A new Herald-Leader/Action News 36 Election Poll is out and McConnell continues to slip. Among the worst news for McConnell was that 46 percent of respondents disapproved of his performance compared to 45 percent who said they like what he’s done — the first time an independent media poll has shown the senator with a higher percentage of disapproval.
McConnell’s numbers are slipping and it’s because of national security and national defense, Lt. Col. Andrew Horne is the best candidate to counter the Republican’s arguments on the war in Iraq. Who else can stand with our Democratic Presidential candidates on the issues other than Lt. Col. Andrew Horne?
This Poll is very encouraging for Lt. Col. Horne; a person who has run only one race is now within 11% of McConnell. This shows that the people of Kentucky are ready for change. Also encouraging is Horne’s low disapproval rating of only 9% compared to a 46% disapproval for McConnell’s. In fact, Horne has the lowest disapproval of any candidate mentioned in the poll this shows Horne is in great position to Ditch Mitch.
This election is a huge, tough, hard fight. This fight is for people like Lt. Col. Andrew Horne with a national profile, people like Andrew who give the Democratic response to President Bush, people like Andrew who have been to Iraq and have seen the situation on the ground.
We need a new face in Kentucky politics one without baggage, not the career politicians who runs for office every year. We need a unifying candidate for all Democrats across the state. We need Lt. Col. Andrew Horne.
The most impressive numbers among these potential challengers is that of Lt. Col. Andrew Horne. Despite the fact that Horne has low name recognition at the moment, with 55% having no opinion of him, he is still within distance of McConnell, down 45% to 34%. In comparison, the % of those having no opinion of Chandler, Stumbo and Luallen, are only 12, 13 and 23%, respectively. If Horne runs and wins the nomination, his name recognition would skyrocket, closing the gap with McConnell considerably.
Additionally, Horne’s approval/disapproval among those who know him is at 36/9%. From Del Ali, the president of the company who conducted the poll:
""Here’s a guy that half the electorate really doesn’t know but yet when you put him against an incumbent whom nearly everyone knows, he’s in the race," said Ali, the pollster. "It tells me the voters of Kentucky at least are open to someone to represent them differently in the U.S. Senate."
Additionally, Horne is a harder target for McConnell to smear in a potential matchup than other Democrats. From the LHL:
"We have raised nearly $10 million which will allow us to tell our story at the right time and only result in a widening lead over any potential opponent," said Piper. "Keep in mind, we haven’t run our first commercial yet."
And McConnell already has a reputation as a fierce campaigner who seizes on opponents’ political weaknesses.
For that reason, a candidate such as Horne could give McConnell the most fits, said Briscoe.
"Chandler, Stumbo and Luallen all have public records that McConnell will look at as raw meat," he said.
Horne is also more immune to attacks from McConnell on matters of national security than other potential candidates. Horne is a 27 year Marine vet who served in both wars in Iraq. His experience on the ground in the current Iraq War, along with his vocal opposition to the unpopular policy in KY, would make him a difficult target of the expected "Defeatocrat, cut-and-runner" line of attack that will be sure to come from McConnell.
This election will be a brutal fight. McConnell is well known for being one of the most cutthroat campaigners that you’re ever going find. He is relentless in his attacks, and will stoop to anything to gain an edge.
This is why we need a new face in Kentucky politics to take him on. We need a candidate without baggage in their background that can be exploited. We need a candidate with and character spine, who will stand toe-to-toe with McConnell and not back down from a fight. We need an outsider, not a career politician who runs for office every year. We need a unifying candidate for all Kentuckians across this state.
We need Lt. Col. Andrew Horne.