Joe B. Hall stands in for Steve Beshear

Steve Beshear sent a surrogate to a West Kentucky Democratic Fish Fry. Almost two hundred Democrats showed up looking for an evening with Steve Beshear and/Daniel Mongiardo. What they got was a substitute and a warning. Joe B. Hall, former basketball coach and Beshear supporter, came in Beshear's place. Beshear's reason for not coming? He wanted to be close to home when a story broke in the central Kentucky press. Hall delivered a chilling message. Be prepared for attacks that will shake you up. warned Democrats of attacks coming this weekend against the frontrunner. The crowd was left wondering. How bad can it be? Members of the audience were visibly shocked and whispered to each other asking what could upset a campaign with a twenty point lead. Hall didn't explain. He exhorted the crowd to keep the faith. He compared the Fletcher campaign to Frankenstein and Freddy Krueger. He told the crowd that the hero (meaning Democrats) should have put a stake through the heart of the GOP candidate last round. Now he's back. He wasn't defeated last time and he has risen again. Planners of the event who contacted the Beshear camp in July thought they had a confirmed date with the candidate. Party faithful from Ballard, Carlisle, Hickman, Fulton and McCracken County showed up expecting to hear Steve Beshear. The cancellation was so last minute that it was still listed on the state Democratic website. 

Carroll Hubbard was also taken by surprise by Beshear's absence.