FANCY FARM, Ky. (LEX 18) — With the statewide election three months away, the campaign season in Kentucky continues to heat up.
This weekend at Fancy Farm also gave us a window into the highly-anticipated race next year for longtime Senator Mitch McConnell and his challengers.
Standing in front of a raucous crowd on Saturday, the Republican Senate Majority Leader tried to swat away chants of "Moscow Mitch" by giving his most well-known Democratic opponent a moniker of her own.
"The Washington liberals responded by targeting me. They handpicked Amy "McGaffe," oh I mean, McGrath. She sends her regards. She's still working on an answer on Brett Kavanaugh with her friends over at MSNBC," said Sen. McConnell.
McGrath, a Democrat candidate, wasn't at Fancy Farm to defend herself, choosing to pass on the annual political picnic.
Critics have slammed the move as another miscalculation in what they say has been a rocky campaign roll-out, which started on MSNBC last month.
That's when McGrath took aim at the Senate Majority Leader.
"The things that Kentuckians voted for Donald Trump for, are not being done because of Senator Mitch McConnell," McGrath said on MSNBC.
That's a message that resonates with Republican candidate Wesley C. Morgan.
"In my mind, my main goal is to help the President of the United States pass his America First agenda," said Morgan.
The former state representative has launched a bid hoping to primary McConnell. While he didn't speak on the Fancy Farm stage, he still had a lot to say.
"I think Senator McConnell is not a constitutional conservative. He's not upholding the constitution," said Morgan.
Democratic candidate Mike Broihier is on the opposite end of the political spectrum.
Broihier is a retired Marine running to McGrath's left, and focusing on economic and social justice.
"I think I have a lot of connections with the common people in Kentucky, and I think they're going to relate to my message," said Broihier.
This time next year, the candidates in the Senate race will be the ones taking center stage at Fancy Farm.
