Chandler Says He Might Run to Succeed Fletcher in U.S. House

Lexington, KY, Herald-Leader ^ | 11-08-03 | Wolfe, Charles, AP

[Theodore R.]

Chandler cites GOP's money edge SAYS HE MIGHT RUN TO SUCCEED FLETCHER IN THE U.S. HOUSE By Charles Wolfe ASSOCIATED PRESS

FRANKFORT - Ben Chandler said yesterday that his campaign for governor was overwhelmed by Republican money and handicapped by the Democratic Party's lack of a compelling message.

In addition, President Bush's visit to Kentucky generated a bigger turnout in Republican strongholds and Gov.-elect Ernie Fletcher "didn't make any serious mistakes," Chandler said.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Chandler also held out the possibility of running to succeed Fletcher in the U.S. House but not for the U.S. Senate in 2004.

He also defended his running mate for lieutenant governor, Charlie Owen, who put $500,000 into their campaign but resisted those who wanted him to reach deeper into his personal fortune.

Fletcher defeated Chandler, the state's attorney general, by about 108,000 votes in the election Tuesday. The Democratic Party had not lost a gubernatorial election since 1967. Fletcher carried 86 counties, running on a promise to "clean up the mess in Frankfort" after all those years of having Democrats in power.

"We didn't have a ready-made message," Chandler said. "They had a ready-made message, and it was simple. It was 'Let's clean up the mess in Frankfort; I'm a Republican. Democrats have caused this mess, and I'm a Republican.'"

Chandler said he suspects he was outspent by $10 million to $15 million, a total that includes $8 million spent by Bruce Lunsford to run against him in the Democratic primary.

"A good deal of it boils down to the amount of money spent," Chandler said. "I don't think, frankly, if Charlie had put a couple million more, I'm not sure that it would have made a great big difference."

The only Democrats who won on Tuesday -- Greg Stumbo for attorney general, Crit Luallen for auditor and state Treasurer Jonathan Miller for re-election -- had more money than their Republican opponents, Chandler said.

Lunsford, who dropped out of the race shortly before the Democratic primary, ran as a self-made outsider and attacked Chandler as a consummate insider.

Meanwhile, Fletcher was running on the Republican side on the theme that it was time for a change. Chandler said the two campaigns meshed well in the public consciousness, and there is "circumstantial evidence to suggest some coordination."

Chandler cited Lunsford's past support of Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell and the presence of McConnell's wife, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, on the board of Lunsford's company.

Lunsford endorsed Fletcher late in the general election campaign.

Lunsford was not available for comment. His former campaign manager, Dale Emmons, said the idea of Lunsford as a "closet Republican" was "a total crock" and that Chandler was "a crybaby" looking for someone to blame for his loss.

Chandler said a turning point in the race actually occurred long before the campaign when Republicans in the Kentucky Senate succeeded in eliminating public financing and spending limits in gubernatorial campaigns. That enabled the GOP to bring more money to bear on the race, Chandler said.

Chandler said one commercial by the Republican Governors Association was especially effective. The 30-second television spot, referring to Chandler's handling of a lawsuit against health insurance giant Anthem Inc., said Chandler "wasted" part of the $45 million settlement.

Chandler was furious about the ad, which he called a gross distortion, and Fletcher distanced himself from it. But Chandler said his campaign's polling showed that the ad had worked because large numbers of voters suddenly were pushed into the Fletcher column.

Chandler's term as attorney general expires in the first week of January. He said he had not decided what to do but would not rule out running in a special election to complete Fletcher's congressional term, provided he could get the Democratic nomination.

Chandler said he had no interest in running against U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning next year because he is not prepared for another statewide campaign. He said a congressional race "would be a little bit more manageable."

[Dems_R_Losers]

What a freaking crybaby. I hope the voters of the 6th District (where I was born) have enough sense not to vote for this loser if he does run for Congress.

[Theodore R.]

I have not seen a list of potential candidates for Fletcher's House seat.

In LA, losing gubernatorial candidates often quickly rebound into other offices. For instance, J. Bennett Johnston, Jr., lost the 1971 Democrat gubernatorial primary but was elected U.S. senator in 1972 and held the seat for 24 years. Mary Landrieu, the state treasurer, lost a race for governor in 1995 but rebounded to the Senate in 1996, where she remains (permanently?)

