Former Kentucky gubernatorial nominee Larry Forgy is backing challenger Matt Bevin over incumbent Mitch McConnell in next year's Republican primary battle for U.S. Senate.Forgy is a Lexington attorney who once served as the state chairman for Ronald Reagan's presidential campaigns in the 1980s.In 1995, Forgy made an unsuccessful bid for Kentucky governor against Democrat Paul Patton."I feel that our country is in trouble and more Mitch McConnell is not the answer—Matt Bevin is," says Forgy. "I have known and helped Mitch McConnell for 36 years, and that's long enough. He is the best example of the need for term limits that exists in government today."The endorsement of Bevin comes as little surprise given Forgy's open criticism of McConnell.Forgy did cause controversy two years ago when he suggested former Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson was selected as Gov. Steve Beshear's running mate due to his Jewish heritage in order to attract big donors."There's no other reason why to pick a big-city, liberal mayor to run for lieutenant governor in a rural, conservative state like this," Forgy told The Lexington Herald-Leader.In a statement, Bevin said he was "honored to receive the endorsement of one of the Republican Party's most respected leaders in Kentucky."Bevin's campaign has not responded to our request for comment regarding Forgy's 2011 remarks, however.
