The Latest Signs Ashley Judd Is Preparing Run Against Mitch McConnell

[Sophiegirl]

Source: National Journal

Late last week, actress Ashley Judd dined with a handful of influential Democratic insiders in Louisville, Ky. The list of invitees at the dinner, held at the home of Christy Brown, the widow of Brown-Forman executive Owsley Brown II and first reported by WHAS 11, was a who's who of Democratic politicians and operatives. Among them were Rep. John Yarmuth, the commonwealth's only Democratic member of Congress, and former party chairman Jonathan Miller.

Judd hasn't decided yet if she'll challenge Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in 2014, but she's certainly laying the ground work for a potential campaign. Judd has talked to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., who had success running in a conservative House district in New York before entering the Senate, and has been in touch with the Democratic polling firm Global Strategy Group, Democratic strategists said.

Miller, who said he thinks Judd is the Democrats' best chance of beating McConnell, suggested how Democrats could exploit what they view as the senior senator's biggest weakness.
Miller argued that there is a deep anti-Washington sentiment in Kentucky that Judd could effectively exploit, noting it was a key ingredient of the populist tea party movement that helped Sen. Rand Paul win his seat in 2010.

Read more: http://www.nationaljournal.com/daily/the-latest-signs-ashley-judd-is-preparing-run-against-mitch-mcconnell-20130220

[rachel1]

1. Should she run she could easily beat McConnell by a significant margin

I'd be surprised if she didn't run.

[Sophiegirl]

2. I suspect she will run. nt

[A Little Weird]

7. I hope you're right

I got discouraged today when I went out for lunch and saw a Mitch 2014 bumper sticker on the back of a Prius. A Prius!!!

But on the positive side, it's the only pro-turtle bumper sticker I've seen.

[kimbutgar]

3. The fact they are attacking her so viciously shows they are afraid she could win

[Sophiegirl]

4. It's pretty funny to watch them...

..afraid of their own shadow.

Ms. Judd must cast a HUGE one on their horizon since they are already defending themselves against her.... before she ever even mentioned she was running.

This is gonna be fun to watch.

[tanyev]

29. They've legitimized her as an opponent before she's even finalized her decision.

Heh.

[Orsino]

32. It stinks that the privileged elite...

...get to step into Congress with no history of public service, but a potted plant would make a better senator than McConnell. Judd might turn out to be a good one.

[magical thyme]

35. there are many ways to serve the public

and while it stinks that the privileged don't have to work their way up from the bottom tiers, that is true in all facets of life.

On the other hand, Judd apparently has been active in numerous humanitarian causes and did get a degree in public administration a few years ago. From wiki:

Ashley Judd's humanitarian work has revolved around becoming a global ambassador for YouthAIDS, a prevention program under Population Services International. She has been a member of their Board of Directors since 2004, also. Judd has travelled with YouthAIDS to places affected by illness and poverty such as Cambodia, Kenya, Rwanda, and many others.[27]
Inspired by her travels, which allowed her to witness the life of the poor and uneducated, she has since become an advocate for preventing poverty and promoting awareness internationally. She has met with political and religious leaders, heads of states, diplomats, and leaders on behalf of the deprived to convey the message to those who have the power to bring about political and social change.[27]
Judd has also narrated three documentaries for YouthAIDS which aired internationally on the Discovery Channel, in National Geographic, and on VH1.
In 2011, Judd joined the Leadership Council of the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW).[28]
Other organizations Judd has been involved with include Women for Women International and Equality Now, along with other non-governmental organizations that center around bringing attention to social, educational, health, economic, cultural and financial funding of the unfortunate.[27]

Judd has supported the following charities and foundations:[29]
Children's Medical Research Institute
Creative Coalition
Defenders of Wildlife
Eracism Foundation
Five & Alive
Jeans for Genes
International Center for Research on Women (ICRW)
Listen Campaign
Malaria No More
Population Services International
SixDegrees.org
YouthAIDS
Women for Women International
Equality Now
San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center

