Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s efforts to secure the second spot on the national Democratic presidential ticket were ridiculed by prominent Republicans at the Bluegrass State’s top political event on Saturday.
Republican Rep. James Comer blasted the governor for trying to “change his image from a wimpy choir boy to a leftist attack dog.” Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell fired his own sharp remarks at Beshear during political speeches at the annual Fancy Farm picnic in western Kentucky.
Beshear, who has proven to be an effective counterpuncher at the picnic in previous years, was not there to defend himself. Instead, he was one of six Democrats interviewed by Vice President Kamala Harris over the weekend as she is getting closer to choosing a running mate.
Her interview list The group also includes Gov. J.B. 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. The people were granted anonymity to discuss private campaign deliberations.
The suspense over whether Beshear would be asked to join the ticket dominated headlines in Kentucky. On Saturday, Republicans gave their word as they dominated the podium at the picnic grounds.
“The leader of the (Kentucky) Democratic Party, the governor, is spending the weekend with Vice President Harris, I hear. I’d much rather be with you,” McConnell told the picnic crowd, traditionally divided between vocal Republican and Democratic supporters.
McConnell said Democrats had chosen an even worse presidential candidate than Biden.
“Biden is at least posing as a moderate,” the senator said. “Vice President Harris is trying to be nothing more than a liberal from San Francisco.”
At a GOP breakfast on Saturday, McConnell said, “Who would have thought that most of the drama in the last month would be on the Democratic side, but it has.” After President Joe Biden ended his re-election campaign last month, Democrats quickly aligned themselves with Harris.
McConnell joked about Beshear’s praise for Harris, saying it was “not a surprise from a guy who was used to having jobs handed to him on a silver platter.” Beshear, the son of former Gov. Steve Beshear, has won three tough elections in ruby-red Kentucky — once for attorney general and twice for governor. The rivalry between McConnell and Beshear dates to the 1990s, when McConnell defeated Steve Beshear in a Senate race.
McConnell mentioned Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump by name twice during his picnic speech, saying his return to the White House would “get our economy moving again.” McConnell supported Trump in March, a notable reversal from the former critic who blamed the then-president for “disgraceful” actions in the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
Comer, chairman of the powerful House Oversight Committee, was even sharper in his jabs at 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 saw it as another round of pointless attacks on the popular governor.
“They don’t work because families know Andy and know he is genuine, compassionate, and has gone above and beyond for the people of Kentucky,” Kentucky Democratic Party spokesman Jonathan Levin 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 county, support our farmers, revitalize our small towns and protect women’s right to make their own health care choices,” she said.
Political speeches are as much a tradition as the barbecue at the Fancy Farm picnic, and they have become a ritual for candidates seeking state office. As usual, the crowd of Republicans and Democrats tried to outdo each other with chants to tear down the opposition.
With no state offices on the ballot this year, the biggest battle is over a proposal for constitutional amendmentIf the ballot measure is approved by voters, the state’s Republican-dominated legislature could decide whether public funds go to private or charter school education. Beshear is a major opponent of the proposal, noting that “public money should only go to public schools, period.”