FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- Kentucky's annual fall election kickoff event will be light on big-name state politicians this year.
The picnic in the tiny western Kentucky town of Fancy Farm won't have heavy-hitting speakers like Democrats Gov. Steve Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson, who both say they will not be attending the Aug. 4 event.
Fancy Farm organizers told WFPL Republican U.S. Sen. Rand Paul also plans to be a no-show.
Kentucky's other U.S. Senator, Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, has not yet confirmed to speak.
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney will have a surrogate speaker at the picnic, which is a fundraiser for a Catholic church but has become the traditional start of the fall campaign in the state.
The Obama campaign has not settled on whether a surrogate will attend.
