Jack Conway

DENVER -- Political conventions are not only a place where presidential candidates are nominated, but also where future candidacies for candidates up and down the ballot may be formed.

Attorney General Jack Conway (D-Louisville) addressed speculation about his own future while in Denver for the Democratic National Convention as a delegate.

He is a rumored 2010 candidate for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Southgate).

When asked if he was thinking about seeking other offices, Conway said others were pushing him in that direction, though he sounded a note of commitment to his current position.

“My supporters encourage me to do that,” said Conway of seeking higher office. “One thing I have learned in this game is that it’s nice to have people talking about you, but I’ve been the attorney general now for 8 months and I’m loving the job.”

DENVER -- Attorney General Jack Conway (D-Louisville) offered a little bit of speculation about who may be filling a cabinet position in a Barack Obama (D-Ill.) administration.

While in Denver for the Democratic National Convention, Conway attended a reception with his Democratic counterparts from around the country. There, he said he spoke with a friend and fellow Obama supporter, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller.

“If Obama is elected president [Miller] may very well become the next attorney general in the United States,” said Conway. “He is a 4 term AG from Iowa and was the first statewide elected official to endorse Obama in the Iowa caucus, so he is very well connected to the Obama campaign.”

DENVER – Attorney General Jack Conway (D-Louisville) is attending his first Democratic National Convention as a delegate this year, though he was previously at the three previous conventions in different capacities.

“I think this one is the best,” Conway told PolitickerKY.com. “There is an energy here that was missing at some previous conventions.”

Conway is making the convention rounds as an Obama delegate, but he said that discussion among those he meets at events often turns to Kentucky’s Senate race between Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville) and incumbent Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville).

At a reception earlier in the week, Conway said even Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chair Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) wanted information on Lunsford’s bid.

“Everyone is asking me about Bruce Lusnford’s race,” said Conway. “Chuck Schumer, the Senator from New York, grabbed me by the arm and said ‘tell me about that Lunsford race.’ He was very interested in it. A lot of people focus on Bruce’s race.”

Schumer had earlier encouraged Lunsford to jump in the Democratic senate primary.

DENVER – In the aftermath of U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton’s “unity” speech last night at the Democratic National Convention, Kentucky’s delegates were effusive in their praise for Clinton’s remarks while some previously outspoken advocates of her campaign sounded ready to jump into the camp of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama (D-Ill.).

“She preached party unity,” said Kentucky Clinton Delegation Whip Harold Robinson of Frankfort. “It was something that needed to be done.”

Micah Spicer, a Clinton delegate from Wingo, said the New York lawmaker’s speech hit the right buttons, noting he would ultimately get behind Obama’s candidacy.

“I thought she did an excellent job. She talked to the crowd she needed to talk to and made it clear she was supporting Obama,” said Spicer. “After the roll call, after all is said and done, we’re going to get behind Obama.”

Many Kentucky Democrats referenced one specific line of Clinton’s speech as the most significant, including Attorney General Jack Conway (D-Louisville).

DENVER -- As more of Kentucky's prominent elected Democratic leaders arrived in Denver for their party's national convention today, the line-up of speakers at the delegation breakfast was bolstered - and then supplemented by some special guests.

This morning, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean made a surprise appearance to kick off the line-up. He spoke for nearly 15 minutes on campaign strategy and the prospects for Kentucky Democrats.

Dean was followed by Washington D.C.'s "shadow Senator" Michael Brown, who spoke to assembled delegates about his hometown's lack of official Congressional representation.

U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler (D-Versailles) then took the podium for remarks in which he announced his support of Democratic Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville), who later closed the morning speaking program.

Chandler was followed by delegate Ken Koch, a labor organizer. Koch introduced United Mine Workers of America President Cecil Roberts, who delivered a fiery speech slamming Republicans and the current nationwide advertising campaign targeting Democrats for their support of the Employee Free Choice Act.

