Alice Kerr Lost KY Battle on Her Own Turf

Lexington, KY, Herald-Leader ^ | 02-22-04 | Alessi, Ryan

[Theodore R.]

"Voters in this state are pretty independent. Even Republican voters are independent minded,"

Notice that it was assumed that Democrats are "independent," but here "even" Republican voters are independent-minded.

[SLB]

How will Jim Bunning fare next election? How about Mitch? Seems they did not stump much for her, sort of set her up to sacrifice to the dems on this one. As soon as she looked to be in trouble they both distanced themselves even more, or so it seemed.

[rushmom]

Who's Buford

[rushmom]

It does make you wonder what the heck is going on.

[rushmom]

So Kerr is not running again?

[rushmom]

Good luck to Mr. Buford. I hope he gets the kind of organization that the Democrats gave chandler.

[skinkinthegrass]

Notice that it was assumed that Democrats are "independent," but here "even" Republican voters are independent-minded.

I worked for the Kerr camp, that said... Talked to one voter, "He said, This is the Nth time, I've been called, To Hell w/ both...I'm not voting."...(I'm NOT criticizing, just observing) it seems Kerr was 'out-hustled' for votes, while the ones that would have voted for her were harass enough not to vote...the 'RATs were gently coaxed to the polls....its seems a longer campaign, more/better resources, a more personal visits/approach by the Kerr would have helped...not to mention the slanted Media coverage..."the GOP was over-electeered, to a fault...taken too much, for granted"

[skinkinthegrass]

Well, Yeah...some truth to that. "We must always pick our battles...on ground favorable to Us...Sun Tzu, The Art of War" :(

[Billy54]

Kerr's loss can only be pinned on Mitch McConnell and his ego.
1. He thought that he could choose the candidate instead of letting the Republican voters decided who to send into the election.
2. Kerr is an undistinguished State Senator.
3. Bush and Cheney said that they would make a campaign visit then did not show up. Makes you wonder why?

Mitch thought whatever he said would go and forgot that the voters do matter.
People better wake up and get their act together instead of being sheep.

[RightOnGOP]

Au contraire, this article illustrates clearly what is going on.

Democrats outworked Republicans in this race.

When Democrats outwork Republicans, Democrats win.

When Republicans outwork Democrats, Republicans win.

Something so simple, but yet hard.

Article says that voter canvassing was done, well in advance of election day. Then just prior to Election Day, voters got a visit, asking for them to vote Democrat. They even got a SECOND visit asking for their vote. And they even targeted the Republican districts, not the Dem ones.

This sort of hard work will win every time.

Right now, the Democrats at all levels want to remove Bush more desperately than Republicans want to win, and win big. I'm hoping this can change over the next few months.

[kentuck]

First time post
your right mitch lost this election
a lot of people voted for Ben or stayed home after Mitch came down an picked Kerr running the rest of the repubs out of the race
this fall we'll pick who should run an then hopefully Mitch will support our pick

[JohnnyZ]

Ted Jackson, a Republican political consultant from Louisville, offered another possible cause of Kerr's loss: Kentuckians in both parties don't want one party to dominate.

This is going to be a recurring theme for Republicans as long as we have the presidency, house and senate. Enough voters have a stated desire for divided government to push swing districts over to the side that is out of power.

It's a problem I don't mind having, but a problem nonetheless.

[mabelkitty]

So Kentuckian's didn't act like New Yorkers and vote for whomever a seasoned politico annoints.
Cool. Good for them, and shame on McConnell for playing King.

[JohnnyZ]

Kerr's loss can only be pinned on Mitch McConnell and his ego. -- Billy54

You know, it sure makes people wonder about you when you only post to attack conservatives like Mitch McConnell, and glorify Arlen Specter while trashing Rick Santorum. You got called for it on the Pennsylvania thread but here you are again.

As for KENTUCK -- welcome to FR.

Genuine FReepers? Moby trolls trying to be subtle by stirring up dissention in the ranks? Who knows?

[kentuck]

glad to be here.As for Mitch hey I'd vote for him. There were other republicans running when he came down an decided who we could vote for.Well i think I'll pick who i should vote for. This fall i believe any repub. that runs will beat Ben as they would have in this election if not for Mitch.Hopefully it will be Buford I think he's the only repub to announce he's running so far.
Hey just what i think happened could be wrong

[Bluegrass Federalist]

People blaming Mitch, or saying he didn't work for Kerr, are ridiculous. Mitch's entire staff, including Billy Piper, were loaned to Kerr's campaign, and he raised tons for her. Nobody stayed home because "Mitch played King". Chandler had been campaigning for 18 months straight and had 100% name recognition. The negatives on him in the governor's race (Patton, e.g.) didn't carry over. None of the GOP candidates had any significant name recognition relative to Chandler - and that includes Lonnie Napier, who was so angry about Mitch leaning on the party to pick Kerr. Nobody outworked the GOP, either. They just had a good candidate.

Lonnie or Stan either one would have had the same hurdles to overcome had Mitch not gotten involved. They may be a bit relieved they were not the candidate, because now they have lifeleft when they can mount a whole season-long campaign next time. They don't have to face a highly known candidate with just two months to win.

Those who ignore the uphill battle we had in this race are doing so over sour grapes. I can sympathize with their anger at Mitch, but that's not realistic and it's not helpful to keeping the party moving toward winning for Bush and Buford,presumably, in the fall.