Kentucky Republicans ridicule Beshear’s efforts to land spot on national Democratic ticket

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s efforts to land the No. 2 spot on the Democratic presidential ticket drew ridicule from prominent Republicans during the Bluegrass State’s premiere political event on Saturday.

Republican U.S. Rep. James Comer lampooned the governor for trying to “reinvent his image from a wimpy choir boy to a liberal attack dog.” Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell fired his own zingers at Beshear during the political speeches at the annual Fancy Farm picnic in western Kentucky.

Beshear, an effective verbal counterpuncher in prior years at the picnic, wasn’t on hand to defend himself and dish out his own barbs. Instead, he was among a half-dozen Democrats being interviewed this weekend by Vice President Kamala Harris as she closes in on choosing a running mate.

Her interview list also includes Govs. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Tim Walz of Minnesota, as well as Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, according to two people with knowledge of Harris’ selection process. The people were granted anonymity to discuss private campaign deliberations.

The suspense over whether Beshear will be asked to join the ticket has dominated headlines in Kentucky. On Saturday, Republicans got in their word as they dominated the stage at the picnic grounds. The political speaking is a raucous event where Kentucky politicians compete to land the sharpest — and sometimes most outlandish — barbs, complete with shouting and heckling from partisans for both parties.

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