Mary Potter & Ivan Potter, West Kentucky Journal
Friday, October 24, 2014 3:23 pm

Former President Bill Clinton told over 1500 activist Democrats that he "loves Kentucky."

From the enthusiastic reception he received at a get-out-the-vote appearance at McCracken County High School, the feeling is mutual. Supporters lined up well before the doors opened at 5:30 for the free event.

Clinton has good reason to have fond feelings for the Commonwealth.

He carried Kentucky twice when he ran for president in 1992 and 1996. Hillary Clinton carried the state in her unsuccessful bid to win the Democratic nomination for president.

One of his very last appearances on Election Eve 1992 was at the McCracken County airport. He reminded the crowd that his voice was almost gone that night, barely above a whisper. He said he promised the large enthusiastic crowd then to be "your voice in Washington if you will be my voice tonight."

Former Kentucky Senator Wendell Ford was the chair of Clinton's second inaugural. Clinton said he loved Ford because he listened to everyone and would work with everyone.

Clinton was the star of a line up of Democrat past and present elected officials who are stumping for Grimes. Former Governors Martha Layne Colliins and Heath native Julian Carroll took their turn exhorting the crowd to fill volunteer forms and work hard in the final days of the campaign.

Clinton mocked the GOP's effort to tie the election to President Barack Obama whose approval rating is below 35% in Kentucky. Clinton said his experience is that when someone is trying to sell you something by getting you to stop thinking, they do not have your best interest at heart.

Sotto voce, Clinton said "Vote for me and get at the President. You'll only have him two years, but you will have me for six." That Clinton believes is an appeal to an emotional, not a thinking response.

Grimes picked up an endorsement from the group "Senior Votes Count." Co-founder Jon "Bowzer" Bauman, who appeared in the movie "Grease" and was a member of singing group Sha-Na-Na told the crowd that Senator McConnell scored zero on supporting senior issues like Medicare and Social Security. His group endorses candidates who support the interests of older voters.

Speaking under what looked like the world's largest American flag, Alison Lundergan Grimes took a shot at Meet the Press host Chuck Todd, saying she will not be bullied by him. Todd's remarks on MSNBC's Morning Joe that Grimes "disqualified herself" from election because she refused to answer who she voted for in the most recent presidential elections, has sparked outrage among Democrats.