The Political Bridge

Independent Poll Shows Rand Paul with a Big Lead in the Republican Senatorial Primary in Kentucky

Raleigh, N.C. –Rand Paul holds a large lead over Secretary of State Trey Grayson in Public Policy Polling’s first look at the race. Paul is up 44-25 on Grayson. 39% of likely primary voters have a favorable opinion of him to 13% unfavorable while 22% view Grayson positively to 15% unfavorable. Paul is winning the votes of conservatives by a 47-20 margin, while Grayson holds a 36-34 lead with moderates.

For more information on these data: Download PPP_Release_KY_1222

Joe Arnold of WHAS-TV Reports that Senate Republican Candidate Rand Paul is Polling Very Well in KY

Rand Paul supporters stuffed the ballot box in an online poll to persuade Public Policy to select the Kentucky U.S. Senate race as their final poll of 2009.  And it appears Paul got a stocking stuffer in return, according to the PPP. ".... the Kentucky general election numbers we'll release Wednesday show Rand Paul doing only one point worse than Trey Grayson against Jack Conway and three points worse against Dan Mongiardo."

For more on these data click Joe Arnold

Thanksgiving Wishes from the Major Republican Candidates in the 2010 Kentucky U.S. Senate Race

Here are snippets from Joe Arnold's (WHAS-TV) piece on this topic.

 

Trey Grayson
 Thanksgiving began as a simple celebration of life and an appreciation of the blessings of freedom. Our forefathers celebrated their arrival to this land of open possibilities, and each subsequent generation of proud Americans has built upon that example of strength and sacrifice.

 

Rand Paul

We are especially grateful to all those who sacrificed their lives to defend our Constitution and make this possible. We are grateful to all the patriots still working for freedom, thousands of whom we've had the privilege of meeting in recent months

 

Read More: Click Thanksgiving Wishes

Republican vs. Republican in a Testy Exchange at a U.S. Senate Candidates Forum in Louisville, KY

NKY.com blog on Kentucky Politics

Rand Paul’s official campaign site shows an entry was posted on his campaign blog…that says he believes Guantanamo Bay should be shut down – a viewpoint in direct conflict with his views today..

Within hours, the (Trey) Grayson camp issued a statement saying “Rand Paul proved today … that he is practiced in the Washington art of flip-flopping.”

Paul campaign manager David Adams denied the charge,,, it(closing down of Gitmo) ”was posted on his Web site six months ago unbeknownst to..

To read more about this data click Grayson vs.Paul

Watch WHAS-TV'S Coverage of U.S. Senate Candidates Forum (11/19/2009)in Louisville, KY

Senator McConnell is Trying to Kill Three Birds with One New York City Fundraiser

Senator McConnell should accomplish three things vis-a-vis the New York fundraiser cited below. He shows support for two moderate Republicans in key primaries.  He also gives Cathy Bailey(R-KY) a clear negative message about running for U.S. Senate.  I doubt that Ms. Bailey, a former U.S. Ambassador and Republican National Committeewoman, would run for Senate without Mr. McConnell's blessing.

From the Washington Post, November 17, 2009

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is making his candidate preferences known in two Republican primaries -- hosting a fundraiser in New York City on Dec. 7 to benefit former New Hampshire attorney general Kelly Ayotte and Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson, who is being challenged by Rand Paul, the son of Texas Rep. RonAyotte will face at least two candidates in the GOP primary -- businessmen Ovide Lamontagne and Bill Binnie.

Republican Senate Candidate Rand Paul Met with Senator Mitch McConnell

From the BluegrassBulletin.com

Rand Paul met with Mitch McConnell around 5:30 this evening(November 12^th) at the airport in Louisville. The meeting is significant in large part because McConnell, the senior senator from Kentucky has been close with the candidacy of Trey Grayson, Kentucky's current Secretary of State and Paul's main primary opponent.   The press reports which followed portrayed Grayson as the choice of party insiders

Republican Primary for U.S. is Heating Up: Trey Grayson Questions Rand Paul's Loyalty to Kentucky Voters

From the Courier-Journal

In an interview with WHAS-TV earlier this week, …Rand Paul declined to say if he would support McConnell for another term as Senate GOP leader if he is challenged by Sen. Jim DeMint, R-South Carolina

“I like both of them…(Rand Paul said in the interview), but I think obviously Kentucky having a leader is good for Kentucky. “

 In a statement Wednesday, Grayson said Paul's remarks are a sign that he is more beholden to his “Libertarian donor base” than to his constituents in Kentucky...

WYMT Video Report: U.S. Senatorial Candidates Daniel Mongriado (D) and Trey Grayson(R) Voicing Support of a Eastern Kentucky Rally for the Cause of Coal

Latest Survey USA Data on U.S. Senate Prmaries in Kentucky: Mongiardo(D) and Paul(R) Lead Their Primary Races

From WHAS-TV

32% Grayson
35% Paul
2% Johnson
1% Oerther
3% Thoney
10% Other
18% Undecided

28% Conway
39% Mongiardo
2% Price
1% Sweeney
5% Miller-Johnson
10% Other
16% Undecided