The lack of jobs and the lack of concern about unemployment shown by Sen. Mitch McConnell were the recurring themes of Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes’ remarks in her visit to Logan County Saturday morning.
Grimes is the odds-on favorite to be the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat which has been held by McConnell for 30 years. She is so heavily favored that she never mentioned a Democratic opponent during her remarks in the middle of Carrico Park Square.
Russellville was one of the earliest stops of the second day of a 10-day, 50-county tour for Grimes and those accompanying her. The tour had begun in Paducah on Friday with a stopover in Hopkinsville that night. The charter bus was headed to Muhlenberg County and then to a large function in Owensboro later Saturday.
Grimes and those with her went around the square and entered stores which were open, meeting constituents and seeking votes.
She was introduced by Judge-Executive Logan Chick, who went on the tour of downtown. Other office holders present included Sheriff Wallace Whittaker, magistrates Jack Crossley, Barry Joe Wright, Drexel Johnson and Thomas Bouldin, and Constable John Monroe.
Grimes talked about the need for more jobs and higher wages for those in the lowest-paying jobs. She said McConnell has voted against raising the minimum wage 15 times “while his own net worth has quadrupled.” She also noted his being quoted as saying job creation in Kentucky is not his responsibility.
In an interview with The LoJo on her bus, Grimes said that McConnell “has gone Washington and left the people behind. He let the Farm Bill lapse, and he has never offered one job plan.”
Grimes’ staff passed out booklets which present her jobs plan in detail.
Grimes noted that she is the only woman constitutional officer in Kentucky and is the youngest Secretary of State in the nation, man or woman. She also said if elected she will become the first female U.S. Senator ever from Kentucky.
Logan County women were prominent in their enthusiasm for Grimes’ campaign Monday. Among them was retired state representative June Lyne.
County Democratic Chairperson Evelda Steersman introduced two of the oldest Democrats there, the venerable Sherman Price and former Lewisburg mayor Warren McReynolds, who is Governor Steve Beshear’s “contact man” in Logan County.
Her dad, Jerry Lundergan, was among those on the trip along with veteran Democratic party leader Dale Emmons.