Pol Watchers

2008 Primary Election Voter Guide

The print version of the Sunday Herald-Leader will have a 6-page special section devoted to Tuesday's primary election.

Among other things, you'll find answers from Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to ten questions, some of which are Kentucky specific. You can also compare the stances of those running for U.S. Senate and Lexington's Urban County Council.

Here it is:

• Historic presidential race leads a full primary ballot (story)
• Presidential race issues grid (PDF)
• U.S. Senate race issues grid (PDF)
• U.S. Congressional races overview (PDF)
• State House races overview (PDF)
• 29th State Senate race overview (PDF)
• Lexington Urban County Council races issues grid (PDF)
• Voter information
• On the Ballot
• How to vote

- John Stamper

Bill Clinton to barnstorm Kentucky on Monday

Former President Bill Clinton will make a big push for his wife's presidential campaign on Monday with stops across eastern Kentucky and culminating at a Louisville rally where he will join up with U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Here is Bill Clinton's schedule, according to the campaign:

• Grayson -- 9:15 a.m., East Carter High School on 405 Hitchins Road.
• Mt. Sterling -- TBA
• Richmond -- 1:45 p.m., Eastern Kentucky University's The Ravine on 521 Lancaster Ave.
• Danville -- TBA
• Georgetown -- TBA
• Louisville -- 9 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.) Both Clintons will be at the Kentucky Exposition Center West Hall at the fairgrounds on 937 Phillips Lane.

- Ryan Alessi

Clinton puts Bush at top of worst presidents list

In a policy-laden speech, U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton skewered the Bush administration for what she called "terrible leadership" and made her case for why she could "hit the ground running" on her first day on the job.

"I don’t know if we’ve had a worse president," Clinton said.

Clinton spent much of her 35 minute speech at Kentucky State University laying out her plans to tackle the sluggish economy, a health care crunch and rising gas prices.

"I will not raise taxes by a single penny on anyone making less than $250,000 a year," she told a crowd of about 350 people.

READ MORE IN SUNDAY'S HERALD-LEADER

- Ryan Alessi

National press liked perk of Maker's Mark stop

LORETTO -- As the mass of reporters and TV camera men and women waited for Sen. Hillary Clinton to dip a Marker's Mark bottle in its signature red wax, the buzz in press pool was about the discount they'd get: Thirty-five percent off in the Maker's Mark gift shop, they reported to each other.

Clinton got a bonus as well. She got to keep the bottle of Maker's Mark she had dipped.
Apparently, the wax had dripped a little.

"There's some benefits to running for president," she said.

- Sarah Vos

Clinton at Transy Monday; Michelle Obama in Lex too

U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will hold a final-push "Get out the vote rally" at Transylvania University at 6:30 p.m.

Doors open at the university's Clive M. Beck Center at 300 Broadway at 4:30 p.m.

After that, she heads to Louisville for another 9 p.m. rally at the Kentucky Expo Center.

UPDATE 8:21 p.m.: The Clinton campaign just added a stop Monday morning in Maysville. Clinton will appear at a get-out-the-vote rally at the Old Maysville High School gym at 10:45 a.m. Doors open at 9.

UPDATE 6:08 p.m.: Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's campaign announced Michelle Obama will make stops in Hopkinsville, Louisville and Lexington on Monday.

Details of her stops weren't provided.

Barack Obama will be in Oregon on Sunday, Montana on Monday and Iowa on Tuesday, the day that voters in Kentucky and Oregon cast their ballots.

- Ryan Alessi

TN, VA superdelegates stump in KY for Clinton

Among those flying the banner for U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign in Frankfort Saturday were two superdelegates, one from Tennessee who recently endorsed Clinton and Virginia's first to announce his support for her more than a year ago.

Superdelegates have become rock stars of sorts within the Democratic Party because they can vote for the candidate of their choice at the national convention regardless of the results of their state's primary outcome.

Lately, a wave of superdelegates have been moving toward U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, who leads Clinton in total delegates and the popular vote.

