One of the more interesting state political rituals is Kentucky's Fancy Farm Picnic, held on the first Saturday in August in the far western part of the state.
Plenty of pork, mutton and political speeches are served up and there's cheering and jeering of candidates for office who have come to view the picnic as a must-stop.
The two Democrats and two Republicans who are the major 2010 candidates for the seat of retiring Republican Sen. Jim Bunning all spoke at last weekend's gathering. You can find videos here of Democrats Daniel Mongiardo, the lieutenant governor, and Jack Conway, the state attorney general. You can find videos here of Republicans Trey Grayson, Kentucky's secretary of State, and Rand Paul, an eye surgeon whose father is Texas Republican Rep. Ron Paul.
Some highlights:
Mongiardo, who's from eastern Kentucky, said that "Jack is a nice guy, but he chooses to fight for the silver spoon issues preferred by the champagne and caviar crowd." He accused Conway, during his 2002 loss to then-Rep. Anne M. Northup in the Louisville-based 3rd District, of promoting cuts to Social Security benefits and raising the retirement age.
Conway hit back: "Daniel, you may be an ear, nose and throat doctor, but you've misdiagnosed me, because when it comes to me, you can't hear the truth, you can't smell the truth, and you sure as hell can't speak the truth." Conway said he curbed Internet crimes as attorney general.
Grayson: "On the one hand, you can chose someone who will fall in line with Obama, [Nancy] Pelosi and [Harry] Reid. Or you can choose someone like me, who shares our conservative Kentucky values and will always put Kentucky first."
Paul: Criticizing "career politicians" in both parties, he said, "We elect the same old people year after year. I say you need new leadership in Kentucky. I say you need an outsider."
CQ Politics rates the general election race as a Tossup.
To see how all the 2010 Senate races are shaping up, check out the CQ Politics election map.
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