2008 United States Senate election in Kentucky explained

Election Name:2008 United States Senate election in Kentucky
Country:Kentucky
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2002 United States Senate election in Kentucky
Previous Year:2002
Next Election:2014 United States Senate election in Kentucky
Next Year:2014
Election Date:November 4, 2008
Image1:Sen Mitch McConnell official cropped.jpg
Nominee1:Mitch McConnell
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:953,816
Percentage1:52.97%
Nominee2:Bruce Lunsford
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:847,005
Percentage2:47.03%
Map Size:300px
U.S. Senator
Before Election:Mitch McConnell
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:Mitch McConnell
After Party:Republican Party (United States)

The 2008 United States Senate election in Kentucky was held on November 4, 2008. Minority Leader and incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell won re-election to a fifth term. Although Barack Obama lost Kentucky by a 16.22% margin to John McCain in the concurrent presidential election, McConnell more narrowly kept his seat with a 5.94% margin against businessman Bruce Lunsford. This was a greatly reduced margin from when he won re-election in 2002 with a 29.4% margin.

Background

In 2007 Kentucky's unpopular Republican Governor, Ernie Fletcher, lost his re-election bid. The Democrats took control of both Houses of Congress in the 2006 mid-term elections and in October Chuck Schumer acknowledged they were aiming for McConnell's seat.[1]

State auditor Crit Luallen was considered a top contender for the Democratic nomination, but she decided to remain as auditor.[2] Lunsford was asked to run by Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear.[3] Seven candidates competed for the Democratic Primary nomination. The primaries for both parties took place on May 20, 2008, in which Lunsford took more than 50%.

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

General election

Candidates

Campaign

In October Lunsford and McConnell were statistically tied in the polls. Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said "If Lunsford is actually doing this well, its got to be because the public is so upset by the economic meltdown and may be blaming the legislative leaders."[4]

A debate scheduled for October 7 hosted by the League of Women Voters was canceled when incumbent McConnell decided not to participate even though Lunsford announced he wanted to debate.[5]

On November 2, 2008, media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal noted that the website of The New Republic had reported that anti-McConnell flyers questioning the senator's sexuality as well as the reasons for his 1967 military discharge were being distributed in Kentucky.[6] [7]

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
align=left The Cook Political Report[8] October 23, 2008
align=left CQ Politics[9] October 31, 2008
align=left Rothenberg Political Report[10] November 2, 2008
align=left Real Clear Politics[11] November 1, 2008

Polling

Poll SourceDates administeredLunsfordMcConnell
Voter/Consumer Research[12] January 6–8, 200837%52%
Research 2000/
Lexington Herald-Leader/
WKYT-TV[13]
May 7–9, 200836%48%
Voter/Consumer Research[14] May 21–22, 200839%50%
Rasmussen Reports[15] May 22, 200849%44%
Survey USA[16] June 13–16, 200846%50%
Voter/Consumer Research[17] June 15–17, 200839%50%
Rasmussen Reports[18] June 25, 200841%48%
Rasmussen Reports[19] July 29, 200842%52%
Survey USA[20] August 11, 200840%52%
Voter/Consumer Research[21] September 7–9, 200835%52%
Research 2000 for Daily Kos[22] September 15–17, 200837%50%
SurveyUSA[23] September 21–22, 200846%49%
Rasmussen Reports[24] September 30, 200842%51%
SurveyUSA[25] October 20, 200848%48%
Rasmussen Reports[26] October 21, 200843%50%
Research 2000/
Lexington Herald-Leader/
WKYT-TV[27]
October 22, 200843%47%
Rasmussen Reports[28] October 29, 200844%51%
Survey USA[29] November 1, 200845%53%

