Ashley Judd had a private meeting with officials at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in Washington, Politico.com reported on Feb. 20. Judd, who recently announced her separation from husband Dario Franchitti, is reportedly weighing her options on whether to pursue a Senate run against Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY). The DSCC coordinates strategy, recruits and fundraises on behalf of Democratic Senate candidates.
DSCC officials refused to comment on Tuesday’s first formal meeting between Judd and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Officials of the DSCC said they would not discuss candidate recruitment.
Political pundits speculate that the Golden Globe-nominated actress is “seriously weighing a political foray.” Ashley Judd has spent the past several years as an outspoken environmental and liberal activist. Sources close to Judd say that it is still unclear whether Ashley wants to leave acting to pursue a run against Senate minority leader McConnell when he runs for his sixth term in 2014.
Democrats both nationally and in Kentucky have mixed feelings about Ashley Judd as a senatorial candidate on the democratic ticket in 2014. Judd, with “staunchly liberal views,” in a highly conservative state could be a liability on the democratic ticket. Democrats also worry that Judd would be unable to withstand the “brutal campaign tactics” of Senator McConnell’s team.
Supporters of Ashley Judd’s possible senatorial campaign say that her high name recognition and “star power” make her an appealing candidate, allowing her to draw huge amounts of cash, and add energy to the democratic base in a state where Democrats still maintain a voter registration advantage.
It is not known if Ashley Judd’s recent announcement that she and professional race car driver Dario Franchitti have ended their 11 year marriage will affect her ability to garner enough support to place her on the democratic ticket for the senate in 2014.
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