpen his skills. Besides, you’re very confident he can beat Fischer, aren’t you?
Oh yes, authentic PageOne Jake, I thought caring compassionate people don’t refer to another human as “worthless”. It’s called objectifying a person and it’s what leads to hate crimes. Your Momma should wash out your keyboard with soap.
Since Jake is unable to respond, I will do so.
If Jake was worried I have a feeling he would say so.
Comparing Andrew Horne of 2008 to Andrew Horne of 2006 is silly.
And acting loosely homophobic in your last comment is silly. It’s silly that you’re upset over your chosen candidate, Greg Fischer, getting negative press. It’s politics. Get a thicker skin.
Sorry Jack, but your last comment was more than a little outrageous. There was nothing homophobic about what I wrote. Depriving people of their worth, i.e. calling them worthless, is the first step in racism, homophobia, anti-semitism and a host of things I am pretty sure we both despise. I was merely pointing that out to Jake from PageOne and was apparently too subtle in my wish for him to tone down his rhetoric. The goal of this process is to not eat each other alive so that the Democratic candidate can beat Mitch in November. As for Andrew 2008 being a better model, I couldn’t tell from his announcement video. He seemed just as stiff and wooden as in 2006. Looked a little over coached.
I’m for any DEMOCRAT that will run against bush’s little walking (hemorrhoid mitch) everyone just stick together and get him out. it would be a great day for the of ky.