BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FRANKFORT, Ky. -- A clearly confident Ken Lucas collected nearly $100,000 for his 4th District Congressional campaign during a Wednesday night fund-raiser at the home of his old frat buddy -- Gov. Paul Patton.
"I don't want to appear overconfident or cocky," Mr. Lucas told the gathering of about 150 people, including several from Northern Kentucky.
"But if this race were held tomorrow, we would win. And we're going to win in November, and we're going to win because of people like you," Mr. Lucas said, spurring the crowd to loud applause.
Mr. Lucas, a Boone County Democrat and former county judge-executive, is running against Republican State Sen. Gex "Jay" Williams, also of Boone County.
The event, held at the Governor's Mansion on the grounds of the state Capitol, cost contributors $750 each or $1,000 a couple. Lexington Democrat Jonathan Miller, a former member of Vice President Al Gore's staff, presented Mr. Lucas with a check for $5,000 from Mr. Gore's political action committee, or PAC.
Mr. Patton, who belonged to the same University of Kentucky fraternity as Mr. Lucas in the 1950s, said Mr. Lucas "will be committed to good, solid leadership."
Newport physician Dr. Chris Bolling said he made the nearly two-hour drive to Frankfort because he supports Mr. Lucas' stance on the issues.
"(Mr. Lucas) is a fiscal conservative, and I especially like that," Dr. Bolling said.
Mr. Williams also held a campaign event Wednesday, but it was much smaller, more low-key and closed to the press.
U.S. Rep. Bob Livingston of Louisiana, the head of the House Appropriations Committee and a possible contender for speaker of the House, was the featured speaker at a private luncheon of about 35 Northern Kentucky businessmen at the exclusive Metropolitan Club in Covington. Mr. Williams hosted the lunch.
Those attending paid "a couple of hundred dollars" each, said Craig Hendricks, Mr. Williams' campaign manager.
Both Mr. Williams and Mr. Hendricks declined to say how much money was raised or who attended.
"We raised several thousand dollars, but this really wasn't a fund-raiser. It was more of a chance for some local business people to meet Bob Livingston and talk about the issues," Mr. Hendricks said.
"Gex Williams is exactly the type of guy we need to advance our (Republican) agenda and keep America and, in fact, the whole world on the path to prosperity," said Mr. Livingston, who plans to run for speaker when incumbent Newt Gingrich steps down.
"In Congress we've cut taxes, held the line on spending, balanced the budget, implemented welfare reform and revamped Medicare," he said.
"But we still have a lot of problems ahead. Particularly in these uncertain times around the world, the worst thing we could do is retrench with higher taxes and bigger government, the likes of which would be done under Bill Clinton if we lose our majority in Congress," Mr. Livingston said in an interview.
Mr. Livingston said he does not think the Republicans will lose their majority, thanks in part to Mr. Clinton and the scandal involving former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
"He's not going to do them any good," Mr. Livingston chuckled when asked whether Mr. Clinton's problems will hurt Democrats running this fall.
"Rome isn't burning, but Nero is fiddling."
