Perhaps the most far-reaching game of connect-the-dots leads to the Senate's top Democrat, Harry Reid of Nevada, who is an old law school buddy of Forgy.

Larry_forgy Forgy has been rumbling all summer about potentially challenging McConnell, and last week he lobbed criticism at McConnell in a Washington Times article.

Forgy says his interest has nothing to do with his longtime friendship with Reid.

Forgy and Reid's relationship dates to their time at George Washington University law school together in the 1960s. Reid graduated in 1964, while Forgy, who took a semester off to campaign for Kentucky U.S. Sen. Thurston Morton, got his degree in '65.

"Harry and I both worked our way through law school," Forgy said. Both served in the U.S. Capitol security detail, working 4 p.m. to midnight.

Sen. Mitch McConnell's close backing of President Bush on immigration and the Iraq war is costing him support among Kentucky Republicans, and, according to some party members, hurting his chances for re-election next year.

He even could face a primary challenge from former Republican gubernatorial candidate Larry Forgy, who contends that Mr. McConnell's in-state problems are compounded by job losses to producers beyond America's borders.

“The average Kentuckian feels we are giving away this country with both hands — jobs are going, essentially the primacy of the people who made this country great is going, and Mitch McConnell is lumped with the Washington types on this,” Mr. Forgy said.

“And the war in Iraq is less troublesome in Kentucky than in many other places, but it is not popular here, and Republican voters see Mitch's views as too close to the president's on the war,” said Mr. Forgy, a Lexington lawyer.

Someone placed fluorescent fliers on car windshields in the picnic parking lot saying, "Vote for a straight Republican. Vote Forgy U.S. Senator '08."

There was no further explanation.

Forgy, who was attending the event, said he didn't know who was responsible, but said he was aware of a Web site, www.draftforgy.com, that's encouraging him to take on U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell in a Republican primary next year.

Forgy said he wants to wait until after the governor's race is over in November before deciding whether to run. Specifically, he said he wants to see how McConnell helps Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher in the senator's hometown of Louisville.

But Forgy also wouldn't rule out challenging McConnell. "I don't see any reason to rule it in or rule it out," he said. McConnell declined to comment on his 2008 re-election or potential challengers.