Jack Conway's First Statewide Ad Ignores Rand Paul

In his first statewide ad of the general election, Kentucky Senate candidate Jack Conway has taken a different approach from other Democrats running against Tea Party challengers: he ignored his opponent.

The Attorney General, in a spot that began airing early Monday, touts his endorsements from police officers, his work targeting illegal prescription drugs, and his "A" rating from the National Rifle Association. But there is no mention of the Republican in the race: firebrand libertarian, Rand Paul.

"Jack Conway is the chief law enforcement officer for Kentucky and a darn good one," a sheriff says at the beginning of the ad.

Conway, in the past, hasn't been hesitant in going after Paul on a variety of topics, including one that made its way into the ad: drug abuse in Kentucky (Paul's has suggested it won't be a "pressing issue" in the Senate race). So it's telling that in his first spot he decided to promote himself rather than trashing his opponent.

Other Democrats facing Tea Party challengers have done just the opposite. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has pummeled his challenger, Sharron Angle, with relentlessly negative advertisements strongly insinuating that she's just a tad too crazy for Nevada voters. Last week, Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) took a page from the same playbook with his first general election ad -- placing the spotlight solely on Republican Ken Buck's cabinet of quirky -- if not extreme -- policy positions.