Taking care of business before I go.

Just a little more than a week to go before I head out West.

I will be gone on Election Day, so today I took care of some important business by casting my absentee ballot. I live in Kentucky, and this election is actually a critical one with national ramifications. The marquee match-up is between our Republican incumbent senator Mitch McConnell, the senate minority leader, and his Democratic challenger, Alison Grimes. Mitch has been in the senate for 30 years, and he is the undisputed leader of the Republican obstructionism of the past six years. He has an unlimited war chest, thanks to the Koch brothers. Alison is a relative newcomer, but she's a vibrant young woman and she's out there meeting the people every day. Mitch, of course, rarely leaves Washington, DC.

Incredibly, the polls show Alison with a chance to win. My absentee ballot went to her, and I hope it's the one to put her over the top.