Kentucky's Uphill Battle
October 3, 2011 - 10:06am / leanna.cannafaxWe’ve all heard the phrase close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, but the idiomatic expression resonates more soundly with Congressman Geoff Davis (R-KY) than most. No matter how few votes short you are from winning your first bid for a congressional seat, in the American democratic system, close doesn’t cut it.
After a month of heavy travel across the “Worst run state in America” according to a comprehensive study of state financial management by 24/7 Wall St., volunteering with the victory operation and observing dismal political polling for the top of the ticket; one thing stands for certain in the eyes of the Republican Party of Kentucky: An uphill battle.
Kentucky is unique to the state of Alabama, where I attended college, in more ways than one. Football is just a passing period until basketball season and as Keeneland, the #1 ranked horse track in North America opens this weekend, I am reminded thoroughbreds generate more capital than bass fishing. However, in this first week of October – The Commonwealth is distinct from all 50 states. Kentucky voters sit one month away from either electing Senate President David Williams, or reelecting incumbent Democrat Steve Beshear to the Governor’s mansion in Frankfort.
While attending a meeting of the Western Kentucky University College Republicans, I spoke with David Givens, Republican state senator from the 9thDistrict. A striking number of registered voters in Kentucky say they cannot vote Republican because their grandfather would roll over in his grave. Senator Givens did not miss a beat. “Their grandfather would roll over in his grave if he knew the direction the Democratic Party was headed.”
The greater conservative audience and young college graduates forced to leave the state to find jobs know how important it is Kentucky support the Republican ticket this November. The Williams-Farmer campaign hosted Governor Scott Walker in a "Rally to Victory" on September 15th and this week, the Republican nominee for Attorney General Todd P’Pool welcomed special guests Ken Cuccinelli and Mike Huckabee as they fundraised on his behalf. Both P'Pool and James Comer for Commissioner of Agriculture are in good position to win.
Also holding off-year elections where fellow CRNC Field Representatives Madison Shook and Ben Walters are hard at work is the state of Mississippi. Yesterday, Governor Haley Barbour said on Twitter:
“Democratic policies have made this economy worse not better. The elections will be a referendum on Obama's policies.”
I hope that Kentucky follows suit. I cannot help but think back to 1996, when Senator Mitch McConnell trumped Beshear by almost 165,000 votes. Today, the incumbent shows a widening lead for Governor of the same state. Uphill battles are never won with ease, but the cause is valiant and the Republican message is clear.
Kentucky statewide elections are on November the 8th. A calendar of October events is in place for College Republicans in Kentucky to Get Out the Vote. Stay informed on Facebook and Twitter or contact me directly lcannafax@crnc.org.
