Politics

With Kentucky slowly rebounding from recession, Democratic U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler and Republican challenger Andy Barr sparred Monday over government's role in job creation. Chandler credited government intervention with rescuing the U.S. auto industry with a financial bailout in 2009, saving thousands of jobs in a state that's home to Toyota, Ford and General Motors manufacturing plants.

Since the campaign for control of the Kentucky House started, Democrats and supportive outside groups have used outgoing Senate President David Williams as an attack on GOP candidates. For weeks, the outside group Kentucky Family Values has sent out political mail attempting to link GOP incumbents and challengers as "votes for Williams" in Frankfort.

Kentucky Senate Majority Leader Robert Stivers is already getting plenty of vocal support as the likely successor to David Williams as Senate president, days after Williams said he was resigning to take a circuit judge position.