Pol Watchers

Obama's new Kentucky ad focuses on coal

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama launched a new TV ad this weekend featuring an Illinois miner praising the the him for work on coal issues.

"Washington, D.C., is not listening to us," said Randy Henry, who is identified as a miner for 31 years. "Barack understands it."

The ad is running in the Lexington and Bowling Green television markets, Obama's campaign confirmed.

The commercial lists Obama's key accomplishment as supporting $200 million for clean coal technology. An announcer says Obama "helped lead the fight for clean coal to protect our environment and save good-paying American jobs." Click here to view the ad .

The Republican National Committee, however, slammed Obama's energy policy proposals, which the GOP group said would restrict job growth in the coal industry.

"Barack Obama is telling Kentucky voters he 'understands' coal, but fails to mention that he has proposed taxing coal, voted against coal-to-liquid legislation, and that his own energy policy would restrict the growth of Kentucky's coal industry. If he can't 'understand' why that is bad for Kentucky's economy, then he doesn't 'understand' how to lead," said  Katie Wright, RNC spokeswoman in a statement.

Obama's campaign fired back, saying that Obama's record does, indeed, reflect his commitment to the future of coal.

"With Americans desperate for an end to the disastrous policies of George W Bush and John McCain, it is no wonder that the Republican Party is trying to distract voters with misleading statements," the statement said.

Obama has been a proponent of coal-to-liquid legislation and even co-sponsored a bill with Kentucky Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning in 2007. "I am a strong believer in the free market, and I relied on my long experience in economics when I wrote the coal-to-liquid legislation that I introduced with Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill," wrote Bunning in a June 11, 2007 column in the Herald-Leader. "My bill would provide incentives for the first commercial demonstrations of coal-to-liquid technology."

Obama has advocated treading slowly when it comes to expanding the use of coal to generate electricity.

For instance, in a town-hall meeting this January in Nevada, Obama said he wants to invest more federal money into coal technology research to develop ways to sequester carbon dioxide emissions -- a key greenhouse gas -- from power plants.

"If we can figure out a way to produce coal generated power cleanly, then we should be for it," Obama said. "But I am not going to license or encourage coal that’s dirty. The technology is going to have to prove itself, and right now we’re not quite there yet."

- Ryan Alessi

McConnell's first '08 ads show leadership in 60 seconds

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell will start his re-election campaign with one-minute TV ads that play up his leadership position in the Senate -- a post that Democratic U.S. Sen. Alben Barkley also held.

"Sixty-five people have served Kentucky in the U.S. Senate but only two have risen to be leaders," the commercial's announcer says.

The ad will begin running Friday, the campaign said.

The commercial then lists "the Barkley legacy," which includes the creation of Lake Barkley in Western Kentucky, the construction of the Northern Kentucky Airport and the formation of the tobacco program.

The McConnell legacy, according to the ad, includes securing $280 million for state universities, helping write and get passed the tobacco buyout program and working toward "safe disposal" of chemical weapons at the Bluegrass Army Depot.

"Sen. McConnell is a very powerful man in the senate today. When one is in a position like that, they can do great things for their state," said Alben Barkley II, Barkley's grandson. He previously taped that interview for McConnell's "Kentucky Hero's" segments on the Senator's re-election Web site.

"Mitch McConnell: the leader who can do more for Kentucky's future," the ad concludes.

Also click here to view the Louisville version of the ad on McConnell's Web site.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee put up on the Internet a 30-second spot that ties McConnell to Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher, who lost re-election Tuesday.

Matt Miller, spokesman for the DSCC, said the organization is considering buying air time on Kentucky TV stations to run the commercial, especially now that McConnell will be showing his ads.

The DSCC spot repeatedly shows McConnell praising Fletcher in public remarks from earlier this year. "I have never met a finer man than our governor, Ernie Fletcher," McConnell says.

Fletcher largely lost re-election because of voter frustration over his response to the state hiring investigation, in which the governor issued broad pardons to his administration.

