| Fires of Fancy Farm Foreshadowed Fierce Fighting in Fall |
Ivan C. Potter
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FANCY FARM, KY. August-September 2007. The time was dusk and the fires of Fancy Farm were roaring like some ancient clarion call on the night before battle. Eight foot high giant metal drums belched flames into the night. A small row of air vents on each drum gave the impression of staring red eyes.
The fires of Fancy Farm, on the eve of the first Saturday in August, marked the beginning of the world’s largest political picnic. To cook 19,000 pounds of pork and mutton, massive fires were lit on Friday evening. The coals from these fires cooked the meat for 10,000 visitors to Fancy Farm on Saturday.
Besides the great food (this year, the Food Network filmed a special about the cooking of barbecue and homemade pies), this event is also known for its political fires.
In each major Kentucky political season during the past 100 years, Fancy Farm has been the traditional jumping off point for statewide political campaigns. This year witnessed a different kind of politician and political campaigning being launched from the fiery barbecue pits of a small southern town.
This year, Republicans framed their attack through the issue of casino gambling. In their speeches, political theater, and media talking points, the Republicans were successful in taking an early lead in educating West Kentuckians to the evils of casino gambling. Governor Fletcher's re-election team used this Western Kentucky event to reach out and lay the foundation for moving past the scandals of Fletcher's term.
Fletcher's team is working hard to sell a new "Republican Hero" in Fletcher as he fights for family values and the conservative way of life in Western Kentucky. The strategy calls for painting the Democratic ticket as "urban central Kentucky liberals" with an agenda opposed to the tradition of values of family, marriage, and jobs.
What started in Fancy Farm will continue at the September St. Johns family picnic in McCracken County. The Democrats are behind in Western Kentucky in the "Blame Game."
The media strategies and field tactics employed at the 2007 Fancy Farm political event will define much of the actual Republican attack and Democratic defense during the September and October campaigns. Only time and history will decide which political camp understood and made the best use of the lessons from Fancy Farm.
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Editor’s Note: The Fancy Farm event is reviewed in depth to understand just how the dynamics of modern Kentucky statewide political campaigns develop strategies, tactics, themes, and messages during the month of August. These Western Kentucky political events in August will preview how Republicans and Democrats intend to wage political warfare during the 2007 General Election for statewide races.
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