Pol Watchers

SurveyUSA: Fischer climbing, Lunsford still leads

Democrat Greg Fischer has narrowed Bruce Lunsford's lead in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, according to a new SurveyUSA poll conducted for WHAS-TV in Louisville.

Still, the automated telephone poll shows Lunsford, a Louisville businessman, with a commanding 43 percent to 18 percent lead. Five other Democrats split the remaining votes, and 18 percent of those surveyed said they're either undecided or would choose "other."

Fischer doubled his support from the last SurveyUSA poll, which was released April 14. Meanwhile, Lunsford dropped 4 points.

Both Fischer and Lunsford have been running TV ads for at least two weeks. Fischer went negative late last week in an ad highlighting Lunsford's past business problems.

The poll of 555 likely Democratic voters was conducted April 26-28. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percent.

- John Stamper

Clinton supporters confident KY will go for her

Key Kentucky supporters of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign dismissed U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler's endorsement of Clinton's rival, saying that they're confident the state's voters will come to a different conclusion.

"The fact is that Congressman Chandler already knows it's most likely his congressional district is going to support Sen. Clinton," said Jerry Lundergan, the former state party chairman and a member of Clinton's national finance team.

Lundergan was joined a telephone press conference by state Sen. Ray Jones of Pikeville and Louisville Metro Councilwoman Tina Ward Pugh.

The three Democrats criticized Illinois Sen. Barack Obama for suggesting in an email to supporters this week that he wants Indiana voters to "send a message and wrap up this contest" by voting for him in the May 6 primary.

Jones said such an attitude shortchanges Kentucky voters, who go to the polls May 20. He then noted that in the last month former President Bill Clinton was in his hometown stumping for his wife and likely Republican nominee U.S. Sen. John McCain campaigned in his senate district. Earlier in the race former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards also spoke in Pike County.

"Almost every major candidate understands the importance of the people of Eastern Kentucky ... except Barack Obama," Jones said.

Lundergan challenged the notion that Indiana's primary could end Clinton's run if voters choose Obama.

"This picture has totally changed in the last 30 days," he said. "The picture should now be focused on electoral college votes and which one of the candidates is more electable."

He pointed to Clinton's wins in Texas, Ohio and most recently in Pennsylvania as signals that Clinton would be a better match-up against McCain and the Republicans, an argument that the Clinton campaign has hammered on in recent weeks.

- Ryan Alessi

Chandler says Obama's message is best for nation

Democratic U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler said that after months of intense and mounting pressure, he decided to ignore any political risks and back Illinois Sen. Barack Obama for the presidency.

"I've listened to the man. I have met with him and, like many of you, I am excited by his message of change for the future," Chandler told about 40 Obama supporters Tuesday morning in Louisville.

He praised Obama as "a man of great integrity and intellect" and of "quiet strength."

As one of the key sought-after Democratic superdelegates, Chandler's decision holds more weight than a normal endorsement. He and Kentucky's other eight superdelegates can pick a candidate during the August Democratic National Convention regardless of the outcome of the state's May 20 primary election.

He is the fifth of Kentucky's nine superdelegates to make a pick, with U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton snaring endorsements from three of them and Obama picking up Chandler and fellow U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth of Louisville.

"Let me tell you what it's like on the floor of the House of Representatives to be an uncommitted superdelegate. It's not a lot of fun," Yarmuth said when introducing Chandler on Tuesday. He recalled recently standing on one side of Chandler on the floor ready to urge him to pick Obama with two congressman backing Clinton ready to pounce from the other side.

Chandler, the grandson of former Kentucky governor and U.S. Sen. Happy Chandler, compared the move to his grandfather's endorsement during the hard-fought 1960 Democratic primary of a young Catholic Massachusetts Senator, John F. Kennedy.

That was an endorsement "against all odds" and the will of other Kentucky Democratic leaders, Ben Chandler said.

Chandler conceded that he is taking some risk by backing Obama, who is trailing Clinton in the polls in Kentucky. But he cited Obama's popularity among young voters as a key reason why he chose to announce his support. 

"Now is not the time to be timid. It's instead a time to be bold and support a candidate who can transform our future," he said.

Chandler has a strong political pedigree in Kentucky and wide name recognition left over from his 2003 run for governor.

