Kentucky event features BBQ, heckling and Grimes and McConnell
(CNN) - Kentucky's two U.S. Senate candidates traded pithy barbs Saturday at a dual campaign stop in the midst of a race with national implications.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and his opponent, Democrat Alison Grimes, appeared in western Kentucky's Fancy Farm Picnic, where they each criticized the experience level of the other candidate.
"Thirty-five is my age - that's also Senator McConnell's approval rating," Grimes quipped.
Polling from earlier this year indicated McConnell's approval rating was in the low 30s.
And Grimes gave McConnell grief for serving in Washington for so long, saying he'd forgotten about the people of Kentucky.
"After three decades in Washington, you've just given up. You don't care about us any more. Thanks to you, D.C. stands for 'Doesn't Care," Grimes said.
But McConnell had something to say about how important his experience is while highlighting Grimes' inexperience, drawing parallels between Grimes, who's two years in as Kentucky's secretary of state, and the relative inexperience of President Barack Obama before taking office.
"He was only two years into his first big job when he started campaigning for the next one. Sound familiar?" McConnell said.
This is the 134th year of the event held in Fancy Farm. It's a unique event, bringing together candidates from both parties to the same venue. Grimes and McConnell were heckled throughout their speeches, but it seemed McConnell had more, or at least louder, supporters in house.
Thousands of people attended this year's event in western Kentucky, where in addition to the candidates, visitors also were able to enjoy a barbecue.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) made an appearance in support of McConnell at the event, reciting some poetry and picking on some of Grimes' West Coast fundraising.
"There once was a woman from Kentucky, who thought in politics she'd be lucky. So she flew to LA for a Hollywood bash. She came home in a flash, with buckets of cash," Paul said.
While the race has clear national implications and is one of the most competitive Senate races in the country, Grimes said she wants the focus to be on Kentuckians.
"This race is between me, you and the people of Kentucky," Grimes said to McConnell, seated just a short distance away.
Polls show the race is nearly tied just three months away from the election.
If Grimes wins, she'd be just the second to knock off a Senate leader in the past 60 years. Former Democratic Minority Leader Sen. Tom Daschle of South Dakota lost his re-election bid in 2004.
From CNN Politics
- Intelligence community's top election official: China and Iran don't want Trump to win reelection, Russia working against Biden August 7, 2020 07:21 pm
- First on CNN: Warren and other top Democrats ask USPS watchdog to investigate practices August 7, 2020 05:02 pm
- White House rejects Democrats' offer for $2 trillion stimulus price tag August 7, 2020 07:10 pm
- 'They're not even trying to hide the racism': Wisconsin Democrats blast GOP efforts to aid Kanye West's candidacy August 7, 2020 05:34 pm
- Karen Bass faces searing scrutiny as she emerges as potential Biden VP pick August 7, 2020 05:47 pm
- Judge rules E. Jean Carroll can continue to seek Trump's DNA in defamation suit August 7, 2020 07:09 pm
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was a bad aturny who went into poetics , married into money and lobbied for Asia .
In other words he sold out .
Sen. Rand Paul " Aqua Buddha " (R-Kentucky) made an appearance in support of McConnell , reciting some poetry, anything for a buck !
Oh my dont mention a cok out with bbq thats not right to some in the east
Go Grimes! McConnel needs to retire!
Fancy farm politics bbq and hillbillies now that's a picnic
When McConnell loses it will be a great day for America.
What has mcconelly accomplished for kentuckians, other than trying like hell to crash the country and made this president a one term president, nothing nada zilch.kentuckians would be fools to elect a man now determine to crash the country, to ruin Obama legacy and sour the country feelings about hiring another dem in the white house. Our country's infrastructure is outdated while China is building massive modernized structures, that makes America
Go for him Grimes. His only policy was to make Obama a one term president and that failed. His minority senate leadership has done zero to compromise on national issues and zero to benefit Kentuckians... way too few bills have even got close to passage in the worst record ever congress, Senate and House, to pass anything meaningful.
You can beat this tired, irrelevant old man, in todays age/ era.
