2011 Gubernatorial race: Beshear/Abramson vs. Williams/Farmer. Discuss. (Louisville: closing, live)

[EclecticEars]

I'm not asking who you will be voting for. If you choose to disclose it, fine. If not, fine. It's your choice and business. However, I love to discuss politics and this is certainly shaping up to be an interesting Governor's race already.

Quite honestly, I predict that the Williams/Farmer ticket will obviously win the Republican primary. I don't see where any other candidates on the ticket have the name recognitions of David Williams and Richie Farmer. HOWEVER...Beshear/Abramson will cream Williams/Farmer in the general election.

Discuss predictions, takes, dynamics, candidates' personalities. Just don't childishly attack the candidates as people (and I know we won't because we're the Kentucky forum. )

[Off Topic]

I originally thought Ritchie Farmer was a great choice for Williams. But he's been self-destructing lately and could actually cost votes.

Kentucky has always been conservative and is trending that way even more lately. So while I think Bershear wins, it's going to be very close, imo. Bershear does seem to have the advantage in money and the incumbency. And Williams may have a tougher time of the primary than we think. Maffott (?) has the surging Tea Party behind him, and Bobbie Holsclaw is very popular in Jefferson County, where she has done a wonderful job as the county clerk.

[tomocox]

Rule of politics... Williams/Farmer have GOP "incumbency", one challenger could win, but two split and incumbent wins. Farmer will need to resign from the ticket after primary to not be an issue in Nov.

Not certain that Beshear/Abramson is that formidible. Now that the Mayor for life is out of power, his loss with the fire dept pension issue, Beshear's lack of a fight against Obamacare, and the anti-union movement will lay in the Demo way.

[johnsonkk]

Originally Posted by tomocox

Rule of politics... Williams/Farmer have GOP "incumbency", one challenger could win, but two split and incumbent wins. Farmer will need to resign from the ticket after primary to not be an issue in Nov.

Not certain that Beshear/Abramson is that formidible. Now that the Mayor for life is out of power, his loss with the fire dept pension issue, Beshear's lack of a fight against Obamacare, and the anti-union movement will lay in the Demo way.

Another issue for the Beshear/Abramson ticket is whether Kentucky will vote with the Jewish religion. This was not an issue in Louisville but the rest of the 119 counties may make it an issue. Abramson has bones in the closet. I think Beshear could have picked a safer candidate since it's HIM that is getting reelected not some tag-a-long.

[ronnieKennedy]

I sure hope Bashear|Abramson don't win look how screwed up Louisville is due to Jerry the Fairy Abramson.While in Office all he did was spend money on useless crap downtown.When he loses watch him do what he did last time he lost and move back to Philly.when he lost the Mayor race way back in the day he and his wife left owing Bacons and several other stores several thousands of dollars for his wifes extravagent spending sprees.I also Know a retires policeman that wittnessed Jerry and another MAN taking a city owned boat out for private nightly crusies

[Off Topic]

Originally Posted by ronnieKennedy

I sure hope Bashear|Abramson don't win look how screwed up Louisville is due to Jerry the Fairy Abramson.While in Office all he did was spend money on useless crap downtown.When he loses watch him do what he did last time he lost and move back to Philly.when he lost the Mayor race way back in the day he and his wife left owing Bacons and several other stores several thousands of dollars for his wifes extravagent spending sprees.I also Know a retires policeman that wittnessed Jerry and another MAN taking a city owned boat out for private nightly crusies

Oh please, no gay bashing even if true. (And it isn't.)

Abramson wasn't perfect, but on the whole he dragged Louisville kicking and screaming into the 20th century and made it a city that carries the entire state economically.

Like it or not, the expansion of the airport was critical to our economic well being. It locked UPS in to Louisville and they could be our best corporate citizen, and also added the presence of Southwest Air. The waterfront was literally a waste land before he took over. Downtown looked like Detroit looks now. He got it cleaned up and now we have Fourth Street Live, a thriving medical community, and many new corporate headquarters like the Presbyterian Church and Yum. With high paying labor jobs closing down all over the country, he helped protect both Ford and GE and all those jobs. By "useless crap" do you mean the new Yum Center, which is proving to be a huge success? Or Fourth Street Live? Or the Slugger Museum? Or the Science Center? Or the new hospitals? Useless crap?

By no stretch of the imagination did he screw Louisville up. I've lived in Jefferson County all my life and worked in downtown Louisville both before and after he took office, and can personally attest to the improvements he made. It was night and day.

He is by no means perfect and he made his share of mistakes like every single one of us, but there is a reason his approval ratings are consistently above 70%, which is astounding for any politician anywhere.