LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER | KENTUCKY.COM NEWS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013 A7 “An Ashley Judd race will bring out so “I say we place in peril our control of many people energized to defeat Mitch.” the state legislature (if she runs).” U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth of Louisville Dale Emmons, political strategist JUDD’S TRIAL BALLOON KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS SEE MUCH TO GAIN — AND MUCH TO LOSE — IN A CANDIDACY BY ACTRESS By Greg Trip Gabriel Kentucky and regularly returns for ment and is going to take some for the Obama administration policies, The New York Times home basketball games in Lexing- time to consider running,” said the from coal to gun policy to you name ASHLAND — It would seem ton, sometimes leading the crowd in expert, who was not authorized to it,” said Scott Jennings, a Republican like a Republican fantasy: a famous cheers for the Wildcats. speak publicly. strategist in Louisville. “Enter Ashley actress, who has been described by But her primary residence is out- Public polling in Kentucky 21 Judd, who apparently because she her own grandmother as a Holly- side Nashville. She was a Tennessee months from the election, therefore doesn’t live here didn’t get the memo wood liberal, is floated as a Senate delegate to the 2012 Democratic imprecise, shows that McConnell, on how unpopular Obama is.” candidate in one of the country’s National Convention, speaking on the Senate minority leader, leads But those attack lines might not most conservative states, where she behalf of Obama. She has been out- all potential Democratic challeng- prove as potent as McConnell’s sup- does not even live. spoken for animal rights and against ers. But he won re-election to a fifth porters hope, judging by conversa- That is how Republican opera- violence toward women in Africa. term in 2008 by one of the narrow- tions with voters in Ashland. Even tives gleefully seized on reports that More relevant to Kentucky, perhaps, est margins of any Senate incumbent discounting a tendency to support the movie star Ashley Judd, who is her opposition to mountaintop-re- in the country, running in a state a local girl made good, the city of campaigned for President Barack moval coal mining, which many op- where registered Democrats are in 22,000 on the Ohio River is the em- Obama, might challenge Mitch Mc- pose but which no prominent candi- the majority. bodiment of many Kentucky com- Connell, the most powerful Republi- date has publicly denounced for fear For those reasons Democrats munities, a one-time Democratic can in the U.S. Senate, when he is MARK CORNELISON | [email protected] of losing support in coal country. consider him vulnerable despite his stronghold whose voters feel the na- up for re-election next year. Ashley Judd recently invited her Yarmuth, who is the only Demo- national prestige and power as mi- tional party has drifted too far left. “Ashley Judd — an Obama-fol- 159,000 Twitter fans to join a mailing crat in the state’s congressional dele- nority leader. Still, many residents said Judd’s lowing, radical Hollywood liberal” is list, teasing them, “You’ll be the first gation, dismissed concerns that Judd Even opponents agree, how- character, which they admired, was how an attack ad put it, produced by to know, well, all sorts of things.” would be a liability. On the contrary, ever, that he is one of the toughest more important than her politics. a group led by the Republican strate- he said, she would neutralize Mc- campaigners Kentucky has known. “She may be a little too liberal for gist Karl Rove. who lost Kentucky by 23 percentage Connell’s fundraising advantage and Other potential Democratic rivals, me,” said Janice Taylor, a 71-year- How serious could such a candi- points in November. energize opposition. such as Secretary of State Alison old retiree. But neither was she a dacy be? Plenty, it turns out. Another Kentucky-based consul- “It will be the No. 1 race in the Lundergan Grimes, have remained fan of McConnell’s. “I would actually be surprised if tant, James Cauley, said he began country without question if she on the sideline, either out of fear of “I’ve got tired of him,” she said. she didn’t run right now,” said Rep. hearing fears from Kentucky officials runs,” Yarmuth said. a costly primary battle or because “He’s always against everything.” John Yarmuth, D-Louisville. “She’s last month when Judd attended the He added, “An Ashley Judd race their sights are fixed on goals like Perry Dalton, 67, who retired done everything a serious candidate Bluegrass Ball in Washington dur- will bring out so many people ener- the 2015 governor’s race. from the AK Steel plant in