BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Politics is like an onion -- you have to peel away the outer layers to get to the really good stuff.
Baesler in the red? When U.S. Senate candidates Jim Bunning, a Southgate Republican, and Lexington Democrat Scotty Baesler released their campaign finance reports Tuesday, Mr. Bunning showed a big advantage in the key area of cash on hand.
Mr. Bunning reported $1.6 million cash compared to Mr. Baesler's $340,000. But the Bunning camp is quick to point out that Mr. Baesler also reported he has outstanding loans of $385,000.
That puts Mr. Baesler $45,000 "in the hole," as one Bunning staffer put it.
To help dig himself out, Mr. Baesler held a swanky fund-raiser Wednesday night at the Governor's Mansion in Frankfort. The event, hosted by Gov. Paul Patton, raised about $250,000, according to Mr. Baesler's campaign staff.
Verst snagging GOP support. A Fort Thomas Republican, who isn't ready to be named, is putting together a GOP group to back Cold Spring Democrat Justin Verst in the Campbell County attorney's race. "Republicans for Verst" should be announced within the next few weeks, Mr. Verst said.
"I think a group like this shows that I have support from both parties and from all over Campbell County," said Mr. Verst, who has served as assistant county attorney for 21 years under Paul Twehues.
Mr. Twehues isn't seeking re-election. Mr. Verst is running against Fort Thomas Republican Bob Blau, who runs a Cold Spring law office.
Mr. Verst also said he raised about $25,000 at a recent fund-raiser held at the Highland Country Club in Fort Thomas, which is the heart of GOP turf in Campbell County.
The littlest Democrat. And now more on the Versts, one of the largest political clans in Campbell County.
Justin Verst's nephew, Campbell County Commissioner Bill Verst, is a father for the sixth time. His wife, Barb, gave birth to Charles Williams "Chip" Verst on July 8.
Chip -- who weighed in at 5 pounds, 1 ounce -- came five weeks early, but Dad says he is fine.
"The Republicans are always bragging about adding new members to their party," Bill Verst joked. "Well, we just added a new Democrat. Of course, he can't vote for 18 years, but when he does vote it will be as a Democrat."
Should that say "Democratic veterans for Lucas?" Democrat Ken Lucas' campaign for U.S. Congress got a lot of ink two weeks ago when he was endorsed by a group of veterans that included Retired Pfc. Ernest "Ernie" West, one of Kentucky's two living winners of the Medal of Honor.
But Republicans say the campaign, and the media, failed to mention that Mr. West is an active member of the Greenup Party Democratic Party, a fact State Democratic Chairman Ron McCloud confirmed. "Is he a Congressional Medal of Honor winner or not?" Mr. McCloud responded. "Ernie West did not endorse Ken Lucas as a member of (Greenup County Democratic) Executive Committee. He endorsed Ken Lucas as a veteran."
"That the supporters of an ethically challenged candidate, Gex Williams, attack a Medal of Honor winner lowers the credibility of the Williams campaign to an all-time low," said John Lapp, Mr. Lucas' campaign manager.
Mr. Lucas of Richwood is running against Verona Republican Gex "Jay" Williams in the Fourth Congressional District.
Williams' campaign shows some muscle. Mr. Williams has been engaging in a little political warfare of his own, according to a Tuesday article in The Washington Post.
A few weeks ago, Mr. Williams and his campaign were planning a political action committee, or PAC, fund-raiser in Washington. And they were looking for a member of Republican House leadership to sponsor the event.
To ensure landing a sponsor, the Williams campaign, according to the Post account, manipulated the potential House speaker's race between Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas and U.S. Rep. Bob Livingston of Louisiana, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.
"With that in mind," the Post article states, "the Williams campaign called Armey's office and left a message, which, paraphrased, was:
"Williams was looking forward to the honor of a PAC event sponsored by Armey . . . but he's getting nervous. Livingston's folks really want to do something, but we'd like to work this out with you guys. "Left unstated but easily inferred was the suggestion that Williams was irritated and might begin to align himself with Livingston in the prospective leadership fight. Armey got the message." Mr. Armey did host the event. It raised $50,000, which was not bad but not as much as Mr. Williams was hoping for.
Mr. Williams told the Enquirer he had "nothing to do" with strong-arming Mr. Armey, and he didn't even talk to Mr. Livingston. "Nobody ever once asked us for a leadership vote," Mr. Williams said. "Dick Armey even told us to call on Livingston in the first place."
Campbell Democrats plan blitz. Campbell County Judge-executive Ken Paul said voters can expect to see the county's Democratic candidates "all over the place, from one end of the county to the next."
The Democrats' courthouse candidates have been meeting with party leaders over the last several weeks to plan a series of nearly 25 community events they plan to attend and to meet voters and residents. "We're going out as a group, and we're going everywhere in this county," Mr. Paul said, adding a schedule will be announced shortly. Like she needs it. The Kentucky Gazette, a Frankfort political newsletter, reported that State Rep. Katie Stine, a candidate for the state Senate, is second among statehouse candidates in the amount of campaign money on hand.
Mrs. Stine, a Fort Thomas Republican, has $44,739. That compares to $354 for Newport Democrat George "Buddy" Merritt, her opponent in the 24th Senate District race in Campbell County.
Patrick Crowley covers Kentucky politics for the Enquirer. He can be reached at 578-5581, or (502) 875-7526 in Frankfort.
CROWLEY ARCHIVE
