By RONNIE ELLIS — CNHI News Service
FRANKFORT — Jerry Abramson was a big hit Monday at the press conferences here and later in his home town when he was introduced as Gov. Steve Beshear’s 2011 running mate.
Smooth and urbane, he deftly parried reporters’ questions, evoked laughter several times with jokes and, before the Frankfort press conference, engaged one reporter in good natured trash talking about a volleyball match between his administration and the press.
But how will he play in rural Kentucky?
Both Beshear and Abramson downplayed any potential negative reaction in rural Kentucky.
“His Kentucky roots, just as deep and just as strong, are in Jefferson County,” Beshear said. “I really believe Kentuckians care a lot less about where you’re from than about where you’re going.”
Maybe.
But a “rural/urban divide” has been accepted as conventional political wisdom for a long time in this state. Some rural Kentuckians still feel like little brother to the state’s largest city.
“Louisville is in western Kentucky in some circles, but not here,” said Henderson County Judge-Executive Sandy Watkins. “But I don’t think the mayor will play all that bad here — he’s got a very solid reputation for getting things done.”
Abramson has often been mentioned as a statewide candidate, for governor or for U.S. senator, but this will be his first race across Kentucky. He’s been tremendously popular in Louisville where he’s often called “Mayor for Life,” but he’s seen his popularity ratings fall from 80 percent to the still impressive level of over 50 percent.
But lately he’s been criticized by labor and that troubles Jean Bianchi, a former president of the Pulaski County Democratic Women’s Club.
“I’m usually on the side of labor,” said Bianchi. “I can’t help it because I come from eastern Kentucky. I don’t know if this will help (Beshear) or not.”
She said she hasn’t talked about the Abramson selection with many people but one fellow Democrat asked her this weekend if Abramson was the likely choice, “and they were a little concerned.”
Like Watkins, Barren County Sheriff Chris Eaton likes Abramson, though he concedes he doesn’t know him well, having met the mayor briefly a couple of times.
“I don’t know how he’ll play in rural areas,” Eaton said. “But he brings a wealth of knowledge as mayor of one of the biggest cities in the United States.”
I think once people get to know him, he’ll be fine. The times I’ve met him, he’s very personable.”
Abramson may have some catching up in the name recognition department to do in rural Kentucky.
Amy Zabrieszack, president of the Greenup County Democratic Women’s Club, wants to know more about Abramson — although she said his residence won’t be a problem for her.
“To be quite honest, I really don’t know that much about him,” she said. “Being from Louisville doesn’t trouble me. His residence wouldn’t be a deciding factor for me.”
Greenup County lies in the northeast corner of Kentucky near Ashland and the West Virginia and Ohio borders. It’s a heavily Democratic county. But it’s a long way from the Louisville media market.
“Once I get more information about his background and experience, I’ll know better,” Zabrieszack said. “I just need more information.”
Eaton said Abramson needs to get out in the state and shake hands with rural Democrats and Republicans alike. That’s something Beshear and Abramson have said he will do.
They’re not wasting much time. The two will fly to Bowling Green, Paducah and Owensboro Tuesday and then to Hazard, Ashland and Covington on Wednesday.
And while he’s not speaking, Abramson said Monday he will attend the grand daddy of rural political events in Kentucky – the annual Fancy Farm picnic on Aug. 1 in far western Kentucky. That’s a region where Beshear is weakest in polling and where conservative Democrats might quibble with stances Abramson has taken against assault weapons in the past.
Abramson had an answer Monday when asked about how he’ll be perceived in rural Kentucky.
“There’s a lot more to pull us together as Kentuckians than separates us,” Abramson said.
Eaton, the Barren County sheriff had an answer, too.
“He just needs to roll up his sleeves and get out in Floyd County and Pike County and get people in places like that to support him,” Eaton said.
RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. He can be contacted by email at rellis@cnhi.com.
