Ashley Judd Senate Candidate in 2014? Actress Could Challenge Mitch McConnell for Seat, Or Rand Paul in 2016

Celebrity activist Ashley Judd is considering a run for Senate in her home state of Kentucky.

In recent years, she has become a fierce supporter of President Obama and an outspoken advocate for AIDS research and abortion rights and against mountaintop removal for coal mining.

If she mounts a campaign in 2014, she will challenge Mitch McConnell, the 28-year Senate veteran and Republican Senate Minority leader, one of the most powerful Republicans in Congress.

However, Judd is also considering waiting until 2016, when she could run against Rand Paul, a darling of the Tea Party and the son of the libertarian icon Ron Paul.

Judd has already spoken to Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Democratic pollsters.

"She is doing all the things that a serious candidate exploring a race should do," said Democratic Representative John Yarmuth of Kentucky.

"I think there are a lot of people, and I was one of them, who wanted to let her know that her candidacy would be an exciting prospect for us. That's what I wanted her to know. A lot of the labor unions, they were telling me that too."

Judd is downplaying the news, while still keeping her options open. "I cherish Kentucky, heart and soul, and while I'm very honored by the consideration, we have just finished an election, so let's focus on coming together to keep moving America's families, and especially our kids, forward," she said.

Judd is an alum of the University of Kentucky and a regular attendee at their basketball games, but she would likely be pegged as a Hollywood liberal who no longer lives in the state.

Judd could begin to prepare for a run if she moved back to Kentucky and took time to become a part of the local community again.

It worked for Hillary Clinton when she bought a house in New York and went on to win a Senate race.

And Al Franken, the comedian and Saturday Night Live veteran, used his fame to jumpstart a successful Senate bid, as well, so there is precedent for Judd's run.

McConnell won't make it easy for her.

It's going to sting," said McConnell's campaign manager Jesse Benton, speaking to any potential challengers in 2014.

"We're going to make sure that you don't come out with your nose clean. We're going to drive your negatives up and very aggressively and publicly litigate your record before the citizens of Kentucky."