Trey Grayson for Secretary of State!
(Remember Florida in 2000? Having the above office is VERY important)
Posted on 07/09/2003 7:30:43 AM PDT by Republican Wildcat
FRANKFORT, Ky. - If money spent during the primary is an indication, some candidates featured in this November's general election undercard may be facing expensive races.
Democrat Russ Maple of Louisville is coming off a primary race for secretary of state in which he raised more than $300,000 and spent more than $230,000. Maple said he expects to end up spending at least that amount for the November election.
"I don't have a clue as to what it will take. I plan to raise and spend whatever I need to at least try to win," Maple said. "I would say that we will have to spend at least that amount of money again, and maybe twice that amount of money, frankly."
But the money the two major gubernatorial candidates take in could influence how much in donations is left for the other competitors on the ballot, said C.M. "Trey" Grayson, the Republican nominee for secretary of state.
Grayson, of Park Hills, Ky., said he thinks the money Maple spent in the primary could be the "low-end" mark for that race in the general election. Grayson, who did not have a primary opponent, raised more than $112,000 and spent about $20,000.
He said he may hold about 10 fund-raising events throughout the state.
"We're very much affected by the top of the ticket," Grayson said. "I know we're going to have enough money to get the message out."
When incumbent Secretary of State John Y. Brown III ran unopposed in the 1999 general election, he spent a little more than $5,500, according to campaign finance documents filed with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance. That followed his primary run that cost nearly $6,000.
Campaigns in Kentucky are getting more expensive because of the price it costs candidates to get their message out, said Jeff Derouen, a Democratic Party spokesman. More campaigns are running television ads and are "more direct voter contact-oriented," Derouen said.
"I think you're finding that the down-ballot races are beginning to run professional, smart campaigns, and that costs money," Derouen said. "I think the tools that are used in modern campaigns are used in all the races."
But the candidate who spends the most money does not necessarily win the election.
In the primary, Republican Jack Wood upset state Rep. Tim Feeley to become the GOP nominee for attorney general.
Feeley outspent Wood by nearly $54,000. Wood spent $791.
Feeley, a Crestwood Republican, came in third behind Wood and Philip C. Kimball - who spent a little more than $3,500. Republican Linda Greenwell became the GOP nominee for state auditor, despite having an opponent outspend her by nearly $25,000.
Still, House Majority Floor Leader Greg Stumbo raised and spent nearly $480,000 in his victory for the Democratic nomination for attorney general.
Crit Luallen, the Democrat's nominee for state auditor, spent more than $235,000 in her primary race.
Historically, candidates for the down-ticket offices have swapped offices kind of like "musical chairs," Grayson said. But with the current political structure the offices may prove to serve as springboards to higher offices, he said.
"I suspect that may change," Grayson said. "I think that there's some opportunities from the down ticket that weren't there in the past."
Grayson said he wants to become secretary of state to help small businesses and oversee elections. He also said the office would give him a pulpit from which he could try to improve civics education in the state.
But it's still unclear whether the position could lead to bigger political prospects, Grayson said. He said he is focusing on this race, and does not know if he would seek a higher office.
"People are looking for a new generation of leadership, and I feel that I can offer that," Grayson said.
Maple said he's wanted to be the state's secretary of state for nearly two years. As secretary of state, Maple said he would push to install a confidential address protection program for women who have protective orders against their spouses and improve elections.
He said he thinks "it's one of the most important constitutional offices that there is." Maple said his political ambitions don't extend beyond holding that office.
"I'll just be happy to serve in that office," Maple said. "I have no dreams of grandeur beyond that."
---
Joe Biesk is a statehouse reporter for The Associated Press.
Trey Grayson for Secretary of State!
(Remember Florida in 2000? Having the above office is VERY important)
 |
|---|
| Lighten Up, Francis! |
| Fundraising posts only happen quarterly, and are gone as soon as we meet the goal. Help make it happen. |
Seems they could have found a better example.
Done, FRiend.
I lived in FL until late 2000. Served in the Florida National Guard, so I voted Military Absentee.
Or, rather, I thought I had...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.