The most recent news in the Kentucky Governor's race is the launching of a 527 group, formed by the labor unions, designed to take down Bruce Lunsford.
Several labor officials have set up an independent, tax-exempt group that can raise unlimited dollars to work against Bruce Lunsford, a Louisville businessman who is running for governor in the May 22 Democratic primary election.
Working Families for Kentucky Inc. is the first so-called “527” group that has signaled it will get involved in the primary election.
A few weeks ago labor distributed a flyer citing the top 10 reasons to vote against Lunsford, not the least of which is his endorsement of Republican Ernie Fletcher during the last governor's race.
Also a factor in the Lunsford equation is the presence of Kentucky Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Lundergan, who is trying to find ties from the other candidates to the 527 group attacking Lunsford. Not exactly a hero to the netroots, Lundergan is trying to get an ally in the state's top post, one who also shares his vision of moving the party "to the right."
A good recap of all the players is at KyPolitics.org.
Also fraught with scandal is Steve Henry who was nearly indicted for fraudulent Medicare and Medicaid billings as a doctor, which he settled by paying $162,000. More recently Henry has been accused of spending money from a federal campaign account before he had formally announced his candidacy. His wife, former Miss America Heather French Henry, has also failed to stay out of the scandal spotlight for allegedly using $50,000 from her Veterans Foundation to pay for publishing her children's book.
Henry profile from the Lexington Herald-Leader.
This leaves:
Beshear - Mongiardo
Richards - Brown
Miller - Maze
About the TV Ads:
Lunsford has sunk a lot into his commercials - I think they are in HighDef letterbox. I must admit it's a strong spot, though the substance escapes me.
The Beshear-Mongiardo spots kind of remind me of the Almond Joy / Mounds ad: It puts the spotlight on two different products and ties them into the same package. I'm not sure if it's effective or confusing... this IS Kentucky after all.
I can't recall having seen a TV ad for Richards.
Miller's ad makes him seem rather milquetoast, much to my dismay. His boyish face and nice-guy demeanor overshadow his significant accomplishments. Quite the opposite of Lunsford's ad.
Now for the reason why I hate politics: Polls are like cologne - the only one that doesn't stink is your own. I actually don't have the stomach to dig up all the polls, but I suspect the surveyusa isn't too far off the mark.
http://www.miller-maze.com/...
Miller-Maze poll numbers
http://www.surveyusa.com/...
Survey USA poll numbers
And it wouldn't be politics in Kentucky if someone didn't start a whisper campaign, this time it's Miller supposedly dropping out and endorsing Beshear. Doubtful, since Miller's campaign is confident that their ads are effective and they can bring the statewide poll numbers in line with the big three markets they are already advertising in.