Results breakdown

County[30] PrecinctsReportingLunsford% LunsfordMcConnell% McConnellTotal
Adair16162,19830.88%4,92069.12%7,118 (R)
Allen13132,33131.85%4,98768.15%7,318 (R)
Anderson14144,78746.27%5,55853.73%10,345 (R)
Ballard13131,89346.68%2,16253.32%4,055 (R)
Barren24246,73541.15%9,63058.85%16,365 (R)
Bath12122,74761.36%1,73038.64%4,477 (D)
Bell33333,49438.83%5,50561.17%8,999 (R)
Boone606015,22430.75%34,28569.25%49,509 (R)
Bourbon18184,32552.26%3,95147.74%8,276 (D)
Boyd474711,17454.23%9,43045.77%20,604 (D)
Boyle25255,85446.90%6,62753.10%12,481 (R)
Bracken881,38241.17%1,97558.83%3,357 (R)
Breathitt21213,11161.41%1,95538.59%5,066 (D)
Breckinridge15153,73644.02%4,75255.98%8,488 (R)
Bullitt444412,50141.85%17,36858.15%29,869 (R)
Butler12121,77133.59%3,50166.41%5,272 (R)
Caldwell13132,82146.30%3,27253.70%6,093 (R)
Calloway30306,87045.39%8,26654.61%15,136 (R)
Campbell666614,78937.55%24,59162.45%39,380 (R)
Carlisle661,22046.51%1,40353.49%2,623 (R)
Carroll11112,15757.23%1,61242.77%3,769 (D)
Carter23235,22053.74%4,49446.26%9,714 (D)
Casey15151,78330.55%4,05369.45%5,836 (R)
Christian44449,03040.79%13,10959.21%22,139 (R)
Clark26267,43648.49%7,89851.51%15,334 (R)
Clay20202,45833.85%4,80466.15%7,262 (R)
Clinton13131,02925.42%3,01974.58%4,048 (R)
Crittenden12121,61541.59%2,26858.41%3,883 (R)
Cumberland9976328.62%1,90371.38%2,666 (R)
Daviess848420,77947.94%22,56352.06%43,342 (R)
Edmonson10101,99638.06%3,24961.94%5,245 (R)
Elliott771,83071.99%71228.01%2,542 (R)
Estill15152,16241.36%3,06558.64%5,227 (R)
Fayette27427468,02954.15%57,60545.85%125,634 (R)
Fleming18182,84550.04%2,84149.96%5,686 (D)
Floyd424210,10564.35%5,59835.65%15,703 (D)
Franklin444413,88859.00%9,65141.00%23,539 (R)
Fulton13131,45653.49%1,26646.51%2,722 (D)
Gallatin881,43545.66%1,70854.34%3,143 (R)
Garrard13132,85840.11%4,26859.89%7,126 (R)
Grant23233,40839.33%5,25760.67%8,665 (R)
Graves30307,83948.76%8,23951.24%16,078 (R)
Grayson23233,86339.23%5,98360.77%9,846 (R)
Green10101,77735.73%3,19764.27%4,974 (R)
Greenup32328,25852.83%7,37447.17%15,632 (D)
Hancock10102,29856.09%1,79943.91%4,097 (D)
Hardin555517,31843.68%22,32656.32%39,644 (R)
Harlan35354,44045.92%5,22954.08%9,669 (R)
Harrison17173,81450.47%3,74349.53%7,557 (D)
Hart19192,96244.60%3,68055.40%6,642 (R)
Henderson424211,04856.06%8,65943.94%19,707 (D)
Henry20203,19446.52%3,67253.48%6,866 (R)
Hickman661,04947.49%1,16052.51%2,209 (R)
Hopkins40408,48144.87%10,41955.13%18,900 (R)
Jackson14141,24524.71%3,79475.29%5,039 (R)
Jefferson515515195,40155.73%155,24144.27%350,642 (D)
Jessamine37377,84739.60%11,96960.40%19,816 (R)
Johnson31313,25238.81%5,12861.19%8,380 (R)
