Sen. Bayh in Des Moines on Monday

The following was in today's Courier-Journal:

Bayh is scheduled to be in Des Moines tomorrow to give the luncheon speech before the local chamber of commerce, called the Greater Des Moines Partnership.

The senator also is on tap to hold a reception in the evening at a local bread company.

Today's column from Al Cross has talk of the gubernatorial race. I am still holding out on the hope that we have a Jonathan Miller-Jack Conway ticket. A Miller/Conway ticket is a clear winner as opposed to some of the other tickets that might or might not happen.

Jones floated the idea that Attorney General Greg Stumbo, instead of seeking re-election and suffering Republican attacks on his personal life, agree to join a Jones administration as justice secretary -- and, at least unofficially, as chief liaison to the legislature, where Stumbo was a powerful House majority leader for 18 years.

Nice idea, but it's hard to imagine Stumbo passing up an election -- he's been running non-stop since 1979 -- or making himself subservient to anyone else, though his good history with Jones would make him highly influential, perhaps even powerful.

If Stumbo did the deal, it would open the attorney-general primary for Miller, who needs a place to sit in Frankfort's game of musical chairs because he is the only statewide official who is term-limited next year.

But more likely scenarios have Miller running for governor with Conway as his running mate, or for lieutenant governor with Conway atop the ticket. Both would offer a youthful "fresh start" that could be appealing after two scandal-plagued governorships.

The Washington Post even chimes in on the governor's race here in Kentucky.

In other news, here is Ryan Alessi's take on yesterday's GOP meeting in Frankfort. There's a lot more focus on the meeting in this article than there was in the CJ.

Mike Scogin with the Georgetown News-Graphic writes about a meeting that he had with Congressman Ben Chandler.

Here are some excerpts from Senator Bayh's talk with George Stephanopoulos earlier this morning.

"I'm distressed about the direction we're going in. We are a great nation with great opportunity. But we're not fulfilling our potential today," said Bayh, who planned appearances Monday in Iowa and next weekend in New Hampshire, two early states on the campaign calendar.

"We need someone who can deal with the dysfunction here in this city so that our government begins to empower our people to fulfill their potential. That's not happening. Someone who can unite Americans in a politics of common purpose," Bayh said. "If I can be that individual, so be it. That's what I'll be considering over the next several weeks."[...]

Bayh acknowledged he faces an uphill battle to make his a household name and become president.

"As the people get to know me, I think we'll do very well. I've been a successful two-term governor with a record of delivering results. I now have national security experience from my presence in the Senate," Bayh said.

"But most importantly," he told moderator George Stephanopoulos of "This Week" on ABC, "I have a deep appreciation for how broken this city is, how desperately we need someone who will unite the American people for the common purpose of building this country.

"And I think they'll know that about me. So, look, we have a lot of potential. But to answer your question: Is this a little bit like David and Goliath? A little bit, but as I recall, David did OK."

He described setting up the committee this week as "the next practical step." Asked if that meant he wants to run and win the senator replied: "It means that, yes. But it also allows you to assess some of the practical things to determine whether that's a sensible course of action."

Bayh has pointed toward a run for the White House for months, and had $10.5 million in his Senate campaign bank account as of Sept. 30. The money can be transferred to his exploratory committee for president.

The 50-year-old senator has charted a centrist's course throughout his political career, including two terms as governor and eight years in the Senate.

Another take on Bayh setting up the exploratory committee:

Bayh is not as well known as those potential candidates and ranks well behind better known Democrats in public opinion polls.

"As the people get to know me, I think we'll do very well," Bayh said. "I've been a successful two-term governor with a record of delivering results. I now have national security experience from my presence in the Senate."