The race to replace now-Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo in eastern Kentucky’s 30th senate district is getting down and dirty. The poo is hitting the fan in real life, on radio and on television. Republican Brandon Smith and Democratic candidate Scott Alexander are just a couple ads away from clobbering each other with baseball bats.

From Ryan Alessi:

The Kentucky Republican Party is protesting Democratic candidate Scott Alexander’s spots that claim Republican Brandon Smith voted to cut coal severance tax money to the region in 2004.

And Alexander’s camp is objecting to a new GOP ad that implies that Democratic officials traded a $50,000-a-year job to the former Bell County Democratic chairman in exchange for his support.

Isn’t it awesome to watch? Both parties are accused of ridiculous behavior and it all surfaces in a special election. Selling one’s constituency out and trading jobs for political favors. We all know it happens and no one blinks an eye.

Interesting note: Alexander’s spokesperson for the special election is Kim Geveden. Geveden, you may recall, is Greg Fischer’s new advisor/spokesperson who is better known as Daniel Mongiardo’s former campaign manager.