By Kirk Laughlin
Today, voters from Pikeville to Paducah will be casting their ballots in several statewide match-ups. The Governor, Attorney General, State Auditor and Secretaries of State, Agriculture and Treasury will all be decided by the voters of Kentucky.
This campaign season’s themes have been constant since July. The incumbent Governor, Republican Ernie Fletcher, has been chastised for a merit system scandal, and his Democrat challenger, Steve Beshear, has faced flak over his plans of expanded gambling in Kentucky and allegations of corruption at a Lexington law firm for which he worked
At the University of Louisville, some political science professors say they believe the election is in the bag for the Democrat from Dawson Springs.
“The Governor’s race seems pretty frivolous right now, given the commanding lead that Beshear holds,” Dr. Jason Gainous, a political science research professor, said. “That being said, his campaign goal of expanded casino gaming will face a tough battle.”
Gainous said conservatives in the commonwealth will have a hard time swallowing the gambling issue.
“However, this state’s unique political background, with more liberal centers in Louisville and Lexington and Democratic voters in some of the rural areas forces moderation in statewide races, which the Beshear camp has capitalized on,” Gainous said.
Gainous also said Kentucky’s system was unusual, as most elected positions are appointed in other states.
Dr. Gary Gregg, chair of the McConnell Center for Political Leadership, said, “All the polls for months have pointed to the results of this year’s state elections being a foregone conclusion. That being said, the biggest election might actually be for Secretary of State.”
“Will Republican Trey Grayson be able to survive despite Fletcher’s lack of support at the top of the ticket?” Gregg asked. “Trey Grayson, for my money, is the most talented young politico in the state of Kentucky and it will be a tragedy to see him drug down to defeat by a little known challenger just because of the luck of being up for re-election in a year very unfriendly to Republicans,” Gregg said.
Gregg said Grayson has been a friend to U of L, and to “citizenship education in this state, as someone who is very concerned about civic education, that is something I really appreciate very much.”
“Three years ago, the Republicans were riding a huge wave of unprecedented success, and now that is all in jeopardy,” Gregg said. “Few could have predicted this turn of events just a couple of years ago.”
Gregg said that besides the race for Secretary of State, the most interesting result of this election will be discovering which Democrats feel emboldened enough to take on four-term Senator Mitch McConnell in 2008.
