HIGHLAND HEIGHTS - The only tobacco farmer in Congress, the leading cash crop in Kentucky, shook hands with other farmers in Grant County on Monday when his campaign trail stopped in Northern Kentucky.
Congressman Scotty Baesler, a three-term representative from Lexington running in the May 26 U.S. Senate Democratic primary, toured the Grant County Courthouse, the Williamstown business area and met with Northern Kentucky University officials.
With no candidate from Northern Kentucky in the Democratic primary, Mr. Baesler said he wanted to introduce himself to the people in the area and learn the issues.
''I think this is good fertile ground for somebody like myself, who's been an urban mayor before in a thriving community like this,'' he said.
Tobacco and road funding were discussed during the visits in Grant County and Dry Ridge, where he had lunch with residents.
John DiGirolamo, owner of the Country Grill in Dry Ridge, said that while he hasn't decided on his vote for any candidate, he likes Mr. Baesler's support of farmers on the tobacco issue.
''Tobacco's the only cash crop we have left,'' Mr. DiGirolamo said.
Mr. Baesler met with NKU President James C. Votruba and with political science professors to discuss local and national education issues.
''He clearly has a considerable interest in higher education reform at the national level, and was very interested in the kind of thinking that is driving Northern Kentucky University,'' Dr. Votruba said.
Mr. Baesler said he agrees with President Clinton's comments in his State of the Union address about the importance of making postsecondary education more accessible to people.
In Washington, Mr. Baesler said, he is supporting the opportunity for more universities like NKU to be able to compete with larger institutions for federal grants like the National Science Foundation's. As NKU lobbies for the $38 million needed for its science center, nothing is more important than keeping those funds out of cubby holes for nationally known institutions, Mr. he said.
''I very strongly believe that we've got to give the universities, both public and private, an opportunity to compete'' for those funds, he said.
On the national front, Mr. Baesler said, he does not think the sex scandal surrounding Mr. Clinton will affect his or other Democratic campaigns.
''The people have sort of tuned it out in the country, according to the polls,'' he said. ''Secondly, people are basically feeling good about their circumstances. Whether it's the economy or other things.''
