Edelen calls Grimes the Democrats' best option against Sen. McConnell in 2014

Democrats are on the clock to find a challenger to Republican U.S. Senate Leader Mitch McConnell in 2014, and state Auditor Adam Edelen is among those who think Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes is Option No. 1.

“Alison draws the best distinction with Senator McConnell. I think its important for the Democratic party to regain its footing in Kentucky. Not only for us to look and sound different but to be different and we have got to be future focused,” Edelen said Thursday in an interview (:15).

Pure Politics published an analysis of potential contenders on Sunday.

Edelen, who was elected into office last year the same time as Grimes, said other Democrats would make solid candidates. He said actress Ashley Judd would bring star power to the race but has a major drawback — the fact that she’s been living outside of Kentucky for so long, including most recently in Tennessee.

“Ashley Judd is a great actress and she is a terrific ambassador for Kentucky but her residency issue would muddle a very important distinction that I think we have the opportunity to make” (at 1:50).