The Chatter: Jack Conway says no to 2014 Senate run; state Senate candidate McDaniel raises $25K

Attorney General Jack Conway said he would “probably not” run for U.S. Senate in 2014 when Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell is up for re-election.

Conway lost the open seat for U.S. Senate in 2010 to Republican Rand Paul. He then won re-election as attorney general by 10 points in November. And he said he has promised not to run for a race that would cut short his second term, which ends in 2015.

Conway said state Auditor Crit Luallen would make “a strong candidate” against McConnell. Luallen ends her second term as auditor in January. The interview started with Conway answering a question about whether he had thought about which Democratic might make the strongest candidate in 2014.

Chris McDaniel raises $25,000 in first fundraiser for state Senate

Taylor Mill businessman Chris McDaniel, a Republican, collected $25,000 on Wednesday in his first fund-raiser for the open 23rd state Senate district, his campaign confirmed to Pure Politics on Monday.

Agriculture-Commissioner-elect James Comer headlined the event in Northern Kentucky.

Among the donors were Corbin banker Terry Forcht, Kenton County Commissioner Kris Knochelmann, Kenton County Sheriff Chuck Korzenborn, Bracken County Judge Executive Earl Bush and his wife Millie, former Campbell County candidate for judge executive Kevin Sell and GOP activist Diane St. Onge.

The campaign is planning several other fundraisers over the coming three weeks.

McDaniel so far faces Fort Mitchell councilman Will Terwort in the GOP primary for the 23rd District. That seat is being left open by four-term state Sen. Jack Westwood, a Republican from Crescent Springs.