KY-3

LOUISVILLE -- Shortly after the completion of this afternoon's debate between U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) and former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup (R-Louisville), Yarmuth's campaign fired off a press release criticizing Northup's comments during the debate about Social Security.

At today's lunch-hour Louisville Forum debate, Yarmuth questioned Northup over whether she supported the privitization of Social Security.

In response, Northup defended earlier proposals on the issue and said they "guaranteed" those who would have invested Social Security funds the amount they would have received had they not taken the option to invest.

She also argued the Social Security program was underfunded - or worse.

"There is not one penny for it. At least in the stock market right now, you have 50 percent of your worth," said Northup. "The government has gone and spent every single cent that you have put into Social Security."

It was those remarks that were seized on by the Yarmuth camp this afternoon.

"Anne Northup gave her Wall Street friends everything they wanted in Congress while ignoring the economic security of America's retirees," said Yarmuth's campaign manager Dan Geldon, in a statement. "Northup may be fine with you losing half your Social Security, but I can assure you Congressman Yarmuth is not."   

The candidates debate again on Oct. 20.

LOUISVILLE -- There was scarcely an issue upon which the candidates for the 3rd Congressional District agreed during a lunch-hour debate today in Louisville. The acrimonious history between U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) and former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup (R-Louisville) was evident throughout the Anne Northup (R-Louisville): Politicker photohour-long debate, as the candidates engaged in a highly critical back-and-forth on policy nuances and generalities alike right from the very start.

This year's contest between Northup and Yarmuth is a rematch of the contentious 2006 3rd District race, when Yarmuth upset and unseated the incumbent Northup  - a five-term House vet. At today's Louisville Forum debate - the first of four debates in the race - Yarmuth was quick to criticize Northup's time in office and she was willing to do the same.

From his opening statement, Yarmuth was on the attack. Discussing his decision to run in 2006, he said of the then-incumbent that "our representation was on the wrong side of the issues and not just on the wrong side of the majority of Louisville."

Northup, for her part, had a jab in her opening statement as well. She listed a litany of issues - from the financial bailout package to a proposed bridge in the east end of Louisville - and then swung away.

 "Closing our eyes and ignoring them, or making the problem worst is the worst thing we can do, and that's what we've had over the last two years," said Northup.

A state Appeals Court panel decided today that Louisville businessman and Libertarian candidate Ed Martin should not be on ballots in the 3rd Congressional District race. Martin, however, says he will reignite his political efforts in the near future.

The Appeals Court panel was considering an appeal of a circuit court ruling filed by Jefferson County Republican Party Chairman Bradford Cummings  and backed by Secretary of State Trey Grayson (R-Richwood) and Jefferson County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw.

Martin's candidacy as the Libertarian nominee in the race was initially challenged by Cummings in late August, on the grounds that Martin was a registered Republican.

Martin defeated that challenge in circuit court last month, but Cummings appealed that decision.

Cummings' appeal claimed Kentucky law did not allow those still registered as Republicans to run as independent candidates - a category Libertarian candidates in Kentucky fall in, as the Libertarian Party is legally recognized as a political group and not a political party in the Commonwealth.

Polwatchers reports two of three judges on a panel ruled to overturn the circuit court decision and ordered Jefferson County - which is almost entirely contained within the 3rd District - to post notices that inform voters that votes for Martin will not be counted.

In Kentucky's 3rd Congressional district race, the campaign of former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup (R-Louisville) is pouncing on incumbent U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth's (D-Louisville) recent vote for the $700 billion government bailout of floundering financial institutions with a new advertising effort.

Northup's campaign went up today on radio and television with spots hitting Yarmuth on his Friday vote - a reversal from his opposition to the package last Monday.

The television spot references the economic slowdown and then swings at Yarmuth.

"Job losses, an economy in meltdown, a nation already $10 trillion in debt," says a narrator. "Now, John Yarmuth votes to bailout Wall Street."

"But for Yarmuth, $700 billion for Wall Street CEO's is just a start," it continues. "Yarmuth says there are 50 government programs he wants to spend more money on. Maybe that's why Yarmuth supports higher taxes on Louisville families and small businesses."

Unregistered Kentuckians wishing to vote in November's general election have just one week to get their registration forms to their local county clerk's office. Oct. 6 is the final day to register to vote for the Nov. 4 election.

