I'd love to say good riddance to the self important, corrupt trash known as Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky

Iraq war veteran Andrew Horne yesterday became the third Democrat to announce that he will seek the Senate seat held by Republican Mitch McConnell in next year's election.

Horne, 46, is a retired Marine lieutenant colonel who grew up in Louisville and made an unsuccessful race for the 3rd District congressional seat last year.

He said in an interview that he's running because Kentuckians need a change.

"People know that not so much in their head as in their hearts," Horne said. "… Instead of taking on issues, he (McConnell) is busy playing partisan politics."

Horne is the most prominent Democrat to enter the race against McConnell, the Senate minority leader. But he may not be the last.

[...]

Ernie Yanarella, a political science professor at the University of Kentucky, said it's unlikely McConnell will lose.

"I still see McConnell as unbeatable," he said.

He said Horne has a number of "clear pluses," most importantly his military service, which allows him to speak authoritatively on the war in Iraq.

But he noted that few people outside Jefferson County know who he is and that McConnell has a strong statewide network.

Yanarella said he doesn't believe there will be a move by Christian conservatives, upset over McConnell's tepid support of Republican Ernie Fletcher in this year's governor's race, to oppose him or to stay home on election day.

"It's hard to see who would mobilize the Christian right against McConnell," Yanarella said.

McConnell's campaign said in a statement yesterday that "the Democrats will select their nominee … and it appears that as of today they will have at least three candidates from which to choose. We look forward to a spirited primary contest."

In a statement announcing his decision, Horne, a lawyer, blamed McConnell for leading the country astray.

"Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader, symbolizes everything wrong with Washington. He bows to big business, practices the worst kind of politics and doesn't take a stand when faced with tough issues," Horne said. "Simply put: Mitch McConnell carries George Bush's water on Iraq; I carried a rifle in Iraq."

He criticized McConnell for what he called the "ill-conceived" war in Iraq and for not working to solve the nation's health-care crisis.

[...]

No Republikkkan is unbeatable these days.