KY Senate Race 2014: Getting lucky in Kentucky

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Inspired by the AR/NC/LA threads.

The race is expected to get pretty nasty, and McConnell looks hell-bent on nationalizing the race by tying Grimes to Obama and the Democrats.  Grimes can possibly pull out a win if she keeps the race as local as possible and takes advantage of McConnell's low approval numbers, but McConnell could also eke out a win as he did in 2008, a very Democrat-friendly year.

So far, two polls have shown Grimes ahead of McConnell and one poll has shown McConnell crushing her in the general.  The Cook Political Report has moved this race to the toss-up column.

[windjammer]

Honestly, I continue to think Mcco will be reelected. He has a big machine behind him.

[RogueBeaver]

Cohn throws a bucket of cold water on Grimes-mania.

[Landslide Lyndon]

Wow! Cruz, Johnson and Lee declined to endorse McConnell.
How pathetic for a senate leader that even his own caucus won't support him.

http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/08/02/19832303-at-fancy-farm-mcconnell-steps-into-crosshairs

"That's a decision for the people of Kentucky to make," Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said when asked on Thursday if he planned to support McConnell over Bevin.

"I think Sen. McConnell is very capable of taking that challenge on himself," said Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., adding that he doesn't typically involve himself in primaries. "Pretend we never talked," he said, laughing.

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, agreed to stop and talk to a reporter about a push he's leading to defund the president's health care law. "I would love to have him," he said when asked if he wants McConnell's support for that initiative.

Asked a follow up question about whether he planned to support Bevin or McConnell, Lee said: "You've gone off topic. Thank you though."

[Vosem]

Wow! Cruz, Johnson and Lee declined to endorse McConnell.

Doesn't that say more about them than about McConnell, though?

[Brittain33]

Wow! Cruz, Johnson and Lee declined to endorse McConnell.

Doesn't that say more about them than about McConnell, though?

They are constitutional conservatives. If they decline to endorse McConnell, it's as if the U.S. Constitution itself shunned the senator.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

McConnell's going to win the primary and one of those three senators will likely be gone in 2017, so I don't think their "non-endorsement" will have much of an impact.  Even the Tea Party knows they'd be shooting themselves in the foot if they were to successfully oust their would-be Majority Leader.

[eric82oslo]

McConnell's going to win the primary and one of those three senators will likely be gone in 2017, so I don't think their "non-endorsement" will have much of an impact.  Even the Tea Party knows they'd be shooting themselves in the foot if they were to successfully oust their would-be Majority Leader.

He's even less sympathetic than Boehner though, and that is quite an incredible feat in itself. At least Boehner cries everytime he thinks of himself.

[badgate]

I'm just going to assume this is lean R until next July.

[free my dawg]

[Orser67]

Seems a little quick on the part of Cook.

[publicunofficial]

Seems a little quick on the part of Cook.

Cook has the dumbest Senate rankings out of the Big 3.

He has Iowa as a Toss-Up, and Minnesota and Michigan in the same ranking as Arkansas, Louisiana, and Alaska.

Don't even get me started on how he treats Hawaii like a swing state in every election.

[windjammer]

Seems a little quick on the part of Cook.

Cook has the dumbest Senate rankings out of the Big 3.

He has Iowa as a Toss-Up, and Minnesota and Michigan in the same ranking as Arkansas, Louisiana, and Alaska.

Don't even get me started on how he treats Hawaii like a swing state in every election.

For  Cook:  Arkansas is a toss up, Iowa lean dem.
But I agree for KY, it's not a toss up

[publicunofficial]

http://mycn2.com/politics/the-senate-race-speeches-grimes-bevin-and-marksberry-go-3-on-1-against-mcconnell

Fancy Farm was today, here's the rundown.

-Grimes was excellent, and had decent Dem turnout to help her out.
-Matt Bevin was surprisingly good.
-McConnell was definitely mediocre, and he apparently left immediately after he was done speaking. Bevin made fun of him for leaving in his speach.

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/03/alison-lundergan-grimes-abortion-positions_n_3698539.html?ncid=txtlnkushpmg00000037

Grimes also sat down for her first real interview.

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Grimes also stated she was firmly pro-choice, and would would work to delay the ACA's requirement that small businesses must provide coverage to their employees.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

You gotta admit, whoever wins this election, Grimes is a hell of a folksy campaigner.

[PolitiJunkie]

Rand Paul wasn't there? Yikes.

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[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Rand Paul wasn't there? Yikes.

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Not entirely surprising since McConnell didn't even support Paul in the 2010 primary.  In fact, I'm surprised he hasn't endorsed McConnell's primary opponent.

[7,052,770]

McConnell's going to win the primary and one of those three senators will likely be gone in 2017, so I don't think their "non-endorsement" will have much of an impact.  Even the Tea Party knows they'd be shooting themselves in the foot if they were to successfully oust their would-be Majority Leader.

I really don't think they realize that.  If not Kentucky,  they'll hand us another seat in 2014.

[ElectionsGuy]

McConnell's going to win the primary and one of those three senators will likely be gone in 2017, so I don't think their "non-endorsement" will have much of an impact.  Even the Tea Party knows they'd be shooting themselves in the foot if they were to successfully oust their would-be Majority Leader.

I really don't think they realize that.  If not Kentucky,  they'll hand us another seat in 2014.

What seat?

[Maxwell]

Rand Paul wasn't there? Yikes.

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Not entirely surprising since McConnell didn't even support Paul in the 2010 primary.  In fact, I'm surprised he hasn't endorsed McConnell's primary opponent.

Not entirely, Paul and McConnell have developed a working relationship.

[RogueBeaver]

Paul has endorsed McConnell, who hired Paul's campaign manager as his own.

[windjammer]

http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/hotlineoncall/2013/08/bevin-grimes-earn-praise-at-fancy-farm-04

[bballrox4717]

If Bevin's candidacy is as good as his speech, a victory over McConnell in the primary probably makes it more likely the Republicans keep this seat.

[eric82oslo]

If Bevin's candidacy is as good as his speech, a victory over McConnell in the primary probably makes it more likely the Republicans keep this seat.

Absolutely. He has tons of charisma. And he's half of Mitch's age.

[Brittain33]

If Bevin's candidacy is as good as his speech, a victory over McConnell in the primary probably makes it more likely the Republicans keep this seat.

Absolutely. He has tons of charisma. And he's half of Mitch's age.

What are the chances he says something career-killing during the campaign, though? Neither Mitch nor Grimes is likely to do so.