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Iraq vet To Run Against McConnell
Iraq vet Horne seeks McConnell's Senate seat in '08
By Joseph Gerth
jgerth@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal
Iraq war veteran Andrew Horne yesterday became the third Democrat to announce that he will seek the Senate seat held by Republican Mitch McConnell in next year's election.
Horne, 46, is a retired Marine lieutenant colonel who grew up in Louisville and made an unsuccessful race for the 3rd District congressional seat last year.
He said in an interview that he's running because Kentuckians need a change.
"People know that not so much in their head as in their hearts," Horne said. "… Instead of taking on issues, he (McConnell) is busy playing partisan politics."
Horne is the most prominent Democrat to enter the race against McConnell, the Senate minority leader. But he may not be the last.
Attorney General Greg Stumbo said this week that he is hoping to meet soon with the national Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee to discuss a possible race.
Achim Bergmann, who ran Louisville businessman Bruce Lunsford's failed primary campaign for governor this year, said yesterday that Lunsford is seriously considering entering the primary.
Another businessman, Charlie Owen, who like Lunsford is wealthy enough to fund his own campaign against McConnell, also is considering running. And Louisville businessman Greg Fischer said yesterday that he will make a decision early next month.
The other two Democrats now in the race are political newcomer Michael Cassaro and perennial candidate David Lynn Williams.
Potential candidates with statewide followings -- including state Auditor Crit Luallen and 6th District Rep. Ben Chandler of Versailles -- have decided not to take on McConnell, a four-term incumbent and the most powerful Republican on Capitol Hill.
Even in the face of broad opposition to the war in Iraq and concern about the economy, McConnell remains a formidable candidate, having raised $10 million to defend his seat.
Horne said he's "under no illusions" the race will be easy.
"But we need a change," he said, "and the people of Kentucky are getting disgusted with the way things are going."
Laurie Rhodebeck, a political scientist at the University of Louisville, said McConnell remains a strong favorite to win re-election.
"It's not just the money," she said. "He's just ruthless, and nobody wants to go up against him."
Rhodebeck said she questions whether any of the Democrats now in the race can beat McConnell.
"I suppose there is a hypothetical candidate who might bring excitement and money needed to beat McConnell, but I don't know if Horne is the one or not," she said.
Ernie Yanarella, a political science professor at the University of Kentucky, said it's unlikely McConnell will lose.
"I still see McConnell as unbeatable," he said.
He said Horne has a number of "clear pluses," most importantly his military service, which allows him to speak authoritatively on the war in Iraq.
But he noted that few people outside Jefferson County know who he is and that McConnell has a strong statewide network.
Yanarella said he doesn't believe there will be a move by Christian conservatives, upset over McConnell's tepid support of Republican Ernie Fletcher in this year's governor's race, to oppose him or to stay home on election day.
"It's hard to see who would mobilize the Christian right against McConnell," Yanarella said.
McConnell's campaign said in a statement yesterday that "the Democrats will select their nominee … and it appears that as of today they will have at least three candidates from which to choose. We look forward to a spirited primary contest."
In a statement announcing his decision, Horne, a lawyer, blamed McConnell for leading the country astray.
"Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader, symbolizes everything wrong with Washington. He bows to big business, practices the worst kind of politics and doesn't take a stand when faced with tough issues," Horne said. "Simply put: Mitch McConnell carries George Bush's water on Iraq; I carried a rifle in Iraq."
He criticized McConnell for what he called the "ill-conceived" war in Iraq and for not working to solve the nation's health-care crisis.
Horne joined the Marines just before graduating from Pleasure Ridge Park High School.
After six years on active duty, he returned home and earned undergraduate and law degrees from U of L.
He served in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm and also in the current Iraq war. He retired from the Marine Corps Reserve earlier this year and has been active in antiwar groups, including VoteVets.com.
Horne lost by a wide margin to John Yarmuth in the 2006 3rd District primary, raising only about $210,000.
But Horne has connections to veterans' groups that oppose the war, and Rhodebeck said he could raise significant amounts of money nationally this year.
Horne acknowledged that he won't have as much as McConnell, but added that he thinks he will have enough to win.
Rhodebeck said Horne will need as much luck as skill.
"Everything has to come together," she said. "If anyone can beat McConnell, that person is going to need a lot of money for air time, they're going to need some statewide appeal and they're going to need to ride a tide of discontent. And they're going to have to be successful at pinning that (the discontent) on McConnell."
Reporter Joseph Gerth can be reached at (502) 582-4702.
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