Ashley Judd Senate Run: Actress, Activist Planning To Declare Candidacy, Sources Say

[octoberlib]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Ashley Judd, the 44-year-old actress and social activist, has told key advisers and political figures that she is planning to announce her candidacy for U.S. Senate here this spring.

Judd told one close ally that she plans to announce her run for the Democratic nomination for the 2014 race “around Derby” -- meaning in early May when the Kentucky Derby brings national attention to Louisville and the Bluegrass State.

The announcement, her allies told The Huffington Post, could “clear the field” of major contenders for the Democratic nomination, setting up a wild, made-for-YouTube contest between the free-wheeling, media-savvy Hollywood actress, and the methodically accusatory machine of the five-term Republican senator -- and Senate minority leader -- Mitch McConnell of Louisville.

Judd, sources say, is working with New York pollster Jefrey Pollock; has interviewed a number of media consultants including Anita Dunn, formerly of the Obama campaigns and J.B. Poersch, the former head of the Democrats' national senate campaign committee, as well as leaders of Emily's List; and is lining up allies and field organizers. Advisers in Lexington are working on her filing papers and other technical issues.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/09/ashley-judd-senate-run_n_2843852.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

[Botany]

1. Well she is a lot more camera friendly then Mitch McConnell

[davidpdx]

6. Well hello there

I'm going to be so broke if she runs.

[longship]

2. Woo Hoo!!

Sorry about the first try at a pic, but this one should do just fine.

[alcibiades_mystery]

3. Good...even if she loses, she forces the R Senate Committee to devote funds to what should be

an easy state. She'll give him a run sufficient to pull funds from other races.

[Botany]

4. If Mitch keeps up with the Republican war on women act ..... he will have a hard time w/

women's vote. Although KY will be a very heavy lift because w/lots of rural poor folk who
will vote against their own best interests because their pastor tells 'em to gives a republican
a huge chunk of the vote right out of the gate.

Ashley's best chance is to play up the fact she comes from a poor KY family and Mitch is a rich
Washington insider who doesn't work for the good of the people of KY anymore.

BTW the republicans will act all mortified that she has done nude scenes in her movies.

[CTyankee]

10. My guess is that this has been focus-grouped pretty thoroughly...

There must be a reasonable chance that she can beat McConnell. God, that would be great!!!

[Cha]

12. And, Ashley will bring Nationwide Attention to Women's Issues. n/m

[Tx4obama]

5. The OP excerpt is misleading - the HP article has been UPDATED

The UPDATED Huffington Post article ...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Ashley Judd, the 44-year-old actress and social activist, has told key advisers and political figures that she is planning to announce her candidacy for U.S. Senate here this spring.

Judd told one close ally that she plans to announce her run for the Democratic nomination for the 2014 race “around Derby” -- meaning in early May when the Kentucky Derby brings national attention to Louisville and the Bluegrass State.

Reached for comment by email Saturday, Judd offered a not-quite-ironclad denial to The Huffington Post. “I am not sure who is saying this stuff, but it is not I! I’d prefer as a fan of your journalism that you stay accurate and credible. We told everyone who called us yesterday these stories are fabrications.”

-snip-

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/09/ashley-judd-senate-run_n_2843852.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

And from March 1st...

-snip-

Judd has told potential supporters that she will make a decision on running sometime before the Kentucky Derby on May 4.

-snip-

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/03/01/ashley-judd-kentucky-senate/1958015/

She has NOT yet made a decision.
Sounds like to me that some folks are misinterpreting what she has said.
Announcing a 'decision' is not the same thing as announcing her 'candidacy'.

[jenmito]

9. Howard Fineman called in to MSNBC today to report that "a source" says Judd IS running.

I see he wrote the article yesterday that you posted, but he reiterated it TODAY.

[jcgoldie]

7. This is gunna be fun to watch...

Pretty sure Mitchy will try to paint her as a "Hollywood Librul" ... the test will be whether the rednecks will vote for a hot chick regardless of her politics!

[CTyankee]

11. "hot chick"?

I would call her a nice looking candidate, just as I would a handsome male. But "hot chick" is just too sexist for my taste...

[brooklynite]

8. Waiting for her call...

I'll get engaged with this campaign when i'm convinced it's realistic.