subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Wed, Aug 27 2008 

Published: December 17, 2006 03:24 pm    print this story   email this story   comment on this story  

Have Dems forgotten West Ky.?

by Ronnie Ellis

FRANKFORT — Someone smarter than I pointed this out, but Democratic gubernatorial candidates seem to have forgotten the importance of western Kentucky.

That part of the state produced Alben Barkley, Earle Clements, A. B. “Happy” Chandler, Ned Breathitt, Wendell Ford, and Julian Carroll. The area bounded by Bowling Green in the south, Owensboro in the north and Paducah in the west was once solidly Democratic and key to any statewide Democratic candidate’s prospects.

Yes, the area has trended Republican and both the First and Second Congressional Districts have Republican representatives. Republicans have narrowed the registration gap, but Democrats still outnumber Republicans in both districts, even if a lot of those Democrats have voted Republican in recent years.

But Democrats can’t vote for Republicans in a Democratic primary.

Fully 35 percent of Kentucky’s registered Democrats live in the First and Second Districts. Wallace Wilkinson who wasn’t from western Kentucky nevertheless understood those numbers. He campaigned relentlessly in western Kentucky and he promised its voters that if they elected him governor, he wouldn’t forget them once he got to Frankfort. He won the 1987 primary in those districts, holding a victory party that night at the Executive Inn in Owensboro and he traveled to western Kentucky often as governor.

Wilkinson and the others, like Clements and Ford, ran for governor before election laws required candidates to be paired with running mates for lieutenant governor. With all the talk of various potential tickets under discussion by Democrats, none so far has even a running mate from western Kentucky. That’s hard to understand.

Steve Beshear, who is expected to announce on Monday he will run for governor, can claim birth in Hopkins County, but it’s been a long time since he lived there. How many western Kentuckians outside of Hopkins County think of him as one of them? Most of those mentioned for governor are from central Kentucky or Louisville, including Steve Henry who is originally from Owensboro. Only Daviess County’s state Sen. David Boswell — who has been mentioned as a candidate for either governor or lieutenant governor — can claim to be a western Kentucky resident. If House Speaker Jody Richards gets in, he would represent the southern and most eastern point of the region.

In a crowded Democratic primary — which looks likely — a ticket with at least one candidate from western Kentucky where 35 percent of the state’s Democratic voters live might have an advantage. Especially if other tickets all contain central Kentucky and Louisville representatives, splitting the vote in those areas.

Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort, Ky. He may be reached by email at rellis@cnhi.com.

print this story   email this story   comment on this story  

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.



monster
wheels
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premier Guide
Premium Jobs

Truck Drivers
Truck Drivers or Owner Operators Needed. Vans or flat beds. and hot shots 2 yrs. experience preferred. 528-3308 or 528...>MORE

Part time Clerical
Part time Clerical
Position Available
Apply in Person @
Holston Gases
Williamsburg Ky.
...>MORE

Orthodontic Assistant Needed
Assistant needed for busy Orthodontic practice. No experience necessary on the job training. Apply in person at The Orth...>MORE

Dental Assistant
Wanted: Energetic & Dependable Dental Assistant experience preferred mail
resume to Dr. Keith Gibson 213 South Mai
...>MORE

Hiring All Positions
New Medical office Now Hiring
All Positions
606-312-0703 or
606-524-0966
...>MORE

Service Tech.
Service Tech. Needed, 2 yrs. experience required. Call Calvin Bunch 546-3131
1-800-280-6464
...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Rentals & Sales

Want to Buy Land
Want to Buy: Land on Land Contract at least 10 acres in London
Corbin or
Surrounding Areas. Call
526-0
...>MORE

Mobile Homes for Rent
2/BR 1BA $350/mo + deposit No pets. Convenient to town. 528-8736 or 521-4798...>MORE

Valley View Apartments
Manager’s Special-Moving? We will pay $75.00 toward your moving expenses if you become a resident of Valley View Apartme...>MORE

See all ads

Deal of The Day

Laught & Learn Daycare
Laugh & Learn Daycare, The place where kids want to be! Curriculum for all ages. Call 528-6607....>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2008. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index