Daniel Mongiardo didn’t show up at a pre-scheduled press conference with Governor Beshear on Wednesday. It was scheduled at 10:30 A.M. Eastern at Chandler Medical Center at the University of Kentucky.

His campaign’s excuse for missing it? A fundraiser in Chicago. Mongiardo’s campaign manager, Kim Geveden, provided WHAS11′s Joe Arnold with a copy of a parking receipt stamped with the time 6:47 P.M. Central (the arrival time was just an hour earlier). Good excuse, huh? Couldn’t make a press conference because he was at a fundraiser in Chicago.

A fundraiser not on the books anywhere. A fundraiser that didn’t involve invitations. A fundraiser no one knew about. A full nine hours after the press conference.

And our sources in the governor’s office tell us that when Lt. Dan was called after not showing up, he was a mere 15 minutes away from the event. 15 minutes. He was ordered to turn around but did not do so. I am told that can be backed up with cell phone records and information from cellular towers in the area.

It takes about five hours to drive to Chicago from Louisville, mind you. So why lie about having to be in Chicago? He had a multiple hour cushion. And he could have flown for $100. What kind of excuse is that?

So, I’ve gotta ask: has anyone filed open records requests to determine if Mongiardo traveled to Chicago with a state security detail? Was he on state time? Campaign time? Who paid for the trip? Time to pony up. Because if he willfully skipped a press conference – a job responsibility – in favor of going to a campaign fundraiser (during the day, in another city)? That’s kind of terrible. It’s proof he doesn’t do his job and doesn’t take it seriously.

And, really, why is Lt. Dan afraid to admit it was him on the tape? Does he really expect voters to believe him? Does he want us to believe in him? I was gaining more respect for him the more I heard the audio. But now that he’s wussed completely out? Ha. Fat chance.

In related news: Now the hot gossip in Frankfort is that Lt. Dan and his people are attempting to blame his security detail for the audio leaks.

UPDATE:

Just in case you need a reminder, Daniel Mongiardo’s campaign is in such a mess that his own staffers leaked his entire campaign plan in July. These audio recordings are, in my opinion, just additional proof that everything is in a tailspin.

Funny to watch the mainstream media act like this is the first time damaging information from inside Lt. Dan’s camp has been leaked.