Conway visits Bowling Green to speak to, meet supporters

Kentucky Attorney General and Democratic Senate candidate Jack Conway does an interview with TV station WBKO following a campaign rally at the Bowling Green DNC Headquarters on State Street near the downtown square in Bowling Green, Wednesday, October 20, 2010. Conway attacked his Republican opponent, Tea Party favorite Rand Paul, over issues such as medicare spending and drug enforcement. Recent polls have Conway trailing Paul by five points just twelve days before election day. Luke Sharrett/Herald

Katherine Wade
October 21, 2010

With just 12 days left before midterm elections, Jack Conway, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate from Kentucky, visited Bowling Green Democratic headquarters tonight to meet with supporters.

Conway spoke to a crowd of about 50 people about his political goals and the inefficiencies of his opponent, Republican Rand Paul.

He then greeted members of the community who attended the event.

Louisville senior Shay Coleman and Layton Garlington, a freshman from Ruston, La., are interns for the Democratic headquarters this semester and supporters of the Conway campaign.

Coleman said she thought Conway’s speech was very professional.

“He spoke the truth of what a lot of Kentuckians need to hear,” she said.

Coleman said she grew up watching CNN and saw her mom as a role model for political awareness.

But she said her interest in politics started in 2008 when Barack Obama ran for president.

Garlington said he was also impressed by Conway and said he did a good job of inspiring the audience.

“These events are important because they get people excited,” he said. “They also build connections and build support, which is great in a usually Republican area like here.”

Garlington said midterm elections are just as important as presidential elections, but they don’t always get as much attention or interest from students or the community.

“In reality, the executive branch has limited authority,” he said. “It’s important to understand that senators matter just as much.”

Lexington senior Robert Strobel said he attended the event because he enjoys meeting politicians.

Strobel said that as a member of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender community, he would like to see Conway be elected into office.

“The LGBT community has been under attack recently and I would not feel comfortable with Rand Paul in office because of his views on discrimination,” he said.

Garlington said he thinks politics are important for everyone to get involved in.

“They are a good way to keep in touch with what is going on and to have a say,” he said. “You can’t gripe if you don’t vote.”