It will be the Democrat leadership who picks the candidate for the House in the special KY election, not voters. So the party leadership will have to consider Chandler, or they may reject him. I personally think Chandler could rebound. After all, he is "Happy's" grandson, and Happy lost as many races as he won.

[Kuksool]

Soreloserman Alert!

[Cicero]

"We didn't have a ready-made message," Chandler said.

Why not?

[Kuksool]

The KY-06 has a slight GOP lean. After all, Bush won the KY-06, 55-42. But, a RAT with strong local appeal could win.

[toddst]

I hope the voters of the 6th District . . . have enough sense not to vote for this loser if he does run for Congress.

All Chandler has going for him in a race for the 6th District is his name. If a strong Republican candidate runs (and I think that's a lead-pipe cinch) Mr. Chandler will lose - again. Take a break, Ben. You don't have to be in politics, despite your name.

[Dems_R_Losers]

I've heard that Ellen Williams may run. She has been Executive Director of the state GOP for several years and is wonderful. She has led the resurgence of the party, along with Mitch McConnell, which has culimnated in this historic election.

The Kentucky Dems blew it when they nominated Chandler. They might have had a shot at keeping the governorship with someone who had beenoutdies state government andcould distance him- or herself from Paul Patton. Chandler just wasn't credible as a candidate fo change. And he is also dumb as a fence post.

[Dems_R_Losers]

Lemme try that last paragraph again!

The Kentucky Dems blew it when they nominated Chandler. They might have had a shot at keeping the governorship with someone who had been outside state government and could distance him- or herself from Paul Patton. Chandler just wasn't credible as a candidate of change. And he is also dumb as a fence post.

[toddst]

I've heard that Ellen Williams may run.

Interesting. I believe Ms. Williams would be a strong candidate, though I hadn't heard she had interest in running. I was hearing more about our state Senator Alice Forgy Kerr perhaps being interested in running. Either of them would be good candidates IMO.

[Clintonfatigued]

Official results: In the 6th. Congressional district, Ernie Fletcher outpolled Ben Chandler by 112,137 to 89,447 (56% to 44%)

[Clintonfatigued]

Already, there is a 'Rat in the race. She is Fayette County District Attorney Margaret Kennenshom. Right now, lots of Republicans are looking at it.

[Republican Wildcat]

I don't believe Ellen Williams is running. Senator Alice Forgy-Kerr is probably the favorite to the get the Republican nomination. Her victory will set off another special election, and if a current State House member runs for her seat, then there would be yet another.

[Republican Wildcat]

Indeed. I'm not sure why he thinks running for that seat would be a good idea. Coming off of a loss isn't exactly a momentum builder.

[dogbyte12]

Joey and Ross are behind him all the way

[Impy]

Good.

What cong districts did Chandler win? Only Northup's?

I don't think the rats will be winning this seat. Hopefully in 04 we can oust Ken Lucas and hold all the Kentucky seats!!


The special election we have to worry about is Billy Tauzin's, he plans to quit soon to be a lobbyist. His seat is the second most rat in LA and has a high black population.

[Holden Magroin]

Chandler would have to explain why he wants to run for Congress after putting his heart and soul into the governor's race. A lot of voters are bound to see him as a career politician and opportunist. He's also so anti-Bush that he'll be unable to use the old platitude about working with Republicans and Democrats. Furthermore, he'd be a pro-abort running in a socially conservative district. However, his name recognition and organization might go a long way against a state senator.

[Theodore R.]

I did not know that Chandler supports abortion. Wasn't Wendell Ford "pro-life" to a point? I bet ol' Happy would be pro-life if he were still around, but I never read anything about Happy Chandler and abortion.

[Holden Magroin]

Chandler went on record during the campaign as pro-"choice."

[Theodore R.]

I missed the part about Chandler being "pro-choice" though I thought that I had followed the KY gubernatorial campaign quite closely. This could have been a fatal decision for him -- he may have won had he kept a "pro-life" stance. It would seem that "Happy" Chandler would have been "pro-life." one would have thought. So the "pro-choice" label could then cause his defeat in a race for Congress. Maybe the Democrats will run him for Congress and maybe he will lose that too and be finished in KY politics.