After a lunch of barbecued chicken and ribs and all the fixin's, Paducah's Lions Club settled in for political talk from West Kentucky's politically addicted couple, Ivan and Mary Potter. This was the first time the Potters had spoken together about politics. Their website, West Kentucky Journal, has a strong political bent. The online publication has published 5500 stories since its creation in 2008.
Nobody fell out of their chair napping - even after an excellent meal, so all attending counted the appearance a success.
Ivan Potter brought a time line chart to show the flow of political history. The chart was augmented by a power point presentation, ably administered by Lions Club member Kent Price. The couple compared the 2016 March caucus results for the GOP to the 2016 primary results of Democrats. Western Kentucky Republicans strongly supported challenger Sen. Ted Cruz. Their Democratic neighbors went for Senator Bernie Sanders. Clinton won in urban areas. Sanders dominated in rural Kentucky. Uncommitted had a strong showing on the Democratic ballot.
Clinton vs. Sanders
Green = Clinton
Blue = Sanders
That shows a serious discontent among Western Kentucky voters that mirrors the national mood.
The Potters pointed out several causes for voter unhappiness.
- Income inequality
- Jobs
- Rising cost of daily life
- American dream
- College costs
Ivan Potter discussed the importance of McCracken County in the coming battle for the Kentucky House. McCracken is represented by four House members: Rep. Steve Rudy, Rep. Gerald Watkins, Rep. Will Coursey and Rep. Richard Heath. According to Potter, "What happens in McCracken could change the General Assembly."
Mary Potter discussed the concept of regionalism and how it affects West Kentucky. House leadership is strongly tilted to Eastern Kentucky. Combined with the urban corridor of a new super region of Central Kentucky, those two regions dominate government decision making. (See map above)
The Potters urged the Lions to stay involved and interested in politics. Western Kentucky, they told their audience, should be stronger and more united in its interactions with Frankfort and Washington.
Neither would predict who will win the presidency in November, but Mary Potter pointed out some factors that are easy to see:
- Nastiest presidential campaign
- Most expensive presidential campaign
- Higher voter turn out
- KY House hinges on western Kentucky
- October surprise - some unforeseen event that tests the mettle of political candidates. For example, the October surprise in 2008 was the economic meltdown.