I love it. I love it. I love it.
Matt Gunterman May 8th, 2007
The Republican civil war — the one that’s manifest in the Kentucky GOP primary between Governor Ernie Fletcher and former Congresswoman Anne Northup (who is the sick-o-phant of Senator Mitch McConnell in the race) — is hotting up, to say the least. You can best get a sense of how things are shaping up with the latest round of attack ads from both candidates (the Herald-Leader PolWatcher blog has them up).
I love it. My money’s on Fletcher winning the primary with over 40 percent of the vote; thus the runoff would be avoided. But, no matter who wins on the Republican side, there will be deep bitterness. In fact, the most prolonged bitterness — and thus the worst case scenario for the Kentucky GOP in the long run — would likely result from a Northup win. Knowing his personality and the recent history of his political operation, a defeated Governor Fletcher and his organization would do pretty much all they could to undermine a victorious candidate Northup. I don’t see Fletcher and Rudolph suddenly falling into line behind McConnell and the Northup bandwagon. That hasn’t been their style so far.
So, if a Northup win is the worst thing for the Kentucky GOP as an institution, why am I not cheering for her, as some in the Democratic blogosphere in Kentucky most plainly are? I’m not because the best thing for the Kentucky Democratic Party is a Fletcher win. I want the Democrats to take back the governor’s mansion, and Fletcher will be the easiest candidate to beat. Certainly, I’d like to see a weakened Republican Party in the state, but I’d rather see a strong and energized Democratic Party first.
No matter the outcome in the Republican primary on May 22, the result will leave a good number of Republicans bitter, and that bitterness will hurt Mitch McConnell in 2008.
- Ann Northup , Gubernatorial race '07 , Kentucky Dems , Kentucky GOP , Mitch McConnell , Republican Party Decline
- Comments(5)
That’s awesome! Ha!
With that out of the way…I like to think that even if I were a hardcore Republican, there wouldn’t be a snowball’s chance of me voting for Fletcher, for precisely the reason that you say he’d be the easiest for a Democratic candidate to whip. Well, on top of the lying and stealing, that is.
Finally seeing some Beshear signs in western Kentucky. Tuesday they were all placed in front of one lot with a convention center and resteraunte in Central City/Greenville, today they’ve moved them to different spots along the same mile of road (not in yards, just thrown up on the edge of the road).
Including the biggest sign a political supporter is an a-hole, a couple were put up two feet in front of another candidate’s sign (Henry) to make sure nobody could see it the oponents sign!!!
When I was in Lexington two weeks ago, I was REALLY surprised out how there simply weren’t any yard signs around. The only ones I saw were Fletcher, and I think I saw maybe a few Northup, but that could have been bumper stickers. I didn’t see any signs from Democrats.
Does Muhlenburg Co not have ordinances regarding campaign signage? It seems as though signange in public thoroughfares should be given equal space.
I’m unaware of any ordinance anyone has to political signs, except the road department has a procedure usually to take any signs from spots about to be mowed Normally the written policy is they take them all and then candidates can come pick them up, but most of the time the workers simply pick them up, then put them back in the ground after mowing. I’m sure some get mowed down if the worker likes his boss!