Tim Fernholz writes that Kentucky Democrats think they have a chance to capture the Senate seat, despite a challenging political climate:
The primary elections for Kentucky’s Senate seat have attracted attention and excitement this year, and not just around libertarian firebrand Rand Paul, who is cruising to what seems an inevitable victory in the GOP primary. In part because of Paul’s success, Kentucky Democrats think they have a chance to capture the Senate seat right out from under the Republican despite a challenging political climate. Today, they are choosing between two potential challengers.
But whom will they pick? Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo nearly upended retiring Republican incumbent Jim Bunning in 2004, but the state’s attorney general, Jack Conway, represents a younger, more progressive voice. Polls say the race between Mongiardo and Conway is a toss-up, with 12 percent of primary voters still undecided, though momentum is behind Conway. Whomever is chosen by voters, both are well positioned to learn from the failed campaigns of Massachusetts’ Martha Coakley and Virginia’s Creigh Deeds.