Judd is active in humanitarian and political causes. She was appointed Global Ambassador for YouthAIDS, an education and prevention program of the international NGO Population Services International (PSI), promoting AIDS prevention and treatment. Judd was honored November 10, 2009 as the recipient of the fourth annual USA TODAY Hollywood Hero, awarded for her work with PSI.[33] On October 29, 2006, Judd appeared at a "Women for Ford" event for Democratic Tennessee Senate candidate Harold Ford, Jr. She has also campaigned extensively locally and nationally for a variety of Democratic candidates, including President Barack Obama in critical swing states.
On September 8, 2010, CNN interviewed Judd about her second humanitarian mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo.[34] Judd traveled with the Enough Project, a project to end genocide and crimes against humanity. In the interview, Judd discussed her efforts to raise awareness about how conflict minerals fuel sexual violence in Congo. During her trip, Judd visited hospitals for victims of sexual violence, camps for displaced persons, mines, and civil society organizations. On September 30, 2010, cnn.com published an op-ed titled "Ashley Judd: Electronics fuel unspeakable violence"[35] by Ashley Judd and Enough Project co-founder John Prendergast regarding the continued violence in Congo. Her op-ed discussed the recent provision in the Dodd-Frank Reform bill that requires companies to prove where their minerals originated. On November 26, 2010, The Huffington Post published an op-ed by Ashley Judd titled "Costs of Convenience".[36] The op-ed is excerpted from Ashley Judd's trip diary from her trip to eastern Congo. Judd describes the link between her cell phone, laptop, MP3 player and e-reader and the continued rape and sexual violence in Congo. Judd also explains the immediate need for electronics companies to commit to tracing, auditing, and certifying the minerals in their products to guarantee a clean supply chain.
Judd again supported Democrats in the 2012 elections, endorsing President Barack Obama for re-election. She represented Tennessee as a delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention.

[putitinD]

5. Ashley, please run against (and beat) the TURTLEMAN

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

6. I'll donate - although I can't afford much

I want to see the tortoise get beat by the "fair".

[sheshe2]

11. Now that would make one hell of a slogan for her campaign! nt

"I want to see the tortoise get beat by the "fair"."

Oh please send it to her when she decides to run! It's priceless!

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

16. lol - I don't think Ashley Judd is going to call her opponent a turtle to his beak

although I'm sure she and 99% of humanity might think it (and I used to think Bill Gates was the most turtle-like person I'd ever seen). Ashley probably has too much class but her unaffiliated supporters might have some fun.

[spooky3]

20. call him a turtle to his beak--LOL! (n/t)

[davidpdx]

8. I know this may sound slightly sexist

But she is hot and I'll donate to her campaign.

[Tx4obama]

9. Newest news: Ashley Judd meets with DSCC (in Washington D.C)

Ashley Judd meets with DSCC

Actress Ashley Judd privately met with officials at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in Washington earlier this week, as she continues to weigh whether to mount a Senate run against Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, according to two sources familiar with the session.

According to one person familiar with the matter, Tuesday’s meeting was Judd’s first formal one with officials at the DSCC, which coordinates strategy, recruits and fundraises on behalf of Democratic Senate candidates. DSCC officials refused to comment, saying they would not discuss candidate recruitment.

-snip-

Full article here: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/02/judd-meets-with-dscc-87867.html?hp=l9

[Cha]

22. A "formal meeting"! This sounds way serious than

ever before. Thanks Tx4obama and thanks for the thread Sophiegirl

[red dog 1]

34. "McConnell & his team have already conducted internal polling

testing the best attack lines to use against Judd, including the fact that she currently lives in Tennessee.." (From the Politico.com story "Judd Meets With DSCC&quot

I sure would like to see the Turtle defeated, and Ashley Judd could well be the one to accomplish that goal.

The current Lt.Governor of Kentucky is a popular Democrat named Jerry Abramson.
I wonder if he, too, is interested in running against McConnell?

On Ashley Judd running against McConnell, "Roll Call" points out:
"A stronger candidate, insiders said, would be Kentucky Secretary of State
Alison Lundergan Grimes. But she, along with other statewide elected officials, might decide to pursue their political ambitions elsewhere.

http://atr.rollcall.com/inside-the-2014-senate-races/

Also, according to "Roll Call", Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee is a
"well-liked Senator and former Governor [who] is a masterful campaigner who knows the Volunteer State politics well....and who is also a boffo fund-raiser as well, which makes any challenge to him a steep uphill climb."

Perhaps Ashley Judd might consider remaining in Tennessee, and going after
Lamar Alexander instead?
She might be able to match Alexander's ability to raise funds, and, as a Tennessean,
she might be the only Democrat in that state who COULD defeat Lamar Alexander.,

I just want to see the Dems get 60 seats in 2014, and if they can defeat "safe seat"
Republicans like Lamar Alexander, they just might reach that 60 vote threshold; and wouldn't that be awesome?

[hrmjustin]

10. KY is an interesting state.

They have a large number of democrats, but they are not as liberal as the national party. If she were to run in the primary she might have to go up against a few politicians that might give her a run for her money. I like her but I am not sure she is the best person to put up. The good thing is that if she runs she will have a real primary fight and it will battle test her. She is not the given nominee. I think she should follow her heart in the end, and maybe she can breath some life into the party.

