Bush, Cheney Skipping Visit to KY for Special Election

Associated Press ^

[LexingtonGOP]

Kerr says Bush, Cheney not coming to state after all

01/26/2004

Associated Press

President Bush and Vice President Cheney will not be coming to Kentucky to help Alice Forgy Kerr's congressional campaign, Kerr said Monday.

Kerr, who is running in a special election Feb. 17, had expected a visit by one or both of the national leaders. But her campaign would have to pay security costs, among other things, and could not afford it, she said.

With no other Republican candidates to share the spotlight and also the expense, "it would be cost prohibitive," Kerr said in an interview while campaigning in Richmond. It would cost "up in the hundreds of thousands of dollars," she said.

Kerr, a state senator from Lexington, is running against Democrat Ben Chandler to complete the term of Gov. Ernie Fletcher, who vacated the 6th District U.S. House seat before his inauguration as governor. Fletcher defeated Chandler, the state's former attorney general.

Chandler campaign manager Mark Nickolas said Bush did not want to take a risk on Kerr's behalf in a presidential re-election year.

"First time I've ever heard a Republican complain they can't afford a presidential visit," Nickolas said. "I suspect the White House is more worried about the White House than keeping a congressional seat."

[LexingtonGOP]

Not good news here in KY. Looks like the White House is pulling the rip-cord and first TV poll tonight here shows Chandler by 10, 54-44...

Anyone got some good news about this race?

[JeffInSD]

We've got our own problem here in SD with Janklow's seat. If Thune doesn't knock off Daschle, incredibly, we could have an all RAT-delegation in SOUTH DAKOTA!!!!! What the hell is going on? God, I hope Dean is the nominee...

One thing I do know, a friend of mine at the NRCC says he heards from his boss that they may bail from the KY special election. Polling says it's getting worse, not better for Forgy (or whatever her name is). Says they think their money is going down the drain.

Sucks. Go Dean.

[meenie]

The Republicans are following the Democrat slide. Clinton took all the campaign cash and left the Congress critters short of campaign funds. The saqme thing is happening this election with the Pubbies.

[corkoman]

Agreed - skip the KY.

[cat lover too]

I wonder if you are referring to the SurveyUSA Poll which showed Chandler 54, Kerr 44. I looked at the sampling of voters, which showed 373 R and 626 D, and the numbers in brackets are supposed to be voters who are certain to vote.

I'm not from KY, so I don't know if these numbers reflect the actual voter registration by party affiliation. Do Ds outnumber Rs by almost two to one in that district?

RAW COUNTS FOR ALL RESPONSE CHOICES

OVERALL 1073 (572)
REPUBLICAN 373 (189)
DEMOCRAT 626 (361)
Indy 58 (19)

[LexingtonGOP]

they do outnumber us in registration, but not in self id. it's about 50-50 self-id. that's why fletcher won so big in 'democratic' counties, since many stay democrat to vote in local elections.

[jmaroneps37]

Janklow's seat will actually not be a problem. The voters of SD like to split their representation. Having all three in one party doesn't fit. This turn of events actually hurts dash hole.

[JeffInSD]

bad news. word in DC this evening is that NRCC is pulling out of KY by end of week and not making the upcoming media buy. Better hope we keep this seat up here...

[CourtneyLeigh]

What would be the right way to approach a protest in written form to the president?
And should our protest also be shared with all media as well?

[Republican Wildcat]

How cute. Posting to yourself to get a two-fer in trying to demoralize the base in one thread.