But Vicky Harwell, the president of the Tennessee Federation of Democratic Women and one of the state's 17 superdelegates, decided to endorse Clinton Tuesday night after her landslide victory in West Virginia.

"She, to me, has the experience, the leadership," said Harwell, who made her rounds through the crowd before Clinton's 4:30 p.m. rally in Frankfort. "She sees the conviction and wisdom in America with a clarity of vision. And she's tenacious. If anything, she's shown that in this campaign."

Harwell, who hails from Pulaski in Giles County, echoed the Clinton campaign's argument that Clinton has shown herself the best candidate to win in key swing states, such as Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Tennessee's batch of superdelegates is split with six for Clinton, four for Obama and seven still uncommitted. That's similar to Kentucky where three are for Clinton, two are for Obama and three are undecided with one superdelegate still to be chosen.

Also meeting and greeting in Frankfort Saturday was Virginia state Delegate Lionell Spruill of Chesapeake, who endorsed Clinton early in 2007. A majority of voters in his district, however, voted for Obama during that state's primary in February.

As a result, he said he's felt pressure from voters and officials to switch his endorsement.

"I have traveled to six states for her, why would I do that," he said.

- Ryan Alessi

CNN Election Express in Frankfort awaiting Clinton

Kentucky State University is not only playing host to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton but the CNN Election Express.

The cable news network's tour bus/mobile office was parked outside KSU's gym early Saturday in preparation for Clinton's "Solutions for America" event scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

- Ryan Alessi

Wife of superdelegate holds Clinton fund-raiser

Mary Lee Smith, who is married to state Democratic Party Vice Chairman Nathan Smith, will host U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton at her Fort Mitchell home Sunday night for fund-raiser to benefit Clinton's presidential campaign.

Nathan Smith will serve as one of Kentucky's nine Democratic superdelegates at the party's national convention in Denver. He has remained neutral, along with Gov. Steve Beshear and state party chairman Jennifer Moore.

He said Saturday the fund-raiser doesn't mean he's picked a side. "It does not," he said.

Mary Lee Smith has been a strong proponent of Clinton's and was delighted to oblige when the campaign asked her if she would host the event, he said.

Of the other superdelegates, three are supporting Clinton, two have backed U.S. Sen. Barack Obama and the final one will be chosen at the state party's June 7 convention.

- Ryan Alessi

McCain questions Obama's preparation for job

Seeking to bolster his credentials among conservatives, likely Republican nominee John McCain preached his commitment to the Second Amendment, while jabbing at his potential Democratic opponent, at the National Rifle Association’s annual meeting.

McCain spent part of his speech contrasting himself on gun and other issues to Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. That included a diversion from his prepared remarks to criticize Obama’s willingness to hold talks with Iran over its nuclear capabilities.

“It would be a wonderful thing if we lived in a world where we don’t have enemies. That’s not the world we live in,” McCain said. “And until Sen. Obama understands that reality, the American people have every reason to doubt whether he has the strength, the judgment and determination to keep us safe.”

READ MORE IN SATURDAY'S HERALD-LEADER

- Ryan Alessi

Hillary barnstorming Kentucky

U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton will make five stops in Kentucky over the weekend to help whip up votes for the Tuesday Democratic presidential primary.

She starts the weekend with a 1:30 p.m. tour of the Maker's Mark Distillery and a community picnic at 3350 Burks Spring Road in Loretto.

Other stops on Clinton's schedule include:

• 4:15 p.m. EDT, Saturday, Get Out The Vote Rally at Kentucky State University, Bell Gymnasium, 400 East Main Street, Frankfort, Ky.
• 8:15 p.m. EDT, Saturday, The 29th Annual MainStrasse Village Maifest, 501 Main Street, Covington, Ky.
• 12:30 p.m. CDT, Sunday, Get Out The Vote Rally at Western Kentucky University, South Lawn, 1906 College Heights Blvd., Bowling Green, Ky.
• 4:15 p.m. CDT, Sunday, Get Out The Vote Rally at the Mayfield-Graves City Chamber, 201 East College Street, Mayfield, Ky.

- John Stamper