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At Fancy Farm, the politicians insisted that the campaign focus needs to be on this year's races for U.S. Senate and the statehouse. The election less than three months away, the endorsements of primary losers and the 2011 governor's race also were topics of conversation.
But, for all of Governor Steve Beshear's talk that now is not the time to be talking about the governor's race, he spent the first four minutes of his seven minute speech touting his record as governor.
"Folks, it's working," Beshear told the crowd to a mixed reaction, "and we did it because we brought two sides together."
"This governor has been timid when he shouldn't have been and aggressive when it hurt him," said Kentucky Senate President David Williams (R- Burkesville).
No campaign announcement from Williams just yet. He says conversations between him and potential Lt. Gov. candidate and current Agriculture Commisioner Richie Farmer need to reach a point of "personal satisfaction" for both of them.
"And we are reaching that point in my opinion," Williams acknowledged, "We've known each other a long time. It's a very big decision for him and a big decision for me, but I really appreciate all the encouragement that I've received. I think Gov. Beshear's numbers indicate that a strong Republican team, as a matter of fact I have polling information that will prove that a strong Republican team of David Williams and Richie Farmer starts out dead even before we even file."
Told of Williams' comments, Beshear smiled.
"It's a little too early to be running the governor's race. That doesn't start until January," Beshear said.
Reminded that he and running mate, Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson (D) have been raising money for his reelection for one year, Beshear smiled again.
"I'm raising money. I'm raising money," Beshear continued, "But we've got some races this fall I'm paying attention to right now. I'm not concerned about that at the moment, but come January we'll see who's going to run. You know, there's a lot of people talking about running. The only people I really know that are running is Steve Beshear and Jerry Abramson.
Two other candidates have already filed. Tea Party Republican Phil Moffett who hopes to piggyback on Rand Paul's surge in Kentucky, and Independent candidate Gatewood Galbraith, who is attempting a fifth try for governor.
"I think the Republican party is paying attention to the Tea Party in general and Rand Paul is a big part of that in Kentucky," Moffett said, "The Tea Party's goal is to move the Republicans back to the right, and I think they are being very effective and I'm glad to be a part of it."
"I was in a restaurant the other day and I ran across Coach Calipari," Galbraith said, "And so I introduced myself. And I said 'Hello coach, my name's Gatewood Galbraith. I'm your next governor.' And he kind of looked kind of startled a little bit. And I said 'But don't worry, I understand why you're attracted to Steve Beshear. He's also a one and done.'"
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Trey Grayson (R) also took aim at Beshear in his Fancy Farm speech.
"We need a governor who actually has an agenda," Grayson quipped.
Grayson was the only candidate to get the Fancy Farm hook for speaking over the time allotted, just as he was hinting a run next year for attorney general, the position currently held by Conway.
"We need better leadership in Frankfort and I think I could be part of the solution," Grayson said in an interview. Grayson added that he would consider a run for Lt. Governor.
"In the right situation with the right candidate, on the right messages, and the right responsibilities," Grayson offered qualifiers for such a run. "I mean, one of the things I've seen is our Lieutenant Governot and Governor aren't exactly getting along and part of that is because there's not a defined duty where you're part of the team."
While Grayson immediately endorsed fellow Republican Rand Paul the night of the primary, Democrat Daniel Mongiardo held out saying it was a matter of trust. A disagreement over what he believed was Conway reneging on a pledge to help retire his campaign debt didn't help.
When Mongiardo finally issued a lukewarm endorsement of Conway last week, he also cancelled his Fancy Farm appearance. Nonetheless, Democrats at the Graves County event were relieved that Mongiardo finally endorsed Conway just three days before Fancy Farm.
"I knew Daniel would do that because he's an honorable person," said Dan Logsdon, Kentucky Democratic Party chairman, "It was something that I worked on and a lot of other people worked on as well. We were all very relieved and we're excited."
"I never doubted he would do that," added Gov. Steve Beshear, who endorsed Mongiardo in the primary, "He had a tough campaign and he's had two close elections. He's a real man for coming out and, he's a leader in Kentucky and he's going to be a leader in the future and I'm proud of him. It has united this party like it hasn't been united before."
"It takes some time for you to sit back and say 'Okay, now let's go on with life," explained former Kentucky Governor Paul Patton (D), Conway's former boss, "And I think Daniel has done that. And that's just about how long it took me to get healed up I'll tell you."
"What about Trey Grayson and Rand Paul?" Patton continued, "If you want to talk about a division and a split, that was a fundamental split on basic issues."
"But I would say is, that I don't see Dan here," countered Grayson, "He issued a little note. He didn't show up at Fancy Farm."
Unlike Mongiardo, Grayson is campaigning for his party's nominee.
Yet, Grayson said he still believes that he would have been the better GOP nominee, and he is not retracting what he said about Paul in the primary.
"I meant everything I said," Grayson continued, "I've also meant everything I said since the primary about how on the issue of debt which to me and him was our number one issue. He's the one who's the best, energy, life, there's lots of issues where he and I are much more in agreement and that's why I do support him."
Walking to an RV after leaving the Fancy Farm stage, Conway was asked how important it was it that Mongiardo came through with the endorsement before Fancy Farm.
"It was very important," Conway responded, "Daniel is a good Democrat and it's important to have his endorsement and we're going to be one united Democratic party going into the fall."
"Mitch McConnell is a latecomer to supporting Rand Paul," Conway continued, "So our campaign has all the momentum. I think we're coming out of Fancy Farm with all the momentum."