Kenton10810819,21736.26%33,78763.74%53,004 (R)
Knott30303,47762.14%2,11837.86%5,595 (D)
Knox30304,32939.01%6,76760.99%11,096 (R)
LaRue12122,52341.97%3,48958.03%6,012 (R)
Laurel45456,85031.15%15,13868.85%21,988 (R)
Lawrence18182,64147.47%2,92352.53%5,564 (R)
Lee10101,07339.77%1,62560.23%2,698 (R)
Leslie17171,08325.15%3,22474.85%4,307 (R)
Letcher32324,19851.82%3,90348.18%8,101 (D)
Lewis14141,78738.26%2,88461.74%4,671 (R)
Lincoln17174,11945.47%4,93954.53%9,058 (R)
Livingston10102,14247.35%2,38252.65%4,524 (R)
Logan20204,37940.70%6,37959.30%10,758 (R)
Lyon661,82147.80%1,98952.20%3,810 (R)
McCracken545413,00642.91%17,30357.09%30,309 (D)
McCreary18181,57630.41%3,60669.59%5,182 (R)
McLean882,22550.55%2,17749.45%4,402 (D)
Madison565614,65745.96%17,23754.04%31,894 (R)
Magoffin14142,71958.81%1,90441.19%4,623 (D)
Marion17174,30457.68%3,15842.32%7,462 (D)
Marshall25257,46348.94%7,78551.06%15,248 (R)
Martin14141,20333.19%2,42266.81%3,625 (R)
Mason20203,09544.58%3,84755.42%6,942 (R)
Meade18185,14946.58%5,90553.42%11,054 (R)
Menifee661,52061.51%95138.49%2,471 (D)
Mercer17174,33844.17%5,48455.83%9,822 (R)
Metcalfe12121,76644.03%2,24555.97%4,011 (R)
Monroe12121,23727.16%3,31872.84%4,555 (R)
Montgomery18185,52654.25%4,66045.75%10,186 (D)
Morgan12122,47557.03%1,86542.97%4,340 (D)
Muhlenberg26267,43657.90%5,40642.10%12,842 (R)
Nelson26268,82349.60%8,96550.40%17,788 (R)
Nicholas551,73759.47%1,18440.53%2,921 (D)
Ohio25254,66447.08%5,24252.92%9,906 (R)
Oldham343410,20435.25%18,74464.75%28,948 (R)
Owen13132,01942.93%2,68457.07%4,703 (R)
Owsley8855934.46%1,06365.54%1,622 (R)
Pendleton12122,15537.97%3,52062.03%5,675 (R)
Perry37375,02649.10%5,21150.90%10,237 (R)
Pike575712,91257.16%9,67942.84%22,591 (D)
Powell11112,86357.91%2,08142.09%4,944 (D)
Pulaski57578,10832.20%17,07267.80%25,180 (R)
Robertson5549849.21%51450.79%1,012 (R)
Rockcastle14141,83730.55%4,17769.45%6,014 (R)
Rowan18184,71058.71%3,31241.29%8,022 (D)
Russell16162,45033.67%4,82766.33%7,277 (R)
Scott35359,23847.36%10,26752.64%19,505 (R)
Shelby33337,54641.15%10,79058.85%18,336 (R)
Simpson13133,11844.29%3,92255.71%7,040 (R)
Spencer11113,15939.64%4,81160.36%7,970 (R)
Taylor20204,16338.52%6,64461.48%10,807 (R)
Todd13131,77236.89%3,03263.11%4,804 (R)
Trigg14142,63740.76%3,83359.24%6,470 (R)
Trimble12121,92750.87%1,86149.13%3,788 (D)
Union16163,33555.46%2,67844.54%6,013 (D)
Warren636319,16243.84%24,54756.16%43,709 (R)
Washington14142,31645.04%2,82654.96%5,142 (R)
Wayne19193,04543.30%3,98756.70%7,032 (R)
Webster14143,00054.39%2,51645.61%5,516 (D)
Whitley36364,84936.37%8,48463.63%13,333 (R)
Wolfe881,88662.74%1,12037.26%3,006 (D)
Woodford16165,90348.65%6,23151.35%12,134 (R)

