Ron Paul

Former Republican presidential candidate U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (Texas) could end up playing the role of spoiler this year, though probably not in Kentucky where U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) currently holds a strong lead over Barack Obama (D-Ill.).

Though he's not running as a third-party candidate, he turned down an endorsement request from McCain and instead urged his supporters to consider supporting third-party candidates instead of "the lesser of two evils".

Third party candidates on the ballot in Kentucky will include Bob Barr (L), Ralph Nader (I) and Chuck Baldwin (C). Paul finished third in the Commonwealth's primary with 7 percent of the vote.

The candidacy of former actor Sonny Landham for the U.S. Senate was the product of a rapid search by the Libertarian Party of Kentucky that began just over two weeks ago and culminated when his nomination for the race was approved on Sunday evening.

Libertarian Party of Kentucky Chair Ken Moellman said his organization was contacted by the national Libertarian Party to recruit a candidate earlier this month that would compliment former U.S. Rep Bob Barr's run as the party's presidential nominee.

Now, the state party is hoping the Landham and Barr ticket can gain traction, particularly by siphoning off Republican votes across the state in some specific areas.

"We are looking specifically at the 4th [Congressional] District," Moellman told PolitickerKY.com. "A great number of Republicans in that area are angry about fiscal conservatism being dropped by the modern Republican Party."

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul: Getty Images PhotoBOWLING GREEN -- Supporters of presidential candidate and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) saw all of their efforts to influence the outcome of the Kentucky Republican convention thwarted during a noisy procedural stand-off with party leadership on the floor of Saturday's event. Amid shouting and unrestrained debate, Republican Party of Kentucky Chairman Steve Robertson pushed through votes on convention rules, resolutions, and delegate slates while dissenting Paul supporters vocally argued parliamentary procedure was being bypassed.

Near the end of a tumultuous half-hour of confusion, some of the dissent moved to depose Robertson of his position while other Paul supporters were ordered out of the convention hall by the chair.

As general election campaigns in the state kick into first gear, PolitickerKY.com will be providing full coverage of many of the major political events throughout the state. This weekend, expect full coverage on this site of the Kentucky Democratic Party's Jefferson-Jackson Dinner and the Republican Party of Kentucky's state convention.

Tonight, prominent Democrats from throughout the state will gather in Lexington for the major annual J-J dinner. Among the guests expected are Lieutenant Governor Daniel Mongiardo (D-Hazard), Governor Steve Beshear (D-Lexington), KDP Chair Jennifer Moore, and Vice-Chair Nathan Smith.

The last three account for all of Kentucky's remaining uncommitted superdelegate votes.Their joint appearance also falls on the day Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean set as the "deadline" for superdelegate decisions to be announced.

The "delegate wars" being waged by supporters of presidential candidate and U.S. Rep Ron Paul (R-Texas) may find a new battlefield in Kentucky this weekend, as the Paul campaign expects to be visible at this Saturday's state Republican convention in Bowling Green. Ron Paul (R-Texas)

"We are indeed planning to have a respectable presence at the Kentucky Republican state convention and of course will be attempting to secure some national delegate positions," Paul campaign organizer John Riley told PolitickerKY.com.

Efforts to elect Paul supporters as delegates to September's Republican National Convention are a principal focus for the Texas Congressman's lingering presidential bid. The Paul campaign has been running an under-the-radar effort to circumvent the traditional method of delegate selections by making several high-visibility efforts to push supporters into national delegations via election processes at state Republican party conventions.

Congressman Ron Paul (R-Tex.) in Louisville: Politicker photo

LOUISVILLE -- The Ron Paul "revolution" keeps on turning during the last few presidential primaries, despite the veritable impossibility that Congressman Paul (R-Tex.) will receive the Republican Party's presidential nomination. When Paul spoke at the Louisville Palace theatre on Saturday, winning the nomination did not sound to be the principal goal of his lingering campaign, while a focus on maintaining a so-called "constitutionalist" movement did.

"Let me get back to being realistic. The votes are there," said Paul, acknowledging the Republican nomination would go elsewhere. "We know what is going to happen."

Paul instead lauded the success his campaign, noting he had received over a million votes throughout his primary campaign.

"Something big is happening in this country because of this campaign," said Paul.

Louisville property manager Corley Everett will be hanging in the Republican race for the 3rd Congressional District, despite earlier speculation that he may drop out and support another candidate in that race.

"I will definitely not be endorsing Chris Thieneman," said Everett on Saturday, while campaigning at the Louisville Palace theatre in conjunction with Congressman Ron Paul's (R-Tex.) visit to Kentucky.

Anne Northup's bid to regain the congressional seat she lost in 2006 will face its first challenge next Tuesday, when Northup must defeat three challengers to secure the Republican nomination in the race for Kentucky's 2nd congressional district. In the lead up to May 20, Northup sayCongressional candidate Anne Northups her campaign is focused on turning out large numbers of Republican voters who may not be aware she even faces primary competition.

"The primary person walking around on the street of Louisville thinks there is no GOP primary," Northup said on a conference call last week.

For much of the primary season, there has been uncertainty about who Northup would face for the primary. A credible challenger initial emerged in Chris Thieneman, a Louisville developer and former University of Louisville football player.

While the Republican presidential nomination is all but official for Arizona Senator John McCain, he and the only other candidate remaining in the field will be swinging through Kentucky prior to the May 20 primary.

As reported by Ryan Alessi of the Lexington Herald-Leader, McCain will appear in conjunction with the National Rifle Association's annual meeting in Louisville on May 16. McCain will speak as part of the American Values Leadership Forum on the first day of the three day affair.

WHAS' Mark Hebert reports Presidential Candidate and Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) will hit Kentucky in Ron Paul (R-Texas)advance of the presidential primary. It is the latest sign presidential election fever is hitting the Bluegrass state prior to the May 20 primary - speculated to be Kentucky's first relevant presidential primary in decades.

Paul will make a May 16 appearance at a rally to be held in the gymnasium at Bowling Green High School in - of course - Bowling Green, Kentucky.

The rally is scheduled for 2pm CT.