Is Ben Chandler running in 2007?

That's the million dollar question that everyone seems to be waiting for with regards to the answer.

LEX 18 reports that Congressman Chandler has yet to make up his mind with regards to the race. Originally, Rep. Chandler had said we would know before the Thanksgiving holiday. Now, we'll likely know after.

Kentucky congressman Ben Chandler has told leading state Democrats he probably won't decide until next week whether to run for governor.[...]

Chandler had said for months he planned to announce one way or the other about a race for governor by Thanksgiving. Chandler's spokeswoman, Jennifer Spalding, says that time frame had been bumped back beyond this coming weekend.

Here's the story from the C-J.

Chandler is working with some other leading Democrats to come up with a consensus candidate for the party, said Jennifer Spalding, communications director for Chandler's office.

"He could say something before Thanksgiving or he might not," she said.

Most candidates have already said they will not run if Congressman Chandler decides to run again.

Here's the take from the H-L.

It definitely puts Treasurer Jonathan Miller's decision in limbo as he is term-limited and I don't know if he's up to running against Attorney General Greg Stumbo in a primary.

Chandler has told several prominent Democrats that he will probably take until next week to decide, said state Treasurer Jonathan Miller. Chandler had said for months that he planned to announce one way or the other by Thanksgiving.

Chandler's spokeswoman, Jennifer Spalding, also confirmed that that time frame had been bumped back beyond this coming weekend.

For now, Chandler's indecision continues to freeze the field of Democratic candidates, which includes Miller and Louisville attorney Jack Conway.

The prevailing assumption among political observers was that Chandler would be the party's strongest candidate but wouldn't run if the Democrats won control of the U.S. House. The Democrats did gain a majority, giving Chandler a better shot at getting a seat on a key committee, such as the appropriations panel that doles out federal dollars.

But in the two weeks since Election Day, no big-name Democrat has stepped up to run for governor, which has prompted Chandler's supporters to keep the pressure on.

"I think it is a good sign that Ben is taking this so seriously," said Mark Riddle, a Democratic campaign consultant who ran Chandler's campaign in the 2003 primary for governor. "The one thing about Ben Chandler that people who are close to him know is that he loves his family and he loves the commonwealth. This cannot be an easy decision for him."

Riddle, who also is advising Conway in his exploration of a run, said Chandler has the most powerful name and ability to unite the party. But other "party leaders" are encouraging Conway -- a former congressional candidate who served as an aide to Gov. Paul Patton -- to run if Chandler doesn't, Riddle added.

And Miller, the two-term state treasurer, said "there is a very real chance that I will run" if Chandler doesn't.

Conway and Miller, in fact, met Sunday to discuss their political ambitions.

"Jack is very much looking at the top slot on the ticket," Riddle said on Conway's behalf. "And a lot of senior party leaders are encouraging him."

Riddle said Conway has been urged to consider Miller, former state Sen. Bob Jackson of Murray and state Sen. Daniel Mongiardo of Hazard, among others, as possible running mates.

Miller said he, too, is eyeing the top spot.

"I've never been in this to be a lieutenant governor," he said. "That's not a reflection on Jack at all."

He said he would rather seek a position that has a "definite policy" effect.

From a political standpoint, I just don't see Jack Conway running against Jonathan Miller in a primary. I see them both on the same ticket with Jonathan Miller at the top.

If Congressman Chandler does not run, our best ticket would be Miller-Conway, not vice-versa.