Democrat Ed Marksberry, a longshot candidate for U.S. Senate, has been added to the roster of speakers at the annual Fancy Farm political picnic in western Kentucky. An Owensboro building contractor, Marksberry faces Democratic powerhouse Alison Lundergan Grimes in next year's May primary. Marksberry has been allotted five minutes to speak at the event on Saturday.
Feeling overlooked in the race, Marksberry filed a lawsuit against the Kentucky Democratic Party, claiming it is showing favoritism toward Grimes. The other two Democratic candidates — University of Louisville professor Greg Leichty and Louisville music promoter Bennie J. Smith — aren't on the list of speakers.
The political speeches are part of a church picnic that doubles as a fundraiser for St. Jerome Parish. It typically draws 10,000 people and generates about $250,000.
