KY’s Political Brief Takes on Fancy Farm

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As always, KY’s Political Review is on top of all of the latest Kentucky political news. And the hottest story this weekend, of course, is the annual Fancy Farm picnic.

Here’s the latest on the event and the premiere 2014 race in the country, featuring U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, and businessman and Tea Party favorite Matt Bevin.

SENATE RACE 2014

MCCONNELL CAMPAIGN: POLL RESULTS ARE FICTITIOUS DEM CREATIONS
Polls that show Democratic Senate candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes nearly even with, or leading Sen. Mitch McConnell in the Senate 2014 race are “fictitious” creations of people like George Soros and other Obama allies, McDonnell campaign leaders tell a Louisville TV station. [WHAS]

LUNDERGAN GRIMES HAS “1 in 4” CHANCE OF BEATING MCCONNELL, CROSS SAYS
Alison Lundergan Grimes has about a “1 in 4” chance of beating incumbent Sen. Mitch McConnell in 2014, according to Al Cross, leading Kentucky political journalist and University of Kentucky professor. Cross addressed a Western Kentucky breakfast audience in Owensboro on current political races and issues. [SurfKY]

HOW TO TURN A RED STATE BLUE
Michael Tomasky opinion piece on the new poll numbers showing a very close general election race between the Republican candidate and the Democratic newcomer and how they should have been expected by everybody, especially in context with the culture of Kentucky. [The Daily Beast]

NEW DEMOCRATIC POLLS LUNDERGAN GRIMES NEAR EVEN W MCCONNELL
Two new polls, both from Democratic sources, show the gap between GOP Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Democrat Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes to be narrowing. One poll, released by the Lundergan Grimes campaign, shows her 2 percentage points ahead of McConnell, as the state heads into Fancy Farm weekend, the traditional kickoff of the political season. [C-J]

ALISON LUNDERGAN GRIMES TO POLITICO: “THE GOAL IS TO WIN”
Manu Raju, reporting from Bowling Green, talks to Democratic Secretary of State on her plans, McConnell campaign says the race will be about issues, not Lundergan Grimes’ “platitudes.” [Politico]

FANCY FARM
FULL FANCY FARM PREVIEW
Light on issues, heavy on personality and perspiration? That’s our Fancy Farm. This year’s annual political season kickoff at the St. Jerome Parish church picnic in Western Kentucky is upon us. What had seemed only months ago to be an “off year” for intensity, now seems to be pretty fancy. Full preview. environment. [C-J]

WHAT IT’S LIKE ON THAT FANCY FARM STAGE: HE CAME, HE SAW, HE STUMBLED
What if you were about to get onstage at Fancy Farm to deliver the most important speech of your life and the phone rang and it was your dad, saying he was going to get a divorce from his wife? What if your dad was former Gov. John Y. Brown, Jr. and his wife was former Miss America/sportscaster First Lady Phyllis George? What if after receiving that call, you turned around and there was the Courier-Journal’s Al Cross, with a microphone , asking you for a comment on it? What if on the stage, your political opponent, running against you, then brought up that “Bluegrass Conspiracy” book and attacked your father’s record? What if you got so riled that a guy had to clothesline you to keep you from attacking your opponent? And what if that solid wall of iron was the sitting Gov. Paul Patton? Former Kentucky Secretary of State John Y. Brown’s piece on his speech at Fancy Farm (and the 18 years it took to get over it) shows why the political picnic goes on for generations (and should). [T The Recovering Politician]

WEATHER FORECAST FOR FANCY FARM With a high of 90 degrees, looks cooler than usual. [ACCUWEATHER]

ABRAMSON ANNOUNCEMENT, IS FANCY FARM A THING OF THE PAST?
Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson, former mayor of Louisville, has said that he may make an announcement about a possible 2015 gubernatorial bid “around Fancy Farm” time, but is skipping the event. The yelling and screaming, he tells John David Dyche, is a throwback and not effective in discussing issues. [WDRB]

FANCY FARM KET VIDEO ARCHIVE: THIS YEAR’S STREAMING LINK
Kentucky Educational Television takes a field trip to Fancy Farm every year and through its digital technology, takes us with it. Catch up on years past, because who wants to miss the “Mullets For Chandler” guy (2003)? The following is also the link to use to stream the coverage listed below from KET, usually based in Lexington, on the road to Fancy Farm. {Where’s that Fancy Farm streaming link? Right here, where it’s been all week] [KET STREAMING VIDEO]
[KET FANCY FARM GUIDE, ARCHIVE]

KENTUCKY EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION (WKET) TO BROADCAST, TWEET, “COMMENT”
WKET will again provide comprehensive coverage of the Fancy Farm Picnic political activities, beginning with an edition of “Comment on Kentucky w Farrell Wellman” tonight, Aug. 2 from the site. Guests will be Herald-Leader political writer Jack Brammer, CNHI Frankfort reporter Ronnie Ellis and WKMS (Murrary) news director Chad Lampe. Then, during the day at the picnic Saturday Aug. 3, KET anchors Bill Goodman and Renee Shaw will provide in-depth coverage for viewers with expert guests. Then, on Monday, a highlights show is planned. Highlight video of Fancy Farm 2011 and Fancy Farm 2012 is viewable at the KET website. [KET]