Speculation continues to swirl regarding Matt Bevin and whether he will actually file and seek re-election for Governor. Bevin did state today, yet again, that he will run. But, other than saying he is running, Bevin has done very little, if anything, to show signs he will be a candidate. He now has just under three weeks to file.
While there are several different scenarios being discussed, ITC has learned of one that has real merit and is not just pure speculation…Bevin seeks re-election as Governor, dumps his current Lt. Governor Jenean Hampton and selects as his running mate…Kelly Knight Craft.
The Governor and Ms. Craft, who is officially known as the United States Ambassador to Canada and more personally known as the wife of coal magnate/businessman Joe Craft, are sitting together at the annual Legislative Day dinner this evening in Lexington. Congressman James Comer tweeted a photo of Kelly Craft earlier today and said she would be an excellent candidate for Governor. Joe Craft and Kelly Knight supported James Comer in the 2015 Republican primary for Governor against Bevin. Then, when Bevin won over Comer by 83 votes, Kelly Knight was the chairperson of the Bevin inaugural and helped raise tons of money for Bevin. ITC has just received word that Senate President Robert Stivers, speaking at the Chamber event tonight, also noted that Craft would make a good statewide candidate.
So, what’s up? Sources say the Bevin-Craft ticket is very possible. The Crafts could easily fund a Bevin-Craft ticket and never blink an eye. Also, it is no secret that Matthew Bevin has always wanted, at the top of his personal ambitions, to be United States Senator. The Crafts could help Bevin get re-elected Governor in November, 2019, and set him up financially then to run for U. S. Senate against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in 2020. If he were to be successful against McConnell, then Kelly Knight Craft becomes Governor! Also figuring in to the equation, Kelly Craft has to know and understand the chances of Donald Trump getting re-elected in 2020 and her staying as Ambassador to Canada are minimal. Thus, the Bevin-Craft ticket becomes a win-win for all involved!!
Stay tuned. Developing story daily. One thing for sure, we will all have an answer on January 29th at 4:00 p.m., at the latest.
UPDATE: ITC has learned that Tea Party folks are furious today. The small group of self-proclaimed leaders of the Kentucky Tea Party met with Bevin several weeks ago at the Capitol. As reported in several media outlets, the Tea Party folks made it clear during the meeting their insistence that Bevin retain Jenean Hampton as his Lt. Governor candidate in 2019. According to reports, Bevin did not commit. This may explain his hesitancy to go ahead and file…he is trying to find a running mate other than Hampton who will be acceptable to his faithful zealots in the Tea Party. The speculation yesterday that Kelly Knight Craft is a real possibility as running mate has apparently thrown the Tea Party folks in a frenzy, a couple of whom are members of Bevin’s staff.
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