His state level record since 2008 is out of touch and his federal activities even more out of touch with of for and by the people especially say right of center independents and some middle of the road independents.
Regards,
Hodgson.
After three decades in an a public office, I think some inputs should be private. Kentucky requires a fresh blood in the system. Sen. McConnell further political contributions should be in other spheres.
It's time for aa change in Washington AND ky, time to get rid of GOP OBSTRUCTIONEST like the turtle mc connel and Ted CRUZ and get back to work instead of electing the GOP which is on PERMANENT VACTION!!!!
Once again, the fine folks in Kentucky show the world just how ignorant many of (us) are. You go to a debate to listen, not to heckle..... y'all !!!
Mitch McConnell will not win, but be the next Majority Leader of the Senate. Do Nothing Democrat Harry Reid can kiss his leadership job good bye thanks to Obama, just as Pelosi did in 2010 thanks to Obamacare.
Hopefully, next time this year, McDonnell will be sitting on the couch with Elizabeth on "Fox and Fools."
just another grimy stinking obama supporting democrat that will wreck this country if elected. wake up kentucky! this woman belongs to a corrupt political party and marches in lock step with a moron president that is out to destroy the coal industry in your state. a vote for her is a vote to put thousands of your fellow kentucky citizens out of work, while importing many thousands of illegal alien country invaders to your state. don't let them lie to you and con you about how she is different and will stand up to obama. that is a total farce. don't be played for fools by the lying, deceitful democrats.
The reason there were more Republicans in the audience, is because the Fancy farm event was held in Western Kentucky. Get it? There are more Republicans than Democrats living in Western Kentucky. I just hope all of Democrats living in all of Kentucky, get out and vote for Alison Grimes in November. We need her.
I would be interested in the barbeque recipes.
Go Grimes!
Mitch McConnell & others like him need to be lead to the Exit! Since the 1st Black man won presidency his party, the GOTP, have done nothing but obstruct, ban, block, filibuster & make outlandish statements/suggestions wrapped in evangelical demagoguery! This action has hurt & divided the country & Americans, but they don't care! Their bottom line is to continue the histrionics to promote their 1% agenda & to denigrate a president who is working for working class citizens! They have also succeeded in making their own party seem useless & crazed! Out w/'the old,' in w/Grimes!!
Time for Kentucky to " dump " Mitch McConnell. Actually, long overdue. He is nothing but an obstructionist and will never do anything to help our country.
Good luck Grimes.
Breaking News " Mitch McConnel escapes another pig bar b q alive." I guess the pit masters aren't as fast as they used to be.
McConnell is nothing more than chicken excrement, which makes him popular with the anti government repubes.
Cheap Shots will get you elected everytime.
I live in Wisconsin, but hope Kentuckians elect Grimes.....McConnell has been in there too long! His claim to fame was to "make sure Obama is a one term president." How did that work out for ya?
Go Mitch!!! We are supporting Mitch because he fights for the working people. He is attempting to keep our coal jobs and make this nation a WORK freindly. He is having to take on Obama and try help small business and corporations that hire people while our president is trying to destroy what he have and put us all on welfare. Our family had a small business and could not find workers because everyone is drawing welfare, food stamps, getting heat assistance, free daycare, and a Obama Phone!!! A vote for Grimes is a vote for OBAMA and his liberal agenda!
@Working Woman
Go Mitch!!! We are supporting Mitch because he fights for the working people. He is attempting to keep our coal jobs and make this nation a WORK freindly. He is having to take on Obama and try help small business and corporations that hire people while our president is trying to destroy what he have and put us all on welfare. Our family had a small business and could not find workers because everyone is drawing welfare, food stamps, getting heat assistance, free daycare, and a Obama Phone!!! A vote for Grimes is a vote for OBAMA and his liberal agenda!
=========
Give me a break , your a paid political advertisement , working woman , working yes , woman ?
Since McConnell's only goal was to make Obama a one term president, McConnell should have resigned as soon as Obama won a second term. McConnell has the stench of failure all over him.