Wednesday, August 02, 2000
Future Ky. races among hot topics
PHILADELPHIA — We know that George W. Bush is going to be the nominee. We know that Dick Cheney is the vice presidential candidate.
We know that Bo Derek, pro wrestler The Rock, country music duo Brooks and Dunn, and former rowdy boy Hank Williams Jr. are all at the Republican National Convention to push the GOP's political cause.
But much of the real juicy politics at these conventions takes place behind the scenes, and it has to do with pols jockeying for position for far-off races.
A lot of the talk this week among Kentucky's GOP delegates has to do with the party's candidate for the 2003 gubernatorial race.
U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning opened the speculation during a Monday night dinner attended by the delegation. During the dinner, Mr. Bunning openly challenged U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, a Republican from Somerset, to run.
Mr. Rogers is being coy about his political plans, saying he wants to wait until after January to make any decisions.
Eyes on November
By then, Mr. Rogers and everybody else will know whether the Republicans won the White House and held the U.S. House and Senate.
If that is the case, Mr. Rogers, the longtime head of an appropriations subcommittee in Washington, may want to stay inside the beltway and use his clout and seniority to send lots of bucks back home.
If the GOP does not do that well in November, Mr. Rogers may go ahead and start plowing the ground for a gubernatorial run.
Should Mr. Rogers stay out of the race, most GOP insiders think the leading Republican candidate would be Senate President David Williams, an articulate, funny, smart and moderate pol from
Burkesville.
Northern Ky. names
There is also another player on the scene. Joseph Lambert, chief justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court, is said to be pondering a run for the governor's mansion on a GOP ticket.
Chief Justice Lambert has floated the name of Boone County Judge-executive Gary Moore as a possible lieutenant governor running mate.
The topic of running mates from the GOP bastion of Northern Kentucky was a hot subject among the region's delegates.
The names of state Sen. Katie Stine of Fort Thomas, Kenton County Judge-executive Dick Murgatroyd and Campbell County Judge-executive Steve Pendery seem to be on just about everybody's short list.
Several Democrats are already working reporters, political leaders and others for support, among them Attorney General Ben Chandler, Lt. Gov. Steve Henry and House Speaker Jody Richards.
Former Gov. Brereton Jones, a Woodford County horse breeder, is also looking as if he is preparing for another run.
Republicans think that when Gov. Paul Patton steps down after two terms and the seat is open in 2003, a GOP candidate has an excellent chance of winning.
Patrick Crowley covers Kentucky politics.
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Patrick Crowley covers Kentucky politics for the Enquirer. He can be reached at 578-5581, or (502) 875-7526 in Frankfort.
CROWLEY ARCHIVE
