It's 2002. Not only is it an election year, but I get to go to Frankfort for most of the next four months. Somebody talk me off this ledge.

        This changes everything. The camp of U.S. Rep. Ken Lucas, the Boone County Democrat seeking a third term this year, has said it would take the candidacy of Boone County Republican Geoff Davis seriously.

        Well, they'd better.

        When Mr. Davis files his first campaign finance report this week, it will show he has raised at least $175,000 and as much as $200,000 — almost all of it from outside sources. Though Mr. Davis has the means and will to spend his own money on the race, the report will indicate less than $5,000 has come from Mr. Davis and his family.

        That is a remarkable amount of money for a first-time, no-name challenger to raise in a race that many consider to be Mr. Lucas' to lose.

        And it's far more than I expected Mr. Davis to raise.

        This isn't to suggest or even hint that Mr. Davis is going to roll through the Fourth District on the way to Capitol Hill. He still has a long way to go. Most voters don't know Geoff Davis from Jefferson Davis. He has no political experience. He's only lived here for a decade. And he's not exactly William Jennings Bryan when it comes to stump speaking.

        But money often indicates credibility, and that is important for a first-timer.

        Don't forget that Mr. Lucas votes with the Republicans as much as the Republicans. But even before Mr. Davis got in the race, Charlie Cook, publisher of The Cook Report, a Washington-based political newsletter, dubbed the race competitive.

        Here is Mr. Cook's take from the 2002 edition of The Almanac of American Politics:

        “Lucas' 54 percent showing against a lackluster opponent (Oldham County Republican Don Bell) in 2000 shows just how Republican this Northern Kentucky district is. Bush took 61 percent here, but it is not clear if Republicans will be able to recruit a top-flight candidate to run against Lucas.

        “Lucas is not an easy target: His conservative views and penchant for bucking the Democratic leadership will help to keep him in good stead.”

        No word yet on how much cash Mr. Lucas has raised, but you can bet it will be a bundle.

        Six paces and draw. One more gem from The Almanac, this on the bitter relationship between U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, the Southgate Republican, and Gov. Paul Patton, the eastern Kentucky Democrat set to challenge Mr. Bunning in 2004.

        “The relationship between the two seems to resemble those between Henry Clay and some of his rivals — which ended up in duels.”

        Who's who. Jerry Stricker is as Democratic as they come. He's given thousands of dollars to Democratic candidates and parties and spent some time in the White House with Bill and Hillary Clinton.

        But a couple of weeks ago, when he announced his candidacy for Covington City commissioner, joining Democrats like Attorney General Ben Chandler and Mr. Lucas were some notable Republicans.

        Among the GOP leaders were Kenton County Sheriff Chuck Korzenborn, Kenton County Jailer Terry Carl, Kenton County Commissioner candidate Michael Plummer and state Rep. Paul Marcotte of Union.

        Bipartisan support like that is what wins nonpartisan races.
       

        Patrick Crowley covers Kentucky politics. He can be reached at (859) 578-5581, or by e-mail at pcrowley@Enquirer.com.
       

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