There is so much going on politically these days that it was very hard for me to determine what I should write about this week.

We have mayoral campaign drama, unimpressive stimulus reports, local health care protests and lots of personnel shake-up both in Louisville and in Frankfort. So, since Halloween got me in the mood for scary things, I thought I would discuss the current “scary” political events of the day.

Chandler vulnerable?
The Hill, which is an inside-the-beltway newspaper, ran a story on Oct. 17 describing the fundraising prowess of about a dozen or so congressional challengers across the country.

According to The Hill, “Rep. Ben Chandler (D-Ky.) was also an unwitting victim of a challenger surge, with Republican Andy Barr outraising him in just two-and-a-half weeks of fundraising, $186,000 to $160,000. Chandler and the others will remain strong favorites, but they have tougher reelections on their hands than previously thought.”

Through the posting of big fundraising totals, this challenger has successfully surprised and spooked the incumbent and may make things very interesting come Election Day.

Yarmuth’s opponent
Speaking of challengers, Congressman John Yarmuth may have drawn another potential opponent as well.

We already knew Marilyn Parker was running for the Third Congressional District, but Republicans may have a choice now that Todd Lally is “exploring” entering the race.

According to a press release, Todd Lally is a lieutenant colonel in the Kentucky Air National Guard, a UPS pilot and a combat veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan. Lally was born and bred in Louisville, graduated from Middle Tennessee State University and previously ran for the state legislature.

The release states that Lally is forming an “exploratory” committee to run for Congress. My advice to a well-qualified candidate like Lally is to forgo the “exploratory committee” and to just run. No one wants to give money to someone who is thinking about running. People want to hear their candidate say, “I’m running and I’m going to win.”

So, my advice is to skip the wishy-washy “exploratory” stuff. If you want to run, then go for it. As a military veteran you have undoubtedly faced houses far more haunted than the House of Representatives.

Another special election
Gov. Steve Beshear recently appointed State Sen. Dan Kelly to the 11th Circuit judgeship. His tenure on the bench began almost immediately, which means that a special election must now be held in order to fill his vacant seat.

The special election has been scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 8. It encompasses the counties of Marion, Mercer, Nelson, Taylor and Washington.

I’m sure that Senate President David Williams is not happy about this latest turn of events.

Senate Republicans hold a very slim majority in that body, which could get even slimmer come December. If Democrats can pull off another upset like they did in Eastern Kentucky several weeks ago, then Williams’ reign as Senate president becomes tenuous at best.

Williams claims that Beshear is picking off senators to fill plum vacancies around the state so that he can increase the chances of getting expanded gaming legislation passed.

I think Williams is correct in his assessment.

The governor is already in re-election mode, and if he can’t show progress on his campaign promise to fill state coffers with increased revenue generated from gaming, then he is going to seem very ineffective.

So what is the trick and what is the treat in this situation? If expanded gaming is such a loser issue for the Democrats as Williams claims, then why do they keep winning when they run on it?

Final thoughts
I know everyone is on the edge of their seats wondering what Ellen wore for Halloween this year. She swore me to secrecy, but I can’t resist, I must blab it! 

She went as The Streaker.

Julie and Ellen own Adams & Call Inc., a Louisville public affairs firm. Visit adamsandcall.com.