Posted on 12/23/2003 10:54:44 AM PST by Republican Wildcat
KERR INVOKES HIM, BUT CHANDLER CITES INDEPENDENCE
When Alice Forgy Kerr, the Republican candidate for Central Kentucky's open U.S. House seat, talks about her campaign, one theme dominates: President Bush.
Kerr drops Bush's name in speeches, praises his policies and, last week, told almost anyone who would listen about a congratulatory phone call he made after she won the party's nomination.
Sometime before the Feb. 17 election, Bush might even make a campaign appearance on her behalf, making that his fourth in Kentucky since October.
For Democratic candidate Ben Chandler, so much attention to the president might seem like trouble.
Just over six weeks ago, he lost a race for governor with a campaign that accused the "Bush economy" of costing Kentucky jobs. By Election Day, economic indicators had pointed up and Bush had a 64 percent approval rating in Kentucky.
This time, however, Chandler will let Kerr talk about Bush.
He will focus on someone else: Ben Chandler, the "independent" political voice with the marquee name. It is something strategists say he should have done long ago. Then, if the race turns negative, he might start talking about Kerr, his advisers hint.
For most voters in the 16 Kentucky counties that compose the 6th Congressional District, the reality of yet another campaign will sink in just after the holidays. Over the following 50 days or so, they will be the target of a television advertising blitz from both candidates.
There is more at stake, however, than who will represent the district, which includes Lexington and Frankfort.
Kentucky Democrats need a victory to rally around after losing the governor's office, and Republicans want to gild the November victory of Ernie Fletcher by also keeping the U.S. House seat he left.
Moreover, as the first significant election of the 2004 cycle, the contest is seen by some political analysts as a test of the national parties' respective prowess.
"If the Democrats lose this race, it would be another sign of their weakness early in an election year," said Larry Sabato, a national political strategist at the University of Virginia. "If the Republicans lose, it would be seen as an embarrassment" to Bush, Fletcher and U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, who has strongly backed Kerr.
Outsider vs. independent
Kerr, a mother of two who has served as a state senator from Lexington for five years, hopes to position herself as a political outsider and Central Kentucky's first woman in Congress.
"I look forward to bringing a fresh voice to Congress, who will work with President Bush for the priorities of Central Kentucky families," she told the Lexington Young Professionals Association last week.
Like Bush, Kerr casually works religious references into her remarks. She recently told one group of voters how she heard of Saddam Hussein's capture: "Sunday morning, like many of you, I had just arrived at Sunday school and church when I first heard the news of an answered prayer."
She told reporters right after being nominated last weekend that she wants Bush to campaign for her. She has restated that desire in interviews since.
The White House, however, is not committing yet. Bush "fully supports her candidacy for Congress," White House spokesman Taylor Gross said, but "at this point, we have made no announcements" about a visit.
Joe Gershtenson, director of the Center for History and Politics at Eastern Kentucky University, predicts that Bush will not play that card until late, and only if it looks like the race will be close and Kerr has a chance.
"The last thing President Bush wants to do is come in here to the 6th District, have Chandler win the seat and have it appear that it says something about the president," he reasoned.
Kerr is getting other help now. Bush's chief of staff, Andrew Card, hosted a fund-raiser for her Thursday in Washington.
Back in Kentucky, Kerr reiterates her support for Bush in the war on terrorism and for his tax packages.
"It's a natural thing for Alice to talk about," said Ted Jackson, a Republican consultant in Louisville. Voters "want to know that the person in Congress is going to stand with President Bush."
In his failed race for governor, Chandler tried to pin widespread Kentucky job losses on the "Bush economy" and by extension, Fletcher. The message never took hold, and after the president swooped in twice to help Fletcher, the Republican won by 110,000 votes.
Chandler stands by his criticism of Bush.
"Here in Kentucky, we have lost a lot of jobs. That is the sum and substance of my criticism," he said in a recent interview.
For this race though, he has retooled his strategy.
"What I will highlight is essentially my independence, my independent voice on behalf of the people of Kentucky," he said.
Negative vs. positive
Chandler has challenged Kerr to a "positive" campaign and says he will not appear at public forums with her if she attacks him.
Kerr dodges the issue, saying only, "It has been Ben's style to always be negative and attack. I will fully expect that's how he would continue."
Chandler will not be specific about how he would respond if Kerr "goes negative." His path has only crossed hers a couple of times.
In 2000, Kerr and 31 other state senators approved a bill with a provision attached that nearly doubled legislators' pensions.
Chandler, the attorney general, challenged the legality of the move. The Supreme Court struck it down this year.
Neither campaign has said just when its TV ads would start. Chandler campaign manager Mark Nickolas said Kerr might be first but "she won't be up on the air a day before we're up."
Chandler has the advantage of fame. He is the grandson of former Gov. A.B. "Happy" Chandler and has run four statewide campaigns, including his fall race.
He also has baggage. By running for Congress only a month after that loss in the gubernatorial race, he is being tagged as a "political opportunist" by Republicans.
Kerr's campaign notes that at a Dec. 11 press conference, Chandler called the race a "golden opportunity" because "my name recognition will never be higher."
Kerr countered, "You don't go to Congress to grieve the loss of your lifetime dream."
That is hypocritical, said Chandler. U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Somerset, a 23-year veteran in Congress, lost a 1979 race for lieutenant governor only to win the 1980 congressional race.
"This is not about consolation prizes. This is not about any prizes," Chandler said. "This is about public service."
Hardly a valid comparison. Oh well. Poor old Ben is going for the record of most lost elections in a period of time, I guess.
Agree..saw how the fish-wrapper immediately mentioned religion in the Kerr comment...and never mentions Chandlers' flawed personality traits...saw the typ. Clinton-like tactics...they'll never change, the fish-wrapper.
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