Sunday, September 12, 2010 4:49 pm

Rand Paul's supporters showed up at the speaking - he didn't.

The front page headline on St. John’s Picnic in the Sunday Paducah Sun was, predictably, about the man who wasn’t there. Republican candidate Dr. Rand Paul first confirmed he would be speaking then backed out a few days before the event. He visited the Picnic earlier in the day and attended a GOP lunch in Lone Oak. Paul supporters were at the Picnic in force, but spent much of their time frowning at what they heard.

Candidate Jack Conway took special note of his rival’s absence. Ninety percent of success is showing up, he said. Conway got right down to the business of why he should be the one voters send to Washington. Voters can depend on him to speak up for USEC (the gaseous diffusion plant in Paducah), for Murray State, for farmers and for construction of I-69. 

Conway, for the first time we’ve seen him, seemed to be focusing on the Purchase area in a public speech. That is not surprising since the Fancy Farm Picnic is heavily attended by those from outside the region and has the attention of statewide media. St. John’s Picnic is a smaller, more local venue. The speech on Saturday is the best one we’ve heard him give in West Kentucky since he began running for the Senate. The Attorney General seemed relaxed and ready to take the fight to Paul and truly contest far western Kentucky where he has run consistently behind.