SMU Election Project Fall 2008-- Kentucky

Once it's All Said and Done...McCain Won the Kentucky Battle But Lost the "Electoral Vote War" to Obama

2008-11-06T05:07:00.000-08:00

Kentucky was one of the first states called Tuesday evening for Arizona Senator John McCain. According to Pollster.com’s established election results, Kentucky, a traditionally red state, surrendered their 8 elctoral votes for John McCain 57% to Barrack Obama’s 41%.

The Secretary of State’s website reports that only 1 congressional district of Kentucky’s 6 went to the Obama/Biden ticket, this district was the 3rd Congressional district that voted for Obama. The reason why the 3rd district was the only district to vote for Obama was based on population of each area of the state. Jefferson County is the only county in the 3rd district and it is primarily made up of the largest city and most urban area of the state.

Additionally, incumbent GOP Senator Mitch McConnell won the states support over democrat Bruce Lunsford. The congressional elections turned out in favor of Dem Yarmuth 56% over Northup’s 42% and GOP Guthrie 46% over Boswell 42%

With one day to go, the winner is...

2008-11-03T22:03:00.001-08:00

John McCain will take Kentucky's 8 electoral votes on Election Day!

Courier-Journal Bluegrass Poll Shows McCain On Top

2008-11-01T16:56:00.000-07:00

John McCain is maintaining his lead over Barack Obama in Kentucky according to the Courier-Journal in the latest"Bluegrass Poll."

The Kentucky newspaper reports:

McCain has the support of 51 percent of likely voters
42 percent back Obama.
7 percent remain undecided.

The CJ also says that "The poll also shows that most Kentuckians believe that the $700 billion financial rescue plan passed by Congress in September and signed into law by President Bush will provide at least some help to the economy. "

McConnell vs. Lusford

2008-10-31T16:46:00.000-07:00

"U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell holds a 5 percentage point lead over Democrat Bruce Lunsford as their race enters the last days before Tuesday's election, according to the latest Courier-Journal Blue grass Poll."

Polling information also found:

47 percent of voters said they would likely vote for McConnell if the race were held today, while 42 percent said they supported Lunsford.
9 percent said they are still undecided.
2 percent said they would vote for someone else.

The local Kentucky newspaper reports also that the numbers show McConnell's lead has grown since last month.

Halloween At University of Kentucky

2008-10-30T16:41:00.000-07:00

An effigy of Barak Obama hanging from a tree could be seen on the U of K campus on 10/29/08. The article from the Courier Journal states:

"UK President Lee Todd sent out a campuswide e-mail yesterday afternoon in which he said he was 'personally offended and deeply embarrassed by this disgusting episode.'
Todd said he apologizes to Obama and his family on behalf of the university." The President of the University went on to say:

"I will personally assure them that this is not who we are as a university or as a state,"

"As president of the University of Kentucky, I feel outraged and hurt. I am outraged because we work very hard, every day, to build bridges across the divides. Diversity and inclusion are among our most precious core values. Episodes like this serve only to erode our confidence in and respect for one another," Todd said.

McCain's Got Kentucky's Eight!

2008-10-24T10:27:00.000-07:00

There are ten days to go until the Presidential Election! And Kentucky’s 8 electoral votes seem to be going to McCain. Currently McCain has a 54.1% lead over Obama's 40.6% according to pollster.com’s “Trend Estimate” and is “Solidly McCain” according to politico.com’s “Swing Map.

Also according to pollster.com’s “Trend Estimate” the current Senate Election in Kentucky has moved from solid republican support for Senator McConnell to the “tossup” category:

McConnell (R) - 47.4
Lunsford (D) - 44.4

Kentuckians Wonder, "Is that Sarah Palin or Tina Fey?"

2008-10-07T17:13:00.000-07:00

Tamara Ikenberg of the Courier-Journal writes:

"Admit it: When you watched Gov. Sarah Palin debate Sen. Joe Biden in last week's vice presidential face-off, you really had Tina Fey on your mind. And the debate wasn't really over until you turned on "Saturday Night Live" over the weekend to see how Fey and her colleagues played it for laughs."