DENVER -- The whirlwind of activity surrounding the Democratic National Convention will find Kentucky's delegation all over Denver today, with events capped off by a party jointly hosted by those from the Bluegrass state, Ohio, and Alabama.

Delegates started the day this morning with their daily breakfast at their downtown Denver hotel.

Keynoting today's meeting was U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, who blasted the Bush administration as a galvanizing force to unify Democrats across the nation.

Kentucky Democratic Party chair Jennifer Moore emceed the event and announced that, during each day's breakfast, she would highlight a different set of races. Today she spoke about Kentucky's state Senate races.

Much of the Kentucky Democratic delegation was also in attendance, including Attorney General Jack Conway (D-Louisville), Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo (D-Hazard), Louisville attorney and Obama fundraiser Matthew Barzun, former party chairs Terry McBrayer and Jerry Lundergan, state Auditor Crit Luallen (D-Frankfort), and several Louisville metro council members.

Former Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate Sonny LandhamSonny Landham may be out of the 2008 U.S. Senate race, but Kentucky could see the controversial former actor jump into another political race in the near future.

"There is 2010 to run, there is a Governor's race to run. I'm going to look at that," Landham told PolitickerKY.com. "Right now, this one is over."

Landham was stripped of the Libertarian Party's Senate nomination last week after making a series of anti-Arab comments.

He now stands by his comments though he is out of the race.

Should he pursue another U.S. Senate bid in 2010, he would face incumbent U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Southgate).

The 128th annual Fancy Farm picnic is scheduled for this Saturday, and legions of Kentucky's politicians and political junkies are headed to western Kentucky for the event's uniquely participatory political forum. With November's general election looming, some politicians have been hyping their speeches at the event for months, but the news that U.S. Senators Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) and Jim Bunning (R-Southgate) may not be attending could put a damper on the potentially rowdy affair.

The Fancy Farm picnic - located in Fancy Farm, Kentucky - began as a bar-b-que and barn dance that has since morphed into one of the state's most important political traditions. Candidates for office in western Kentucky and those running statewide are expected to attend and speak before an audience of thousands notorious for rowdy heckling and theatrical behavior.

Legend has it that any politician not braving the crowd at the event will not be elected.

Attorney General Jack Conway (D-Louisville) announces his investigation into Louisville's gas prices on Thursday: Politicker photo

LOUISVILLE -- At a joint press conference in Louisville Friday - where gas costs up to 30 cents more per gallon than in the rest of the Commonwealth - U.S. Rep John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) and state Attorney General Jack Conway (D-Louisville) elaborated on their newest proposals for confronting the energy dilemma.

In front of reporters gathered in a cul-de-sac near a noisy highway on-ramp, Yarmuth said he was pressuring President Bush to permit the usage of emergency provisions he argued would decrease speculation in the oil market. Conway, on the other hand, announced an investigation into potential anti-competitive activity by gas retailers and wholesalers leading to the price disparities between Louisville and other parts of the state.

Touting a letter he sent to President Bush on Wednesday, Yarmuth said a provision enacted by Congress in 2000 - termed the "Enron loophole" - exempted energy speculators from federal regulation and allowed speculators in the oil market to drive prices up.

"We are in the mode where the fundamentals of supply and demand don't really drive the price," said Yarmuth.

Gov. Steve BeshearCalling the governor's mansion in Frankfort "the people's house," Republican Party of Kentucky Chair Steve Robertson attacked Gov. Steve Beshear (D-Lexington) for using his official residence for a late June fundraiser.

"Using the Governor's Mansion for political fundraisers does not represent the kind of ethical and moral leadership the people of Kentucky deserve," said Robertson. "Governor Beshear has said that his administration should be held accountable and that it starts at the top with him. I call on Governor Beshear to make real ethics reform part of the special session call."

Invitations to join the "Capitol Club" via attendance at a June 24 fundraiser at the mansion and a coinciding golf open - entitled the "Beshear Open" were dispatched this past weekend.