"Kentucky is tired of the corruption," the ad's announcer says. "Senator McConnell just doesn't get it."

- Ryan Alessi

UPDATED: Mysterious phone ad causes stir in governor's race

   LISTEN TO THE CALL

UPDATE: LISTEN TO THE BESHEAR CAMPAIGN'S RESPONSE

Both candidates for governor say they have nothing to do with a mysterious automated phone call being made across the state today that purports to be an endorsement of Democrat Steve Beshear by the "homosexual lobby."

The call does not identify who paid for the message, a potential violation of state election laws. It directs people to visit the web site of the Fairness Campaign, an advocacy group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-gendered individuals.

Although the Fairness Campaign's political action committee has endorsed Beshear, the group says it had nothing to do with the call.

"For the first time in 20 years the homosexual lobby proudly endorses a candidate for governor, Steve Beshear," says the call. "Beshear is receiving major support from out-of-state gay activists."

Anne Ferguson of Danville, who received the phone message, said it is clearly designed to discourage people from voting for Beshear.

"They shouldn't be able to get away with something like this," Furguson said. "This is the ugliest thing I've heard in an election probably in my lifetime."

Darryl Weaver of Lexington called the message "a dirty trick."

The message says Beshear is "publicly committed to same-gender relationships; employment of more homosexuals in state government, including teachers; and support for homosexual adoption of children."

"If you believe these rights are fair, vote for Steve Beshear for governor," says the ad.

Spokespeople for Beshear and Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher said they were not responsible for the call and do not know who is responsible.

UPDATE 1:10 p.m.: Here are the reactions from the different sides.

The Fairness Campaign, in Louisville, which runs the Web site referenced in the call: "It is not us. We are trying to find out who is making these calls and where they're coming from. We think the calls are a sad attempt at this late moment to change the vote using a fear tactic," said Darnell Johnson, organizational manager.

The Beshear campaign: "Obviously it's panic time for the Fletcher camp," said spokeswoman Vicki Glass. Beshear "welcomes the support of all Kentuckians," but he has stated that -- according to his religious beliefs -- marriage is between a man and a woman, and he would not give special preferences to any group as governor.

The Fletcher campaign: "I don't know who would be impersonating the Fairness Campaign," said spokesman Jason Keller. "Obviously we wouldn't support anybody misrepresenting themselves in a call." Having said that, Keller added that the Fairness Campaign's political action committee did endorse Beshear, and "certainly there's a fair question to be asked there."

UPDATE 6:05 p.m.: Beshear's campaign has put out an automated phone message responding to the anonymous ad.

"Ernie Fletcher is spreading lies to scare you," says Rev. John Dunaway, a retired Baptist minister who has volunteered in the Beshear campaign. "Don't fall for the last-minute dirty tricks."

- John Stamper and John Cheves

Grayson runs new TV ad, Hendrickson goes on radio

UPDATED BELOW

Secretary of State Trey Grayson, a Republican, is airing his second commercial, which starts by using snippets of newspaper editorials to slam his Democratic challenger, Bruce Hendrickson.

Because Hendrickson, a Pineville High School science teacher, has failed to raise more than $20,000 in the election, the TV exposure from Grayson's ad -- albeit not flattering -- is the most he's gotten so far.

Hendrickson's campaign, however, has produced a 30-second radio commercial that consists of an original jingle that repeats "Hendrickson, the Democrat" several times. Click here to listen.

Meanwhile, Grayson's ad quotes Herald-Leader, Louisville Courier-Journal and Kentucky Post editorials that endorsed him. It starts by quoting the Herald-Leader's editorial, which says Hendrickson would be "unprepared" for the job and electing him would be "a disservice to Kentucky."

The ad ends by playing up Grayson as an "independent" official: "Independent leadership for Kentucky that gets things done."

UPDATE 3:00 p.m.: The Democratic Party of Kentucky is also running an ad that question's Grayson's record as secretary of state on urban-music radio stations in Lexington and Louisville.

