Post Fancy Farm Analysis
Ivan Potter
West Kentucky Journal

Clinton, KY. August 5, 2014

There are two main roads from Mayfield to Fancy Farm: Highway 80 and Highway 212. Each is a rural two lane scenic byway stretching 8 to 10 miles back to Mayfield, Kentucky. Once a year, during the day before the Fancy Farm Picnic, these two roads become a giant backdrop for an intense media war.

Along each road are wide landscapes from four to 10 feet wide. This is the expected spot for candidates speaking at the Fancy Farm Picnic to place their sighs. In normal years, signs would be from many candidates seeking political office. However, 2014 is not a normal year in Kentucky politics.

Ninety eight percent of all the signs out for the past weekend were from two political camps: Grimes for Senator and Senator McConnell.

The Grimes for Senator 3 ft. by 5 ft. mega signs as well as the 1 ft. by 1.5 ft. sings numbered around 300 along Highway 80 and 121. McConnell for Senator signs numbered around 180.

For the past eight years, the Republicans and McConnell have made these two road entrances into the Fancy Farm Picnic a Republican Echo tunnel effect upon those driving into the small community.

Not this year.

The Grimes Democratic volunteers started early in the week (Tuesday and Wednesday) asking permission to place Alison Grimes in their yards. The results paid off.

Round one of the Fancy Farm media war went to the Grimes Campaign.