The truth of the matter is that the resemblance is uncanny and everyone cannot help but see that. Additionally, the skits from SNL make the Alaska governor appear as a spoof and underqualified.

Voter Registration in Kentucky "Soars"

2008-10-02T17:09:00.000-07:00

Sheldon S. Shafer of the Courier-Journal Reports Kentuckians are watching this campaign closely.
This article offers state and national polls "indicating soaring interest in the Nov. 4 presidential election, voter registration in Kentucky and Indiana has hit an all-time high — and is still growing...A Courier-Journal Bluegrass Poll shows that more than 60 percent of Kentuckians are paying special attention to the presidential race"

ABC News' "50 States in 50 Days" visits Louisville

2008-09-30T15:57:00.000-07:00

Watch this video that is on ABCnews.com. ABC News is going to "50 states in 50 Days" as part of their election coverage and they have gone to 13 states already on their tour. This week on Sunday, this package aired about the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. The package discusses how the current Presidential Election is challanging traditional gender roles in the church through the GOP nomination of Sarah Palin for VP. It very interesting, check it out!

Kentucky Census Data

2008-09-29T13:49:00.001-07:00

Check out the Washington Post's Kentucky Census Data to learn more about the state

Clinton and Lunsford in Kentucky

2008-09-22T21:38:00.000-07:00

Saturday September 20, 2008 A rally was held for Bruce Lunsford (Candidate for US Senator) in Lexington and the featured speaker was Hillary Clinton. Read more about this event in the Courier Journal. Learn more about why Clinton spoke, what she spoke about, and why so many Kentucky Democrats left after she spoke...

Early voting begins on Thursday September 18, 2008

2008-09-18T21:46:00.000-07:00

And we're off!! The early voting has begun in Louisville, Kentucky. After a severe storm blew through the area the week of the 18th the polls were opened. According to the Courier Journal, "Paul Gronke, director of The Early Voting Information Center at Reed College in Portland, Ore., said he believes Kentucky is the first state to begin in-person early voting."
Jefferson County, Kentucky opened the first polling site in the country on the 18th, for absentee voting, and other sites will be opening in the next few weeks. Read more about what was happening this past week in Louisville at the voting site according to the Courier Journal.

Pledged Delegate Totals

2008-09-16T20:53:00.001-07:00

According to CNN, as of the final primaries the total number of pledged delegates in Kentucky was:
Dems: Obama 23/ Clinton 9
GOP: Huckabee 36

50 Days to Go!

2008-09-14T20:59:00.000-07:00

There are fifty days to go until the November Presidential Election! Kentucky voters are leaning towards McCain. Currently McCain has a 52.4% lead over Obama's 37.8% according to pollster.com’s “Trend Estimate” and is “Solidly McCain” according to politico.com’s “Swing Map.” In previous presidential elections Kentucky has voted primarily for the Republican ticket:
2004- Bush, 59.55; Kerry, 39.69; Nader, 0.49
2000- Bush, 56.5; Gore, 41.37; Nader, 1.50
1996- Clinton, 45.8; Dole, 44.9; Perot, 8.7; Nader, 0.1
1992- Clinton, 44.6; Bush, 41.3; Perot, 13.7
Also according to pollster.com’s “Trend Estimate” the current Senate Election is:
McConnell (R)- 52
Lunsford (D)- 35.3

Future Vice-Pres Biden??

2008-09-09T17:08:00.000-07:00

http://www.courier-journal.com/blogs/politics/blog.html

The Courier Journal newspaper of Louisville Kentucky reports on the local response in the state to Senator Obama's choice of vice-presidential running mate, Joe Biden.

The Electoral College Map

2008-08-27T16:44:00.001-07:00

Take a look at Kentucky!
CNN's Electoral Map

Hi There!!

2008-08-27T15:19:00.000-07:00

As a resident of the great state of Kentucky I am super excited to be watching and analyzing the state over the next 68 days prior to the election!

FYI: There are a total of 8 electoral votes in KY