The Republican Party of Kentucky sent a letter today to the Democratic Party requesting the ad be pulled because it contains accusations against Grayson that are "blatantly false."

"Trey Grayson is trying to take away our rights in Tuesday's election by suppressing our votes to help himself get elected," says a female narrator. "By eliminating provisional ballots, Grayson puts his own political career before our right to vote.

"The result: once again we're denied our rights and threatened with being turned away or losing our votes," the ad says.

In his letter, GOP Chairman Steve Robertson says the State Board of Elections set the rules for provisional ballots during the term of former Democratic Secretary of State John Y. Brown III, not Grayson.

Minutes of the election board's Nov. 24, 2003, meeting show that members passed an emergency regulation and a normal regulation on the matter during that meeting. The normal regulation did not become effective until March 2004 -- after Grayson had taken office -- because it first had to gain approval from the Legislative Research Commission.

"To pull this kind of attack six days before the election is absolutely desperate," said Nate Hodson, campaign manager for Grayson.

Hodson noted that Grayson learned of the ad, which apparently began running Wednesday on 107.9 The Beat in Lexington and B96.5 in Louisville, from a non-merit African American employee.

Allison Haley, press secretary for the KDP, declined to comment on the letter or ad, saying she is also affiliated with Hendrickson's campaign. She said someone else from the party would be available to comment later today.

   KDP ad on Grayson

 

-Ryan Alessi and John Stamper

Beshear launches ad touting endorsements

Democrat Steve Beshear has launched a TV ad touting the fact he's been endorsed by "nearly every major newspaper across Kentucky."

"My pledge to you is that you'll always know where I stand and I'll always put Kentucky first," Beshear concludes.

Here's the ad:

- John Stamper

Fletcher launches ad on values

Gov. Ernie Fletcher has launched a TV ad that says voting for the Republican governor "is how we preserve our Kentucky home."

In the 30-second spot, Fletcher says he's fighting for a Kentucky without casinos, without higher taxes and without "taking away the Ten Commandments or prayer in school."

A narrator then urges voters to "choose life, choose values."

Fletcher's message on values is the latest in a parade of issues the governor has highlighted with hopes of narrowing Democrat Steve Beshear's double-digit lead in the polls. So far, none have worked.

It's worth noting that in a recent Herald-Leader/Action News 36 Election Poll, the number of respondents who said they believe Beshear's values more closely match those of Kentuckians was larger than the number who chose Fletcher.

Here's the ad:

- John Stamper

The Fix focuses on Kentucky

Here is WashingtonPost.com political blogger Chris Cillizza's take on a recent Bluegrass Freedom Fund ad attacking Gov. Ernie Fletcher's record on ethics.

- John Stamper

Fletcher campaign running dozens of radio ads

Gov. Ernie Fletcher's campaign is making a major advertising push with radio ads that feature endorsements from "dozens" of local leaders from across the state, campaign spokesman Jason Keller said today.

The state's two U.S. Senators are featured in spots airing in Louisville and Northern Kentucky, while former Commerce Cabinet Secretary Jim Host endorses Fletcher in a spot playing in Lexington.

"Ernie Fletcher has been the best governor for Louisville in my lifetime," McConnell says, noting that the Fletcher administration has invested $2.6 billion in Louisville.

He goes on to say that Fletcher's "focus never wavered in a storm of political attacks."

Former UK quarterback Derrick Ramsey, who is deputy secretary of the Commerce Cabinet, and former Southland Christian Church minister Wayne Smith have also cut radio spots for Fletcher that will run in Lexington. Southland Christian is the state's second largest church, according to the ad.

All three ads running in the Lexington media market also include comments from Ralph Hacker, a former Fletcher aide and former radio voice of the University of Kentucky men's basketball team.

While Host and Ramsey tout Fletcher's accomplishments in office, Smith deals with two key issues in the campaign: the state hiring investigation and casino gambling.