He said he made his announcement in Louisville at the request of the Obama campaign, which saw an opportunity to have news of Chandler's endorsement penetrate the Indiana media market. Hoosiers go to the polls for their Democratic primary next Tuesday.

As for Kentucky, Chandler said he hasn't talked to the campaign about what he will do to stump for Obama in his central Kentucky congressional district. But he acknowledged that Obama, who is trailing in some polls by 30 points, has much work to do.

"He understands it's uphill," Chandler said of the candidate. "It's going to be a difficult slog for him here in Kentucky."

- Ryan Alessi

Chandler endorsing Obama

U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler, D-Lexington, has scheduled an 11 a.m. news conference Tuesday in Louisville to support U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois for president.

Chandler is a superdelegate who can cast his vote at the August Democratic National Convention for the presidential candidate of his choice regardless of whom Kentuckians choose at the polls in the state’s May 20 primary election.

Obama is facing U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York to be the Democratic presidential nominee to run in the November general election against the presumptive Republican nominee, U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

Chandler’s  news conference will be at Jefferson Park at 6th and Liberty streets in downtown Louisville near the PNC Building.

Another Kentucky superdelegate, U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Louisville, already has voiced support for Obama.

Three of the other eight known Kentucky superdelegates -- Lexington attorney Terry McBrayer, Owensboro businesswoman Moretta Bosley and Harrodsburg banker JoEtta Wickliffe -- have publicly pledged support to Clinton.

Three other prominent Kentucky superdelegates -- Gov. Steve Beshear, Party Chairman Jennifer Moore and Vice Chairman Nathan Smith -- have remained neutral, and are expected to do so until after the May 20 primary.

A ninth superdelegate will be chosen at the state party’s June 7 convention.

--Jack Brammer

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KY Dems get Clinton, seeking Obama for fund-raiser

A May 9 Kentucky Democratic Party event could feature both of the party's presidential candidates. New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton confirmed to the state party that she would attend, while the organization is still awaiting an answer from her rival, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, according to a Kentucky Democratic Party news release.

The party fund-raiser comes three days after Indiana and North Carolina voters go to the polls in the next round of Democratic Party primaries. Kentucky's primary election is May 20.

The event, scheduled for the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, will help the state party pump up its coffers, which have been emptier in recent months than the Kentucky Republican Party's bank account. Tickets for the event will cost $50 and Democratic officials are taking reservations at 502-695-4828, according to the state party. 

Both Clinton and Obama have helped in party fund-raising in the past. Clinton headlined an event that brought in about $300,000 in December 2005 and Obama helped campaign for Louisville-area Democrats before the 2006 election.

Others attending the May 9 fund-raiser will be Gov. Steve Beshear, Party Chairman Jennifer Moore and Vice Chairman Nathan Smith -- all three of whom are superdelegates who can cast their votes at the August Democratic National Convention for the presidential candidate of their choice regardless of who Kentuckians choose at the polls on the May 20 primary. All three have remained neutral, along with U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler. Among the other four known Kentucky superdelegates, Clinton leads Obama 3-1.

- Ryan Alessi

Beshear vetoes highway plan

FRANKFORT — Gov. Steve Beshear has scheduled a 1 p.m. news conference Monday to explain his veto of House Bill 79, the more than $3 billion state highway  construction plan for the next two years.

The news conference will be held in room 110 of the Capitol.

Legislators will not have the opportunity to override the veto because they approved the bill in the final hours of the last day of the 2008 General Assembly on April 15.

--Jack Brammer

Chelsea Clinton to attend Kentucky Derby

Former first daughter Chelsea Clinton will make her second trip to Kentucky in a month on Saturday when she represents her mother's campaign at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby.

The campaign for Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, confirmed Chelsea Clinton's appearance Sunday. She will be attending the Derby with former Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Lundergan and his wife Charlotte, who are key Clinton supporters in the Democratic presidential primary. Jerry Lundergan serves on Clinton's national finance committee.

Chelsea Clinton campaigned on her mother's behalf earlier this month at the University of Kentucky and in Louisville.

Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton attended the Kentucky Derby in 1983 while Bill Clinton was governor of Arkansas, according to a 1983 Philadelphia Inquirer article.

Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois isn't expected to attend the Derby, said spokeswoman Lisa Moxley in a statement. But the campaign still could have high-profile supporters in Louisville on Obama's behalf.

- Ryan Alessi