In the eyes of many Kentucky Democrats, U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler’s endorsement of Bruce Lunsford is as important to Lunsford’s race against four-term U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell as Hillary Clinton’s endorsement of Barack Obama is in his race against John McCain.
Just as Obama must win the support of former Clinton supporters to win the presidency in November, Lunsford needs the backing of a united Democratic Party to unseat McConnell, the Senate minority leader. Just as Clinton supporters have reason to be upset with Obama, many Chandler backers still blame Lunsford for the then-state attorney general losing to Ernie Fletcher in the 2003 governor’s race.
While Lunsford withdrew from the governor’s race just days before the May 2003 primary — virtually assuring Chandler of his party’s nomination — the agressive, negative campaign Lunsford had waged against Chandler had already done its damage. Fletcher didn’t have to spend a lot of time and money telling voters why they should not vote for Chandler because Lunsford had already done it for them.
As if to add salt to the wounds, Lunsford openly endorsed Fletcher during the fall campaign. Five years later, many long-time Kentucky Democrats still are angry at Lunsford — a millionaire Louisville businessman who has never held elective office — and question his loyalty to the party.
Of course, Chandler recovered quickly from his loss to Fletcher by winning a special election to fill the Sixth District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives that Fletcher vacated to become governor. Today, Chandler is a popular member of Kentucky’s House delegation in a reasonably “safe” seat, while Fletcher’s failure to fulfill his campaign promise to “clean up the mess in Frankfort” assured him of serving only one term.
Until this week, Chandler had remained silent while Lunsford — who was encouraged by Gov. Steve Beshear to run against McConnell — won the primary in May and began his uphill battle to unseat one of the the most influential members of the U.S. Senate. But he ended that silence during the opening night of the Democratic National Convention in Denver by endorsing Lunsford.
Whether Chandler’s support will enable Lunsford to upset McConnell on Nov. 4 remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: Without the support of Democrats who still blame Lunsford for Chandler’s deafeat in 2003, the odds of Lunsford defeating McConnell are slim to none. Lunsford needs Chandler like Obama needs Clinton.
Editorials
An endorsement — 08/29/08
Lunsford needs Chandler like Obama needs Hillary Clinton
- Editorials
-
-
Focus on music
There will be no new trophies for winning marching band competitions for the Boyd County High School band. Nor will band members be spending as many summer days in the hot sun in band camp and autumn Saturdays taking long bus drives to compete in band festivals in distant communities.
-
Memorial Day
Unlike our other wars, the American people were never asked to sacrifice for the war in Iraq and the one still ongoing in Afghanistan. They have been wars fought by an all-voluntary military and by the “weekend soldiers” in the National Guard and in the Army, Navy and Air Force Reserve
-
Still more cuts
If you believe the cuts mandated by the two-year state budget that will take effect July 1 will have little impact on services, consider this.
-
Earmarks again?
Immediately, following the midterm elections of 2010 which saw Republicans regain control of the House of Representatives and capture seats in the U.S. Senate, Republican leaders in Congress announced they had heard the voice of the voters and vowed to cease using “earmarks,” the name given to appropriations slipped into bills by influential legislators without a vote.
-
Best in the nation
It may surprise many readers that Newsweek’s “best high school in America” is located right here in Kentucky and is open to selected students throughout the state, but then the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green is hardly your typical high school. In fact, it would be impossible for even the best public high schools to emulate the amazing success of students at the Gatton Academy.
-
After the vote
We offer today a few reflections on the messages voters sent in Tuesday’s primary election in Kentucky.
-
A mild winter
As we approach the Memorial Day weekend, long hailed as the unofficial start of the summer vacation season, we pause to reflect upon the winter that wasn’t.
-
Devices banned
Emergency breathing devices that tests have proven unreliable are being phased out under a directive issued by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration. However, MSHA has given mine operators more than 18 months to remove all the air packs from underground mines.
-
A free weekend
In an effort to promote increased recreational use of the two lakes in the Daniel Boone National Forest, the U.S. Forest Service will offer free fishing and boating during the first weekend in June.
-
Ho-hum election
Psst! Want to know a secret? There’s a primary election Tuesday. And it’s right here in Kentucky! However, there has been so little interest in this election, that Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, the state’s top election official, is predicting that only betwixen 10 and 12 percent of the state’s eligible voters will take the time to go to the polls tomorrow.
- More Editorials Headlines
-
Focus on music
California's Foie Gras Ban About to Begin
6-Year-Old Going to National Spelling Bee
Video Essay: Funky Winkerbean Comic Turns 40
On Thailand Trip, Suu Kyi Visits Migrants
Raw Video: Pink Diamond Auctioned for $17.4M
Hurricane Andrew Remembered, 20 Years Later
Sister Says She Reported Brother in Patz Killing
Patz Suspect's Sister: I Went to Police in 1980s
Diplomatic Expulsions Follow Fresh Syria Report
15 Dead in Northern Italy's 5.8-magnitude Quake
Angry Birds Spreading Their Wings
Witness Describes Fla. Face-chewing Attack
Man Falls Off Crane, Dies After Police Standoff
Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108
Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows
Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
New Ticks Spread Across Southeast, Diseases Rise
Bring Your Own Tech Programs Charge Up Students
Pope's Butler Vows to Help Vatican Investigation