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Schumer Takes Aim At Senate's Top Republican . . October 31, 2007 . Sam. Stein. October 31, 2007.
  2. Web site: KY-Sen: Schumer says Crit is in. Daily Kos.
  3. News: . January 30, 2008 . Lunsford to challenge McConnell; Lewis is out . Gerth, Joseph.
  4. News: McConnell, Lunsford race a dead heat . . September 27, 2008 . September 27, 2008.
  5. News: Lunsford-McConnell Debate Now Off . . September 30, 2008 . October 17, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081011191700/http://www.kypost.com/content/wcposhared/story.aspx?content_id=f07be9b6-9dd1-4672-93fa-4de5e6f93a5a . October 11, 2008 . dead .
  6. McConnell Outing Controversy Breaks Into National Mainstream Media . Proud of Who We Are . Proud of Who We Are . November 3, 2008 .
  7. Democratic Gay-Baiting? You Don't Say... . Cottle . Michelle . Christopher . Orr . Jason . Zengerle . . November 2, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081106080713/http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2008/11/02/democratic-gay-baiting-you-don-t-say.aspx . November 6, 2008 .
  8. Web site: 2008 Senate Race ratings for October 23, 2008 . The Cook Political Report . April 1, 2021.
  9. http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-senate Race Ratings Chart: Senate
  10. Web site: 2008 Senate ratings . Inside Elections . April 1, 2021.
  11. Web site: 2008 RCP Averages & Senate Results . Real Clear Politics . August 31, 2021.
  12. http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0108/New_poll_shows_McConnell_popular_in_KY_as_reelection_bid_looms.html Voter/Consumer Research
  13. http://media.kentucky.com/smedia/2008/05/12/08/Poll-McConnell.source.prod_affiliate.79.pdf Research 2000/
    Lexington Herald-Leader/
    WKYT-TV
  14. http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0508/McConnell_up_11_points_in_internal_polling.html Voter/Consumer Research
  15. https://web.archive.org/web/20080624034017/http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/kentucky/election_2008_kentucky_senate Rasmussen Reports
  16. http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=93512353-3e37-43d5-ac76-42386ebf0a37 Survey USA
  17. https://web.archive.org/web/20080625204448/https://www.rpk.org/News/Read.aspx?ID=8157 Voter/Consumer Research
  18. https://web.archive.org/web/20080624034017/http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/kentucky/election_2008_kentucky_senate Rasmussen Reports
  19. https://web.archive.org/web/20080624034017/http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/kentucky/election_2008_kentucky_senate Rasmussen Reports
  20. https://archive.today/20130131181736/http://www.pollster.com/blogs/poll_surveyusa_kentucky_8911.php/ Survey USA
  21. https://web.archive.org/web/20080915133238/http://www.kypolitics.org/kypolitics/2008/09/big-lead-mcconn.html Voter/Consumer Research
  22. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/19/11402/5992 Research 2000 for Daily Kos
  23. http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=88b6ce24-c6b2-4bbd-8406-efe7ae2436a7&c=15 SurveyUSA
  24. https://web.archive.org/web/20080624034017/http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/kentucky/election_2008_kentucky_senate Rasmussen Reports
  25. http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollTrack.aspx?g=b7cb88d3-c9ec-4134-8dc7-f6b2ded0be6e SurveyUSA
  26. https://web.archive.org/web/20080624034017/http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/kentucky/election_2008_kentucky_senate Rasmussen Reports
  27. http://media.graytvinc.com/documents/SenateHorseRace.pdf Research 2000/
    Lexington Herald-Leader/
    WKYT-TV
  28. https://web.archive.org/web/20080624034017/http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/kentucky/election_2008_kentucky_senate Rasmussen Reports
  29. http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=bb48ba7c-7a6e-46d3-8b4d-151c87ac6fd3/ Survey USA
  30. Web site: Results . elect.ky.gov. 2021-05-09.