Daniel Cameron drops out of Freedom Fest following Massie's criticism

Kentucky gubernatorial hopeful Daniel Cameron is backing out of a conservative rally after being criticized by U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie.

Cameron's team previously said he intended on going to Eric Deters' Freedom Fest, joining a litany of prominent conservatives slated to descend upon Deters' Kenton County farm this September. Deters, who came in fourth in Kentucky's crowded Republican gubernatorial primary this year, has said he plans on announcing a run to unseat Massie at the event.

Fellow Republican Massie, a six-term congressman, did not like Cameron's plan, previously telling The Courier Journal that, “Whoever is advising Daniel Cameron to attend is guilty of political malpractice."

"Why would a guy who has a good chance to be governor — the attorney general, the chief law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth — appear at an event organized by a man who lost his license to practice law in multiple states, who has a restraining order against him, who has been arrested for contempt, and who recently pled guilty to three charges of harassing and menacing?" Massie said.

Cameron's campaign now says his plans have changed, saying in a statement, “As it turns out, we’re going to be doing other campaign events that day in another region of the state. We plan to campaign in northern Kentucky often between now and November 7."

That is the date of the general election, in which Cameron is vying to unseat popular Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat.

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This story may be updated.

Reach Olivia Krauth at okrauth@courierjournal.com and on Twitter at @oliviakrauth.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Daniel Cameron drops out of Eric Deters' Freedom Fest after criticism