Ashland, would do.” ing the inauguration, where she con- gized to defeat Mitch, that will help “Leader McConnell will focus on said he was a Republican but liked But even as Judd moved this firmed she was “taking a close look” Democrats down-ballot.” a specific opponent when one files,” Judd because she was not a typical week from a Republican chew toy at a run. He said Judd’s trial balloon has Jesse Benton, McConnell’s campaign politician. to an increasingly likely candidate, “People started saying, ‘Oh my included hiring experienced national manager, said in a statement. “Our “I know she wants to come back Democrats in Kentucky fought pub- God, she is serious,’” said Cauley, consultants in Washington and New eventual opponent, whoever that to help her state, her community, licly over whether she would be a who managed Obama’s 2004 Senate York to conduct polls and opposition may be, will be treated with respect, just from her heart,” said Dalton, viable challenger in 2014 to McCon- campaign in Illinois. “One state leg- research on herself to identify her but we will run an outstanding cam- holding the hand of a granddaughter nell, or a serious liability. islator asked me to go to the White vulnerabilities. paign and communicate with every at the Town Center mall. “I know Some Democratic strategists House and talk to Barack.” Last week, Judd invited her Kentuckian to make sure they know she’s more liberal than me. But hon- said her views were too far left of Cauley demurred. He and the 159,000 Twitter followers to join Sen. McConnell is fighting for them esty is more important to me than Kentucky voters, warning that she president are not close. a mailing list, a ready-made base, and make sure he earns their vote.” anything.” would drag down other Democrats Judd, 44, who has starred in teasing them, “You’ll be the first to Other Republicans have not been Joan Christian, 42, a hospital on the state ballot. Ruby in Paradise, Double Jeopardy know, well, all sorts of things.” so courtly; they are following the technician, said she previously voted “I say we place in peril our control and other movies, spent much of her Through a spokeswoman, Judd lead of Rove’s super PAC, American for McConnell but would not rule of the state Legislature,” said Dale childhood in Ashland, in the rust declined to comment for this ar- Crossroads, which created a mock- out Judd even because of her cur- Emmons, a strategist who advised belt of eastern Kentucky. Her moth- ticle. A campaign professional in ing online ad last week. Its narrator rent residence out of state. the last unsuccessful Democratic er is the country singer Naomi Judd, Washington whom Judd has spoken declared Judd “right at home in Ten- “I think she’s as qualified as any- challenger to McConnell, in 2008. and Wynonna Judd, another country with said she was closely studying a nessee — I mean Kentucky.” one,” Christian said. “She was an He added, “Her Siamese twin star, is a half-sister. race. “What you have here is probably educated professional woman before will immediately be Barack Obama,” She attended the University of “She’s getting lots of encourage- the state that has the most distaste she was an actress.” MAYS LICK - SALYERSVILLE - VERSAILLES – Charles C. Corwin, 67, Grover Hammonds Jr., Lynn Hippe, 58, husband died Thu. Service 11am 76, died Fri. Funeral 2pm of Ginny Hippe, died Wed. Mon, Palmer Funeral Home. Mon, Magoffin County Fu- Funeral service 10:30am, to- Visit 5-8pm Sun. neral Home. Visitation after day at Blackburn & Ward www.palmerfuneralhome.net 6pm today. Funeral Home. Guestbook CAMPBELLSVILLE - GEORGETOWN - MIDWAY – SHELBYVILLE - online at: Merle Wise, 90, husband Gwendolyn Grace Hall, Bonnie Shely Casey, www.BlackburnandWard.com of Juanita, died Thursday. newborn daughter of Mar- WAYNESBURG - AKERS Funeral 2pm Sunday at South yann and Bryan Hall, died 92, died Thu Feb 14, 2013. Opal, 86, the mother of Campbellsville Baptist Church. Wed. Visit after 11am Sat at Services 12pm Monday at Vernice Irvin Yantz, Terry Fisher of Lexington, Visitation 5-8pm Saturday. Johnson’s Funeral Home. Glensboro Christian Church. 89, died Fri. Funeral 1pm KY, died Thu, Feb 14, 2013. Parrott & Ramsey Funeral Home. Service at 1pm at Johnson’s. Visit 5-8pm Sunday, Gash Mon, Barnett & Demrow Fu- Visitation will be 2-4pm, Memorial Chapel. neral Home. Visit 6-9pm Sun. Sun, Feb 17, 2013 at Clark CARLISLE - Donald Harney Jenkins, SHELBYVILLE - WHITLEY CITY - Legacy Center in Brannon Gloria Mae Waters, Crossing, followed by a fu- 96, died Thurs., Feb 14, Gary Carney, 79, died 2013. Funeral 11am Tues. GRAYSON - Feb 15, 2013. Memorial 82, died Feb 15, 2013. neral service at 4pm. Funeral service 2pm Sun at www.clarklegacycenter.com Visit 5-8pm Mon.