By RONNIE ELLIS
FRANKFORT — This is the primary election Kentuckians have longed to see – one in which the voices of Kentucky voters might matter in selecting the Democratic nominee for president of the United States.
But there’s a problem. It may be over by Tuesday. On the Republican side, it already is. Arizona Sen. John McCain has had the Republican nomination wrapped up for two months. And after a big loss to Barack Obama in North Carolina and closer-than-expected win in Indiana, some prominent Democrats are suggesting Sen. Hillary Clinton should get out of the Democratic race.
Secretary of State Trey Grayson said turnout for the presidential primary four years ago was only 15 percent and while he hasn’t calculated a prediction for this year, he said he expects turnout to be up.
That might affect some down ticket races. Heading those is the Democratic primary to choose a nominee to take on Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell who faces token opposition from Daniel Essek, a truck driver from Whitley County. On the Democratic side are seven active candidates and one, Andrew Horne, whose name will appear on the ballot but who has withdrawn. Votes for him will not be counted.
U.S. Senate:
Two Louisville businessmen, Bruce Lunsford and Greg Fischer, are focusing on each other. Fischer attacked Lunsford in television ads about Lunsford’s past businesses, including a company which owned nursing homes and was cited by Medicaid and Medicare for over billing.The other Democrats in the primary are Michael Cassaro, a Prospect physician; David Wylie of Harrodsburg; David Lynn Williams of Glasgow; James Rice of Campbellsville; and Kenneth Stepp of Manchester.
U.S. Congress:
Two congressional races should be competitive – the third in Jefferson County and the second which stretches from Owensboro to Elizabethtown to Bowling Green and includes a small portion of Jefferson County.
In the third, Anne Northup is expected to win the Republican primary in her quest to regain the seat she held for 10 years but lost to incumbent Democrat John Yarmuth in 2006.
Two Daviess County Democrats, Judge/Executive Reid Haire and state Sen. David Boswell, are running for the Democratic nomination for the open second district seat vacated by the retiring Republican Ron Lewis. Boswell, a former Commissioner of Agriculture, is better known outside of Daviess County, but Haire has raised far more money and is advertising on television.
The winner will face state Sen. Brett Guthrie of Bowling Green.
State House:
Only 38 of the 100 House districts will be contested, and they won’t threaten Democratic control of the chamber. In the 26th, Democrat Mike Weaver of Elizabethtown will try to win back his old sear from Republican Tim Moore. And in the 11th, Herb McKee is challenging fellow Democrat David Watkins in the primary. Watkins introduced a bill to increase the cigarette tax in the House.
State Senate:
Democrats are hopeful in the first where Carroll Hubbard and Rick Johnson battle in the Democratic primary to take on Republican incumbent Ken Winters. And in the 9th, Democrats think they have a great chance to pick up the seat vacated by Republican Richie Sanders. Democrats Steve Newberry, John Rogers and Horace Johnson are vying for the chance to face the winner of a three-way Republican primary between Jeff Jobe, Bob Bryant or David Givens.
Republicans have hopes with challengers Doug Hawkins against incumbent Perry Clark in Jefferson County and Williams mentioned Republican Bob Heleringer who is challenging Jefferson County Democratic incumbent Tim Shaughnessey.
Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort, Ky. He may be contacted by email at rellis@cnhi.com.
