Right next to Kentucky's mania with UK Sports is the mania for electing our constitutional officers. Normally, the race for Governor is the big show every four years. But in 2015, several new factors are at play in West Kentucky and across the state.

Will Conway lose West Kentucky? Yes. He will! Now less than five months out from the 2015 primary there is only one announced Democratic candidate for Governor. That is Jack Conway. Conway has been at a statewide race now for Senate, Attorney General, and Governor.

With over a $1 million dollars war chest built up, there is a major chance that he may scare away any serious potential primary challengers. Strong signs are now surfacing that Conway will be heavily beaten in Western Kentucky. He has high negatives among rank and file voters in the West.

Just as Alison Lundergan Grimes was vilified by the Republicans, Conway will be painted as an "Obama Liberal" who is out to destroy big coal and farmers (Obama's environmental rules on water). In fact, all Kentucky Democrats will have to run against their races being "nationalized through Obama policies."

Is This The Year for a Republican Victory for Governor? Could Be!

Coming off the Mitch McConnell Republican victory for US Senate in 2014, the Republicans have a strong "wind to their backs" for attacking any Democratic candidate for 2015 statewide races. There could be as many as 5 serious Republican candidates running in the 2015 Governors race primary.

Commissioner of Agriculture James Comer has established the most intense ground network of any Republican running for Governor. If all Republican challengers are located in Jefferson County, Comer can easily appeal to the other 119 Kentucky counties. His tenure in office has been one of the strongest the Agriculture Department has had in the past 30 years. He can run as rural and as urban at the same time. He is an excellent political fighter, who is comfortable in Pikeville, Winchester, Louisville or Hickman County.

It won't be a cakewalk. Even though he has the odds on his side in January of 2015, big money thrown into the campaign (as in millions) can quickly change the dynamics of the Republican primary.