Democratic Weakness in Senate Candidates A Stark Reality in Kentucky and Massachusetts

An Actress for Kentucky and a Connecticut Resident for Massachusetts??

The Democratic party is still glowing from its electoral success, ignorant of the fact that much of that success had to do with the mediocrity of the opposition, starting with the top of the ticket in Mitt Romney and going all the way down to people like Allan West in Florida.  But a reminder of just how weak the Democratic bench is should be evident from the potential Senate candidates in Kentucky and Massachusetts.

President Obama is putting Sen. John Kerry in the position of Secretary of State, and thus trying to give up the control of the Senate that his party won just six years ago.  He tried this earlier and only because Republicans nominated truly awful candidates did the Democrats keep the Senate.  There will be a special election in Massachusetts to fill the Kerry seat, and here’s a potential candidate.

Kennedy Considers Bid in Massachusetts

Former Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) confirmed to the AP that his brother, Ted Kennedy Jr., is considering running for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts if Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) is confirmed as the next secretary of state.

While Kennedy now lives in Connecticut, he's felt obligated to contemplate running in Massachusetts, where the Kennedy name is revered.

What are his qualifications?  Oh yes, his name.  What are his other qualifications?  Oh yes, his name.

[Upate:  Mr. Kennedy has since declined to enter the race in Massachusetts, saying that if he did run for office it would be in Connecticut, for the unusual reason that Connecticut is where he lives.]

In Kentucky, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell is widely disliked because, well because his is Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell.  Here’s what his opposition looks like.

McConnell Barely Ahead of Judd

A new Voter/Consumer Research poll in Kentucky conducted for Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) shows the Senate minority leader ahead of potential challenger Ashley Judd (D) by just four points.

A Public Policy Polling survey earlier this month also found McConnell ahead of Judd by four points.

Really people, this is the best you can do against Mitch McConnell, who is barely ahead of an unqualified actress.