[dsc]

12. I am kind of surprised her acting career is still strong

but I hope she beats him like a drum. It will be a pay cut for her but being a Senator will have its own rewards.

[Sophiegirl]

15. Who cares...

...about her acting career.

She has a brain and a spine and the humility that many, if not most, of our elected officials lack.

[dsc]

18. I am just looking at it from her perspective

She is giving up millions of dollars which is a major league sacrifice.

[Sophiegirl]

19. And that...

...is what I admire about her.

[obamanut2012]

30. She gave up millions of dollars years ago

To get her MPA from Harvard, and to do a huge amount of charity. She turns down a lot of stuff, so she can travel for charity, and lives relatively simply, giving the money she saves from doing so to charity every month. She's a good egg.

She has had some mental health issues in the past, which those bastards will try to use, but that's about all they can try and nail her with. She has lived a rather blameless life, and is sincere almost to the point of being a prig, and is definitely not Hollywood. Hell, she has given up Oscar tickets to watch the Wildcats play in the NCAA.

And, she calls Morgan Freeman her "other grandfather," so he really can do the voiceovers for her ads!

[sheshe2]

13. Oh Ashley,

da do run run run, da do run run!!!!!!

Thank You, Sophiegirl!
Great news!!

[Sophiegirl]

21. You're welcome

My company gets automatic feeds from several journals. We often get info before it "hits the street."

Happy to share.

[Firebrand Gary]

14. If you think Senator Warren raised funds, Ashley could set a new standard....

She is the authentic real deal, a true, gods honest Kentucky girl. Not only is she loved, she is admired in the blue grass state. Ashley appeals to a large swath of the Commonwealth and even though Mitch McConnell will use his dirty, ugly tactics to try and diminish her, it will only hurt his party.

One does not throw mud at a lady, wearing a derby hat while she is standing in the blue grass. It's unbecoming.

[NBachers]

26. Where do I send my money? I won't be in Kentucky, but my money will be.

Senator Warren was my last main donation target. Ashley Judd will be my next one.

Please run!

[GiveMeFreedom]

17. I would love to see

Ms. Judd run against that asshat. It would be great to see him walking away from the capital.

[Kablooie]

23. It would be so nice to see Yertle replaced with a new, young Democrat.

But isn't Kentucky hard core conservative?
Seems a hard race to win.
Glad to see it happening though.

[BlueStater]

25. Perhaps, but I think the state has had enough of McTurtle.

In fact, he's the least popular senator in the country from what I've heard.

[Arctic Dave]

24. I have a check for five hundred written already.

As soon as she files I'm sending it.

[iandhr]

27. GO ASHLEY

[SheilaT]

28. Raising money is often the single largest stumbling block

to running for office. Senate campaigns generally require several million dollars, and someone who wants to challenge an incumbent needs to start raising money a good two years ahead of the election for the most part.

Ashley Judd can start late, which this is, and because she has such a high profile she will have not trouble raising the money she needs. I can almost guarantee that much of the discussion at the dinner centered around how to raise the money she'll need.

[pampango]

31. Good news. There is a tea party candidate who might upset McConnell or at least pull him further

to the right during the primary campaign.

Matthew Bevin, Kentucky Businessman, Examining Tea Party Challenge To Mitch McConnell

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) may have recently directed his first campaign attack at the left, but it looks like he could soon be facing pressure from the right.

As McConnell was rolling out a web video on Tuesday lampooning his potential Democratic challengers, Louisville businessman Matthew Bevin and his camp were reportedly taking preliminary steps to explore a primary challenge against the longtime Kentucky senator.

In a statement, Bevin spokeswoman Amy Lowe confirmed that Bevin had been in talks with Kentucky tea party activists about the possibility of taking on McConnell. Lowe told The Hill that Bevin hasn't made a final decision, but has determined that there is a desire for a more conservative alternative to McConnell, who has served in the Senate since 1985.

Stirrings of a potential tea party challenge come as McConnell's campaign has taken steps to shore up his right flank. In recent fundraising literature, McConnell campaign manager Jesse Benton, a former aide to ex-Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), has taken a tone that appears to serve as an olive branch to the most conservative constituents in Kentucky. An email sent out to supporters last month, for example, warned that Kentuckians were "literally surrounded" by Senators who were dead-set on "coming for your guns."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/20/matthew-bevin-kentucky-mitch-mcconnell_n_2724773.html

[Ash_F]

33. I'd vote for her.

She had me at Mitch McConnell.