"I believe Gov. Fletcher to be a Christian gentleman and a fine governor," said Smith, an ardent Fletcher supporter during a lengthy investigation of hiring practices in Fletcher's administration. "It came as a surprise to Ernie that the rules changed when the Republicans came to Frankfort."

Although Fletcher signed an agreement with Attorney General Greg Stumbo that said the hiring investigation benefited Kentucky, he now calls the investigation a "witch hunt."

To back up his argument, Fletcher points to data that shows his administration has seen fewer personnel complaints than any other governor in more than two decades.

However, Fletcher and 14 of his aides were indicted by a grand jury on charges that they hired and fired rank-and-file state workers for political reasons. Fletcher pardoned everyone in his administration but himself and later invoked his 5th Amendment protection against self incrimination when appearing before a grand jury.

Smith goes on to directly challenge Democrat Steve Beshear on the casino gambling issue, suggesting that Beshear should be "ashamed" of his stance in favor of allowing casinos.

"Mr. Beshear, if this is your way of expressing your love for this community, I would really be ashamed," Smith said. "This will be the legacy of your life. Are you sure you want this for your grandchildren and great grandchildren?"

Host, who donated to both Fletcher and challenger Anne Northup in the Republican primary, and Ramsey both focus on Fletcher's efforts to bring the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games to Kentucky.

"Gov. Fletcher has done an outstanding job for this part of Kentucky," Host concludes.

Wayne Smith ad

Jim Host ad

Derrick Ramsey ad

Mitch McConnell ad

- John Stamper

Fletcher releases TV ad touting his accomplishments

Gov. Ernie Fletcher has released a new 60-second TV ad that focuses exclusively on his accomplishments as governor.

The upbeat spot is narrated by Fletcher and includes a direct appeal to voters. Like ads from his primary campaign, a version of "This Little Light of Mine" plays in the background.

We'll have more on the ad later today. Here it is:

UPDATE 9 p.m.: Here's our story for Thursday's Herald-Leader regarding the ad:

After telling Kentuckians for two months why they should vote against Democrat Steve Beshear, Gov. Ernie Fletcher’s campaign shifted strategy yesterday and launched a TV ad touting reasons to support the Republican governor.

The 60-second spot, which is airing on networks statewide, is narrated by Fletcher, who makes a direct appeal for viewers’ votes.

Fletcher begins the ad by noting that he hasn’t been perfect during his four years in office, a vague acknowledgment of a 16-month probe into his administration’s hiring practices that led the governor to pardon his entire administration and invoke his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination before a grand jury.

“But did I try? Each and every day,” says Fletcher as the screen shows a Courier-Journal.com headline that reads “Ethics panel clears Fletcher in hiring probe.”

That headline refers to the Executive Branch Ethics Commission’s decision in June to drop an investigation of Fletcher’s hiring actions, citing a lack of evidence.

However, several Democrats and at least one former member of the Ethics Commission said the panel’s decision was influenced by partisan politics. They noted that Fletcher had appointed all but one member of the five-person commission that voted to end the inquiry.

The rest of Fletcher’s ad focuses exclusively on his accomplishments since taking office in 2003.

Grayson airs his first ad of the campaign

Secretary of State Trey Grayson's first commercial, which began running today, alludes to his work on civics education programs and also has a religious overtone.

"Trey Grayson believes we can restore the soul and spirit of Kentucky if we honor the gifts God has given us," the announcer says at one point.

The 30-second commercial, called "Faces of Kentucky," ends by mentioning Grayson's major initiative to increase civics education in classrooms. Grayson has been working with the University of Louisville to establish curriculum ideas for high schools.

Grayson had sought some state funding from the General Assembly for the creation of a civics learning center but the legislature has yet to approve it.

"When political leaders let us down, Trey Grasyon stood up and established a model program to teach our children about honesty, ethics and integrity," the announcer said.

Grayson faces Democrat Bruce Hendrickson in the Nov. 6 election.

Here's the ad:

- Ryan Alessi