Chandler Wins Kentucky House Seat (Get Yer Ear Plugs In Now!)

WKYT News ^ | Feb. 17, 2004 | WKYT

[GiveEmDubya]

WKYT projects Democrat Ben Chandler as the winner of the 6th district congressional district race.

Chandler defeats Republican Alice Forgy-Kerr for the seat. It was a contentious campaign with both sides lobbing negative campaign ads at each other.

>Live Election Results Tally Chandler wins the seat after Republican Ernie Fletcher left the seat empty after winning the Kentucky governor's race last year.

Kentucky's former Attorney General, Chandler lost to Fletcher in that governor's race.

Forgy-Kerr was a bit of an unknown district-wide going into the race. However, a highly funded campaign and some help from the national Republican party quickly gave her name recognition in the region.

We saw higher than normal voter turnout. That generally favors Democrats in this heavily-Democrat registered district. That was borne out this election day.

[GiveEmDubya]

Let the Terry McAuliffe verbal orgasms begin.

[Corin Stormhands]

[HostileTerritory]

We saw higher than normal voter turnout. That blows. If the 'RATS keep this up it's going to be a very long night in November come the election.

[GiveEmDubya]

I don't remember who said it, but the other day, someone on TV said that this could be one of those seats that the Democrats get their euphoric high off of now--only to lose it again in November. Let's hope we're in a better position to win here then than now.

It doesn't particularly matter in Kentucky, Kerry will lose every single southern state and just about every state that has a close connection to the South.

[GiveEmDubya]

That's all well and good, but he and a good number of GOP bigwigs should have promised to prevent Chandler from WINNING.

[Physicist]

Who used to hold this seat?

[GiveEmDubya]

I guess so--as long as the good feelings go away by November!

[GiveEmDubya]

The current Kentucky governor, Ernie Fletcher (R). Before him, it was Scottie Baesler (D).

[KQQL]

FEBRUARY 17, 19:29 ET

U.S. House i = incumbent = winner

U.S. House
U.S. House - District 6 - 575 of 594 precincts reporting
Name Party Votes Pct
A.B. Ben Chandler III Dem 81,549 55.1%
Alice Forgy Kerr GOP 63,545 42.9%
Mark Gailey Lib 2,880 1.9%

[ItsMyVoteDammit]

This is not a huge surprise. Chandler ran as a fiscal conservative which is the issue that won most of the votes. Kerr stressed strong party ties.

[puroresu]

I wouldn't worry too much about this loss. It's always disappointing, but the 'Rats got lucky with a candidate with broad name recognition who was well-versed in running as a conservative (he's a liberal, of course, but 'Rats run as conservatives in most races in the south and heartland states). The congressman from this district for years was Scotty Baesler, who was the prototypical "vote liberal in Washington, talk conservative back home" type political hack.

I hate losing the seat, especially since the margin of victory for Chandler was almost certainly conservative voters who were fooled by him. Hopefully it will show the GOP that they need to recruit stronger candidates and put more of an effort into local elections.

[GiveEmDubya]

About 160K voted there in 2002.

It actually looks like LESS people voted tonight than in an off-year, which is to be expected in a special election, but the turnout was not absolutely colossal compared to how many will vote in November.

In 2000 (Presidential year), turnout was a little less than double the vote count tonight.

Regardless, on a Presidential election night, there will be a lot more votes than this.

[KQQL]

KY:

U.S. House - District 6 - 575 of 594 precincts reporting
Name Party Votes Pct
A.B. Ben Chandler III Dem 81,549 55.1%
Alice Forgy Kerr GOP 63,545 42.9%
Mark Gailey Lib 2,880 1.9%
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/files/elections/2004/by_state/KY_Page.html?SITE=KYLELELN&SECTION=POLITICS

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The polls (SURVEYUSA.com ) did a great job...here

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In a poll of 517 "certain" Kentucky voters, Chandler upped his lead over Kerr to 53%-45% in the special election to be held Tuesday. Chandler led by 51%-45% in a similar poll last week.

The poll was conducted February 13-15. The poll has a 4.4 percent margin of error.


http://www.wlextv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1618670

[GiveEmDubya]

Before we know it, Bush will be campaigning and all of John Kerry's irresistable charm won't be able to save him...(/rolls eyes)

If Bush's coattails are long enough this November in Kentucky, Chandler shouldn't get too comfortable in his new office.

[KQQL]

Ben the RAT wins !!!

In the nation's first federal election of 2004, Chandler became the first Democrat since 1991 to win a Republican-held seat in a special election. The win leaves Republicans with a 228-205 majority in the House, with one vacancy and one independent.

http://www.wlextv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1649807&nav=EQloKtF2

[KQQL]

KERR was not the right perosn to run in this district..

THIS IS A WIN FOR THE RATS AGAINST MCCONNELL KY MACHINE>>>>