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Monday, Jul. 14, 2008

Fancy Farm could be presidential campaign affair

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is considering a cameo appearance at this August's Fancy Farm picnic in Western Kentucky, which would add national flair to the storied political event.

Talks between the campaign and picnic organizers heated up Friday, with Obama aides calling twice that morning to check on logistical details, said Mark Wilson, co-chairman of the annual event that's famous for its smoky barbecue as well as its spicy political speaking and theatrics.

”They think the chances are better than 50-50 that he'll come,“ Wilson said. ”They're definitely mulling it around in a serious way.“

The Obama campaign wouldn't confirm interest in the event, saying only that the Illinois senator's schedule isn't set more than five days in advance.

But Wilson said he has talked with a campaign spokesman, whom he declined to name, several times over the last month, including the two conversations Friday.

”They wanted to know the size of the crowds for the political speaking in a normal year and what could be expected if he speaks — just some general stuff,“ he said.

Most years, the picnic usually attracts about 10,000 people, but that could easily exceed 15,000 with a presidential candidate on hand, Wilson said.

Reporters from across Kentucky make the trip annually, but they could be joined by those from Nashville, nearby Cape Girardeau, Mo., southern Illinois and even southern Indiana.

And Obama might not be the only presidential contender interested.

Wilson said Republican Party of Kentucky spokeswoman Andi Johnson has called to get information in case Republican candidate John McCain decides to go.

”They're working on Sen. ­McCain and want us to keep them posted on the Obama side, too,“ Wilson said.

Johnson said state GOP Chairman Steve Robertson has passed the picnic information on to ­McCain's campaign but ”can't begin to guess what their scheduling process will be.“

If Obama and/or McCain does show up, it would make the 128th Fancy Farm the first in more than 35 years in which a presidential contender found his way to Graves County. In the 1970s, four-time presidential candidate George Wallace spoke. In 1988 and 1992, Democratic vice presidential candidates Lloyd Bentsen and Al Gore, respectively, addressed the crowds.

Kentucky political observers and lawmakers say that the spotlight Fancy Farm provides would be an ideal opportunity for both candidates to provide some face time for Kentucky, especially considering that most political analysts don't expect the state to be a battleground in November.

State Sen. Gerald Neal, D-Louis­ville, said that for weeks, some staunch Obama supporters have been urging the campaign to put Fancy Farm on his itinerary.

Obama stumped in Kentucky just once this spring, even though he was still collecting enough delegates for the nomination against New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton when the state held its May 20 primary. Clinton trounced Obama by more than 35 percentage points.

Many Democrats said Obama's failure to give the Bluegrass State personal attention helped fuel the loss.

The speeches during the picnic, an annual fund-raiser for St. Jerome Catholic Church, feature classic partisan rhetoric, from Kentucky officials and state and Western Kentucky candidates, that usually becomes interactive with fired-up die-hards in the crowd.

In recent years it has also featured theatrical gimmicks, such as campaign volunteers dressed as the Seven Dwarfs or monks or the (Job) Terminator to help illustrate speakers' points.

But the bigger selling point could be its proximity to so many media outlets in several states, most notably the battleground of Missouri.

”With the media markets, I think it would be an opportunity there for them to reach a lot of people,“ said Republican state Rep. Steven Rudy of West Paducah. ”It's not so much what you say on the stage, it's being there and shaking hands.“

Independent Sen. Bob Leeper of Paducah said he's excited that a presidential contender might make the trip to provide a national showcase for Western Kentucky and Fancy Farm's unique brand of political theater.

”I'm still hoping they round one of them up, regardless of which one,“ he said, although he confessed he's leaning toward supporting McCain.

Kentucky officials and candidates who have confirmed appearances include Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo, state Auditor Crit Luallen and U.S. Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford, as well as Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning and Secretary of State Trey Grayson. U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, who's up for re-election this fall, is expected to attend but has not confirmed, Wilson said.

Democratic Attorney General Jack Conway first said he couldn't make it, but he informed Wilson last week that he might.