"I encourage all citizens who have not already done so, to register to vote today," said Secretary of State Trey Grayson (R-Richwood) in a statement today. "We hope to see everyone exercising their constitutional right to vote on November 4, 2008."

Registration forms can be submitted or mailed to the office of a voter's local county clerk, but they must be postmarked or submitted by Oct. 6.

More information about registration can be found on the Secretary of State's website.

Across the country, registration booms are being reported in the run up the election. From May to Aug. 15 in Kentucky, 21,370 new Democrats registered while Republicans grew their ranks by 5,354.

In the final weeks of the rematch between U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) and former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup (R-Louisville), the candidates are scheduled to meet for four debates in the 3rd Congressional District.

The first meeting between the two candidates is set for Oct. 10, when Northup and Yarmuth will meet for the Louisville Forum's lunch-hour debate at Vincenzo's restaurant in downtown Louisville. That event begins at 12pm and those looking to attend must reserve their spot with the Louisville Forum.

Northup, Yarmuth, and 3rd Congressional District candidate Ed Martin are confirmed for the Kentucky Educational Television debate, set for Oct. 20. That debate will be televized statewide from KET's Louisville studios. A spokesperson from KET noted that Yarmuth's confirmation was pending "format approval," but Yarmuth's camp confirmed the KET debate was one its candidate would participate in.

The campaign of U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) is advertising a lunch-hour event scheduled for Oct. 2 at a Louisville record store that will find the candidate sharing the stage with several local bands and aligning himself with a local rallying call for independent businesses.

The rally is advertised under the "Keep Louisville Yarmuth"Keep Louisville Yarmuth poster: Politicker photo moniker - a name playing on the "Keep Louisville Weird" motto of the Louisville Independent Business Alliance. That slogan has been popularized on bumper stickers and t-shirts distributed at the ear-X-tacy record store - the site of the rally - and other locally-owned businesses in Louisville.

Two Louisville bands - the Genius File and the Ladybirds - will perform during the Thursday rally, scheduled to kick-off at 12pm.

Yarmuth is facing former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup (R-Louisville) in a rematch of the 2006 race for the 3rd Congressional District.

ear-X-tacy is located at 1534 Bardstown Rd. in Louisville.

Former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup (R-Louisville) opened up her general election television advertising effort yesterday with a new ad that criticizes opponent and incumbent U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) on energy policy.

The thirty-second ad - entitled "Results" - finds Northup jabbing at Yarmuth for his support of the recent Democratically-favored energy package that Republicans criticized for not being a sufficient solution. Northup picks up that standard in her new spot.

"What’s the difference between a talker and a doer? Results," says Northup in the ad. "Take gas prices. John Yarmuth says we should explore for American oil. But the bill he actually voted for – it’s a sham."

Northup then argues the bill in question - H.R. 6899 - "blocks drilling on 80 percent of off-shore oil, permanently."

Updated, 7:24pm, with Yarmuth camp's response

The campaign of U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) jumped back on the 3rd Congressional District television airwaves yesterday, launching a new thirty-second ad after suspending their advertising campaign for nearly a week following a windstorm that knocked out power across the district.

The latest spot – the second for the Yarmuth camp of this general election – focuses on veterans issues and features a man named Darryl Wilkins, described on-screen as a retired Navy airman from Louisville.

“For years it seemed like Congress had forgotten about us,” says Wilkins in the ad. “Then, I met John Yarmuth.”

The ad then points to Yarmuth’s work to secure funding for a Veteran’s Administration hospital while also referencing his votes in support of a 2007 appropriations act – said to contain the “largest increase in veterans’ care – and the “second G.I. Bill,” which provides tuition assistance to returning veterans.

U.S. Rep. John YarmuthLouisville police investigating the break-ins at the campaign headquarters of U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) have no public updates on the progress of their inquiries into the two incidents.

The campaign, however, confirmed several details they reported to police about the incidents in which staff said they lost several computers that were said to contain “sensitive campaign information.”

Yarmuth campaign staff said previously notified both the local police and the FBI about the break-ins.

Noting it was against department policy to comment on the specifics of ongoing investigations, a department spokesman said investigators were still considering reports Yarmuth’s camp had filed following the break-ins, the latest of which occurred Sunday night during a power outage caused by powerful windstorms.

“We will investigate fully, look at all possibilities and follow-up on any leads,” said Phil Russell, a spokesman for the Metro Louisville Police Department.