I know there is a national election going on! I realize that I am not covering it in depth like everyone else online. In my defense, I made a conscious choice to concentrate on our own little part of the world. When the big regional paper ignores the river counties and the small county papers only cover what happens within their borders, well, there is a niche to be filled.
Besides, there are a lot of smart people reporting on the presidential race from all angles. I read them. You read them. I watch them. You watch them. I have my personal favorites as do you. At this point, I can’t see a word I can write that will sway anyone in any direction or shed light where now there is darkness.
There is so much interesting media stuff going on in this election in far western Kentucky!
For example:
On our television set-
*Mike Lawrence, 1st District Kentucky House seat challenger, is running television ads that are as soothing as the nationals are jarring. Lawrence has outraised his incumbent opponent by almost 2-1.
*The wince producing ads by the Kentucky GOP against Carroll Hubbard have begun. The theme is “integrity” and Hubbard’s past is flashed across the screen in bright red stamped letters.
*We are “privileged” to get political ads from surrounding states – Missouri and Illinois particularly. It looks like the GOP is using the same ad firm for Missouri attack ads – they look very similar. Could there be a one size fits all computer program that will accommodate any charge against any candidate? Hmmm..
*Carroll Hubbard is also running television ads. His ads emphasize jobs and service.
*Ken Winters, incumbent 1st District Kentucky senator, is running his own ads emphasizing his commitment to education.
*Ed Whitfield (R-1st Congressional District) has an ad telling us that he favors universal health care. No, I did not make that up.
*Mitch McConnell has a jobs ad tailored to West Kentucky. Wow. I did not know he brought so many jobs down here. One wonders why the unemployment rate topped 7% last month.
*Yes, we are getting inundated with the Bruce Lunsford bad nursing home television spots.
In our mail box –
*Two mailers from the GOP on greedy nursing home owner Lunsford.
*One mailer on what a good guy Steve Rudy is and how hard he’s worked for the First Kentucky House District
*One mailer we’ve heard about, but haven’t seen, is the GOP attack piece on Hubbard that Hubbard says is worse than the television spots.
Newspapers –
Statewide candidates like McConnell and Lunsford aren’t using newspapers. They prefer to aggravate the hell out of some of us with robocalls.
Other candidates are using newspapers to reach an audience that has proportionately less broadband access than the rest of the state.
Door to door –
*We’ve had ONE candidate come and ask for our vote at the door and that was a candidate for city council.
Miscellaneous stuff –
Candidates are running radio spots. Since I am an NPR listener, I am missing out on the radio campaign.
Billy Harper, the truly maverick Paducah Republican, endorsed John McCain over Barack Obama, Bruce Lunsford over Mitch McConnell, Ed Whitfield over Heather Ryan, Brent Housman over Zana Renfro and Mike Lawrence over Steve Rudy.
There are rallies, debates, and get togethers all over the Purchase for both parties. The Hickman County GOP opened their headquarters while I was in Frankfort this week.
So – you tell me. What’s happening in your neck of the woods? What elections are contested? For example, how is the Renfro – Housman contest shaping up? Are there city council or mayoral races that are hot?
In any event, enjoy the frenzy or suffer through it. The end is in sight. |
