I hadn’t until a reader emailed to alert us non-Kentuckians that the annual Fancy Farm Picnic is, in an election year, the place for politicians to stump. This year’s picnic is Saturday, and with the U.S. Senate race between Rand Paul (R) and Jack Conway (D) being one of the marquee contests of 2010, we decided this wasn’t an event to be missed.
So we’ve dispatched Evan McMorris-Santoro to cover it. He should be in the air now en route to Nashville, where he’ll rent a car and drive another three hours into the western Kentucky hinterland to the little town of Fancy Farm, pop. 2,191, give or take.
It will be the 130th annual Fancy Farm picnic (quick math: started in 1880), and from all accounts it remains an old-fashioned good time. I’m especially intrigued by the barbecue: pork and mutton.
The big day kicks off with a Republican breakfast featuring Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Whip Eric Cantor. The stump speeches will come later in the day, and will include stemwinders from Paul and Conway. By the way, it was at last year’s Fancy Farm picnic that Conway declared himself to be “one tough son of a bitch,” a remark which became an “issue” in the campaign.
Evan will have periodic reports during the day (in between barbecue sampling), plus video and photos. This should be a lot of fun.
