The campaign of Republican congressional candidate Geoff Davis has been trying to raise some money from the business community. But the effort is suffering from some atrociously bad timing.

        Mr. Davis hopes to unseat Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Ken Lucas in November's 4th District race. Recently Richard Knock, Mr. Davis' money guy, sent a fund-raising plea to business people in Kenton County.

        “Businessmen such as you know that our incumbent congressman has done little to nothing for the business community over the past three years,” Mr. Knock wrote in the letter.

        Well, about the same time that letter went out a couple of weeks ago it was announced that Mr. Lucas was being honored by a slew of groups and a major Kentucky employer for his support of business issues.

        The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Survival Committee, the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the Associated Industries of Kentucky and Toyota — which has its North American headquarters and a major plant in Scott County — have saluted Mr. Lucas for backing business.

        “We would like to publicly thank Rep. Lucas for his strong pro-growth, pro-manufacturing voting record,” read the invitation to a reception one of the business groups held for the congressman.

        According to the business groups, Mr. Lucas was recognized for his votes on “reducing taxes and regulations, death tax elimination, capital gains tax relief, expanding U.S. markets overseas, reducing dependence on foreign energy and making health care more affordable.”

        Doesn't sound now like the knock from Mr. Knock is going to knock anybody dead.

Call if you need me

        Kenton County attorney candidates Eric Deters and incumbent Garry Edmondson slugged one another around so much last week that this GOP primary is starting to look like a rematch between Tonya Harding and Paula Jones.

        First a Deters supporter from Edgewood who prefers to be unnamed reported getting a call from Mr. Edmondson's private law office. She knew the origin of the call because of caller ID.

        “It was a nice, pleasant young girl who said she was from the Republican Party of Kenton County,” the woman said. “She then asked me if I would place a sign in my yard for Garry Edmondson.”

        Whoa, it's a big no-no for a GOP candidate to claim backing of the party in a contested primary.

        Mr. Deters called the action “shameless” and “deceitful.”

        But it never happened, according to Edmondson campaign insider Jeff Middendorf.

        Sign location solicitation calls were made but no one claimed to be with the party, Mr. Middendorf said.

        “Eric or his supporter, or both, aren't telling the truth,” Mr. Middendorf said.

        Following up on a complaint from Mr. Deters, Kenton County GOP Chairman Greg Shumate said he talked to Mr. Edmondson about the allegation.

        “He assures he it did not happen nor will it ever happen,” Mr. Shumate said. “Whatever happened, obviously the party can not be misrepresented to voters.”

        There's more.

        Mr. Edmondson recently sent a letter to area doctors, telling them they are under siege by Mr. Deters, who handles medical malpractice cases against physicians.

        He then hits up the docs for some campaign cash.

        “Your profession has been under attack by Eric Deters for many years,” Mr. Edmondson wrote. “He has even openly pledged to sue every physician in Greater Cincinnati.”

        Mr. Deters was steamed, saying he never made such a threat. While he does take medical malpractice cases he “turns down 30 cases for every one I take.”

        Not one to take a punch without giving one, Mr. Deters got out the Yellow Pages and turned to the ad for Mr. Edmondson's private law practice. In the ad Mr. Edmondson said his office takes medical malpractice cases.

        “What a hypocrite,” Mr. Deters said.

        Mr. Edmondson said he stands by his letter, saying he has taken only one malpractice case in 25 years. He added future ads will not solicit medical malpractice cases.

        “You want to talk about hypocrisy,” Mr. Edmondson countered.“(Home builder) Bill Erpenbeck, who has supported Democrats running Republicans in Northern Kentucky, is having a fund-raiser for Deters at his (Crestview Hills) home.”

        Mr. Erpenbeck also once held a fund-raiser for Republican Kenton County Commissioner Barb Black, Mr. Deters pointed out.

        “Garry Edmondson is just jealous,” Mr. Deters said.

        End of round. More punching certain to come.

        E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com. Past columns at Enquirer.com/columns/crowley.

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