Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s efforts to secure second place on the national Democratic presidential ticket were mocked by prominent Republicans during the Bluegrass State’s first political event Saturday.
Republican U.S. Rep. James Comer lampooned the governor for trying to “reinvent his image from a cowardly choirboy to a liberal attack dog.” Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell fired his own criticisms at Beshear during political speeches at the annual Fancy Farm picnic in western Kentucky.
Beshear, who had proven to be an effective counterpuncher in previous years at the picnic, was not there to defend himself. Instead, he was among a half-dozen Democrats interviewed this weekend by Vice President Kamala Harris as She gets closer to choosing a running mate.
Her list of interviews also includes governors. JB Pritzker of Illinois, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Tim Walz of Minnesota, as well as Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, according to two people with knowledge of Harris’ selection process. People were granted anonymity to discuss private campaign deliberations.
The suspense over whether Beshear will be asked to join the ticket has dominated headlines in Kentucky. On Saturday, Republicans made good on their word by dominating the stage at the picnic area.
“I heard that the leader of the (Kentucky) Democratic Party, the governor, is spending the weekend with Vice President Harris. I would much rather be with you,” McConnell told the picnic crowd, which traditionally was divided between boisterous Republican and Democratic supporters.
McConnell said Democrats picked an even worse presidential candidate than Biden.
“At least Biden presents himself as a moderate,” said the senator. “Vice President Harris doesn’t try to be anything other than a San Francisco liberal.”
At a GOP breakfast on Saturday, McConnell said: “Who would have thought that most of the drama of the last month would have been on the Democratic side, but it was.” After President Joe Biden ended his re-election campaign last month, Democrats quickly rallied around Harris.
Mocking Beshear’s praise for Harris, McConnell said it was “no surprise for a guy used to having jobs served on a silver platter.” Beshear, the son of former two-term governor Steve Beshear, won three tough elections in ruby-red Kentucky — once for attorney general and twice for governor. The McConnell-Beshear rivalry dates back to the 1990s, when McConnell defeated Steve Beshear in a contest. Race for the Senate.
McConnell promoted Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump by name twice during his picnic speech, saying his return to the White House would “bring our economy back to roaring.” McConnell supported Trump in March, a notable turnaround from the longtime critic who blamed the then-president for “disgraceful” acts in the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.
Comer, chairman of the powerful House Oversight Committee, was even more scathing in attacking Beshear on Saturday. Noting that Beshear was applying for a new job, Comer said, “He wants to be vice president so badly that when Kamala Harris asked him what his pronouns were, Andy said ‘pretty and please.’”
Democrats called it another round of pointless attacks on the popular governor.
“They don’t work because families know Andy and know he is genuine, compassionate and shows up time and time again to help Kentuckians,” Jonathan Levin, a spokesman for the Kentucky Democratic Party, said in a statement.
One of the few Democrats on the Fancy Farm stage defended the governor. Erin Marshall, who is challenging Comer in the November election, said she wanted to continue Beshear’s work.
“It’s time to bring more jobs back to the District, support our farmers, revitalize our small towns and protect women’s right to make their own health care choices,” she said.
Talking politics is as time-honored as the barbecue at the Fancy Farm picnic, and it’s become a right of passage for candidates seeking office across the state. As always, the crowd of Republicans and Democrats tried to outdo each other with chants suppressing the opposition.
With no state offices on the ballot this year, the biggest race is over proposed constitutional amendment. If the ballot measure is ratified by voters, the GOP-dominated state legislature could then decide whether to direct public funds to private education or charter schools. Beshear is a leading opponent of the proposal, having said that “public money should only go to public schools, period”.
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