Conway won't challenge Northup in '04: GOP surge in state factor in decision

The Courier-Journal ^ | November 18, 2003 | Al Cross

[Republican Wildcat]

Louisville lawyer Jack Conway said yesterday that he would not make a second bid for the 3rd Congressional District seat next year, leaving Jefferson Circuit Clerk Tony Miller as the likeliest Democratic challenger for Republican Rep. Anne Northup.

Conway lost to Northup by 3.2 percentage points last year in his first race for public office. He said yesterday that his chances in a rematch were not good and that he feared that a second loss in as many attempts would damage his political career.

[Republican Wildcat]

This is interesting. The Dems are fleeing from the fight -- in Kentucky.

[Kuksool]

Anne Northup is getting a break next year.

[skinkinthegrass]

I heard this last night on WHAS, You would've though the world was ending..."Women, Chil'ren and Minorities hurt the most. :/

[afuturegovernor]

She has a tough seat to defend but she always seems to do it.

[Holden Magroin]

Do the Rats have much of a chance in Fletcher's old district?

[Republican Wildcat]

I would say at this point it doesn't look like it. Senator Alice Forgy Kerr looks like the favorite to be the GOP nominee, and will be an excellent candidate.

Of course, this would spark yet another special election for her Senate seat when she wins, and possibly another if a current State House member runs for it and wins.

[Capitalism2003]

Good news...Conway was the toughest competitor Ann ever had. This looks like a shoe-in seat for us next election.

[SLB]

Northup = RINO. This keeps a check mark in the Republican isle, but not much else.

[MeekOneGOP]

Interesting.

He said he was discouraged by the Democrats' loss of the governorship in this month's election and the implications of that for the state Democratic Party. He also noted what he called a lack of a commitment by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to again make the race a top priority.

"I felt the outside factors and outside infrastructure were not in place to optimize my chances of winning," Conway said. "I still want to serve the public and will be actively seeking opportunities to do so in the near future."

Well, maybe ole George Soros will bring his deep pockets to the scene like he is with the 2004 'RATS for Prez race ?? ...

[toddst]

I would say at this point it doesn't look like it. Senator Alice Forgy Kerr looks like the favorite to be the GOP nominee, and will be an excellent candidate.

Of course, this would spark yet another special election for her Senate seat when she wins, and possibly another if a current State House member runs for it and wins.

Any idea who might run for Senator Kerr's spot?

[SLB]

She sided with the ACLU in over 20% of the votes in 2000. She followed the NEA positions in 33% of the votes in 2000. The NRA and GOA have consistantly graded her in the lower 50% in voting on gun control issues. Brady Bill supporters gave her an approval rating of over 35% on two seperate occasions.

I understand she needs to take the moderate stand to get elected, but moderates still = RINO.

[SLB]

Add these numbers to her score: According to the National Journal - Composite Liberal Score's calculations, in 2002, Representative Northup voted more liberal on economic, defense and foreign policy issues than 27 percent of the Representatives.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"According to the National Journal - Composite Liberal Score's calculations, in 2002, Representative Northup voted more liberal on economic, defense and foreign policy issues than 27 percent of the Representatives."

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That means that she's in the 73rd percentile of the Republican House. How does that make her a RINO? Remember, with 435 Representatives, only 43 can be in the 90th precentile, and you can bet that very few if any of the 43 were from a district that gave Al Gore 51% of the vote while the rest of the state was giving Gore under 40%. Anne Northup is a courageous conservative who has managed to get elected and reelected in inhospitable turf against tough competition. Shame on you for disparaging her contributions to our nation, our party and the conservative movement.

[SLB]

Maybe we have different standards we hold our elected officals to. I for one consider freedom of religion and pro-life issues to be number one followed closely by gun controls and other "conservative" but not necessarily republican issues. She did pretty decent on the pro-life side, but failed the gun control side. IMHO that equates to talking the talk, but not walking the walk.

Ain't life grand, we can agree to disagree.

[SLB]

OBTW - would I vote for her? Considering the choices - YES!