Ashley Judd: Senate race for real?

Kentucky native Ashley Judd says she is "taking a close look" at running against Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell in 2014.

Judd, a Hollywood actress and activist, spoke briefly to The Courier-Journal on her way to the Kentucky Society of Washington's Bluegrass Ball on Saturday evening. Judd would not say whether she has decided to mount a campaign.

She said "the people of Kentucky need a fighter."

Judd has been mentioned as a potential Democratic challenger to McConnell, who is the Senate Minority Leader.

McConnell did not attend the Bluegrass Ball.

Judd said that "the people of Kentucky are interested in me representing them is the greatest honor of my life so far."

But as The Courier-Journal reports, Judd is opposed to mountain-top strip mining, in a state where candidates traditionally support coal mining.

This is not the first time the Judd has hinted that she might run. As The Christian Science Monitor wrote last month, Judd's name has been out there for a while.

"One reason Judd’s name is coming up is because other prominent Kentucky Democrats don’t want to run and get beat.

Second, Judd’s not just a Democrat, she’s a Hollywood Democrat. Her own grandmother recently called her a “Hollywood liberal.” The GOP has long experience in painting such folks as out-of-touch celebrity nitwits who want to nationalize health care while forcing everyone to drive electric cars with a top speed of 55 miles per hour."

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