McCain, Paul, and GOP heavyweights adding KY visits

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.

Joining McCain in Louisville will be a slew of Republican heavyweights, including his former primary opponents Governors Mike Huckabee (R-Arkansas) and Mitt Romney (R-Massachussetts). Former White House political director Karl Rove is also scheduled to attend along with U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-Texas) and Kentucky's own incumbent Republican Senator, Mitch McConnell. The line-up will not be all red, however, as Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear (D-Lexington) will also speak at the forum.

A handful of other gun rights-advocates will also be making appearances during the three day forum. Those include radio talk show host and CNN star Glenn Beck, musician Ted Nugent ("Cat Scratch Fever"), and former Marine colonel and talk show host Oliver North. There will also be a free concert by country star John Michael Montgomery.

The NRA's annual meeting includes an exhibit of new firearms, accessories, and private collections of antique weapons to be held at the Kentucky Expo Center. Throughout the meeting, there are also a series of seminars concerning firearms law, firearms history, and political activism.

Stay tuned to PolitickerKY.com for coverage of the event as it happens in Louisville.

Meanwhile, McCain's lone remaining opponent in the GOP primary field has added a second Kentucky stop in advance of the primary. Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) - already scheduled for a May 16 rally in Bowling Green - will hold a May 17 rally for supporters in Louisville. (First spotted on PageOneKentucky.com)

The event will be held at the Louisville Palace on 4th St. at 1pm.