All Politics is Still Local
SOURCE: nationalatlas.gov
Cases in Congressional Campaigns: Incumbents Playing Defense
All Politics is Still Local
The State of Kentucky The Candidates The Campaign The Results
SOURCE: www.nationalatlas.gov
Cases in Congressional Campaigns: Incumbents Playing Defense
The State of Kentucky
Race/Ethnicity 89.2% White 7.6% Black 1.0% Asian 2.1% Hispanic
Occupation 34.8% White Collar
65.2% Blue Collar
Median Income $40.1k
Partisanship 57% Republican 36% Democrats
‘04 Presidential Vote
Bush +20%
SOURCE: www.nationalatlas.gov
Cases in Congressional Campaigns: Incumbents Playing Defense
The Candidates: Incumbent Mitch McConnell
Occupation Attorney
Political Experience
Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Ford Administration
County Judge (chief executive), Jefferson County, Kentucky
First Elected
1985
Committees
Agriculture Appropriations Rules Intelligence
Military Service
US Army, 1967
SOURCE: mcconnell.senate.gov
Table 1 Congressional Vote Scores for Mitch McConnell, 1993-2008
Cases in Congressional Campaigns: Incumbents Playing Defense
The Candidates: Challenger Bruce Lunsford
Occupation Attorney CEO and Chairman, Vencor
Political Experience
Treasurer, Kentucky Democratic Party, 1979
Candidate for Democratic Nomination for Governor, Kentucky, 2003, 2007
SOURCE: www.myspace.com/brucelunsford
Table 2. Campaign Finance Election Outcomes for Senator Mitch McConnell, 1984-2008
Cases in Congressional Campaigns: Incumbents Playing Defense
The Campaign: The Polls
Cases in Congressional Campaigns: Incumbents Playing Defense
The Campaign: “Fans”
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The Campaign: “Governors”
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Cases in Congressional Campaigns: Incumbents Playing Defense
The Campaign: “Bruce Lunsford’ s Company”
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The Campaign: McConnell’s Iraq War Stance
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The Campaign: “How It Works”
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Table 3. Kentucky Election Results by Geographic Area, 2008
Cases in Congressional Campaigns: Incumbents Playing Defense
The Results