You Shouldn't Have Apologized, Jack

The first independent poll of the U.S. Senate race in Kentucky has Dan Mongiardo up 39-31 over Jack Conway among Democratic respondents.

Cross-tabs aren't available yet, and the respondents weren't likely voters, but only one politically significant thing has happened in this race in the last month, since Conway smashed state fundraising records with $1.3 million in the second quarter, out-raising Mongiardo four to one.

That one thing is Conway wimping out and caving to Dr. Dan's prissy demand that he apologize for referring to himself as a "tough son of a bitch." Instead of apologizing, here's what Conway should have said:

"Hey, Dan: I'm just a tough son of a bitch, but you're a lying, puling, corporate-cock-sucking motherfucker."

As Media Czech points out, an eight-point gap puts the lie to Mongiardo's claim of a 20-point lead from a manipulated internal poll in May. Jake has more details.

But the bigger lesson here is that Conway can't beat Mongiardo by competing for the Chandler/DINO/Blue Dog/repug-fellating vote; Dan's got that locked up.

Here's what you do, Jack:

• Congratulate Mongiardo on his 8-point lead, and urge him to enjoy it - it won't last long.

• Condemn Ben Chandler's and John Yarmuth's surrender to the private insurance lobbies, and declare yourself four-square in favor of single-payer/robust public option for health care reform.

• Call down shame on Mongiardo for abandoning his home region to Death By Mountaintop Removal, and declare yourself four-square in favor of tight restrictions on carbon emissions combined with heavy public investment in non-coal clean energy.

• Publicly reject Jonathan Miller's endorsement, and declare that you are also rejecting 217 years of Kentucky politicians serving themselves instead of their constituents.

Grab this opportunity, Jack - set yourself apart. If you don't, you're going to lose the Democratic primary to the most pathetic Senate candidate this state has ever offered up.

Cross-posted at They Gave Us A Republic ....