http://mycn2.com/politics/debate-over-cn2-poll-results

Publication Date: March 03, 2011

Author: Ryan Alessi

Republican Holly Harris VonLeuhrte and Democrat Matt Erwin debate cn|2 poll results

03/03/2011 07:33 PM

With the release of the cn|2 Poll results featuring head-to-head matchups of gubernatorial tickets and the attorney general race, Pure Politics brought in a Republican and Democratic operative to break down the numbers.

Holly Harris VonLeuhrte — the finance chairwoman and legal counsel for the Republican Party of Kentucky — and Matt Erwin, communications director for the Kentucky Democratic Party, offered their opposing outlooks on the governor’s race.

Gov. Steve Beshear is seeking re-election with former Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson. They are unopposed in the Democratic primary and the automatic nominees for November’s general election.

The Republicans are in the middle of a three-candidate primary. Senate President David Williams of Burkesville and Commissioner of Agriculture Richie Farmer are considered the front-runner slate because of their name recognition and fundraising lead as of the beginning of the year.

The cn|2 Poll showed Beshear and Abramson polling nearly 11 points ahead of Williams and Farmer, but the incumbent governor garnered 48.4% of support — under the 50% threshold.

Louisville businessman Phil Moffett is running with state Rep. Mike Harmon of Boyle County. They would trail the Beshear-Abramson ticket by less than 25 points, the cn|2 Poll showed.

And the ticket of Jefferson County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw and Navy veteran Bill Vermillion polled 26 points behind Beshear and Abramson in the cn|2 Poll.

In the attorney general’s race, neither incumbent Democrat Jack Conway nor Republican challenger Todd P’Pool has primary opposition.

So as a snapshot of where that race starts, the cn|2 poll shows Conway with 52.1% and P’Pool with 32.7%.

Here’s what Holly and Matt had to say about all that:

In the governor’s race, independent candidate for governor Gatewood Galbraith and running mate Dea Riley have announced their candidacy and have filed to raise money but have not yet qualified to be on the November ballot. Independent candidates have until August to submit 5,000 signatures to enter the statewide race.

- Ryan Alessi

About Ryan Alessi

Ryan Alessi joined cn|2 in May 2010 as senior managing editor and host of Pure Politics. He has covered politics for more than 10 years, including 7 years as a reporter for the Lexington Herald-Leader. Follow Ryan on Twitter @cn2Alessi. Ryan can be reached at 502-792-1135 or ryan.alessi@twcable.com.

Comments

  • Bruce Layne wrote on March 04, 2011 12:46 PM :

    As expected, there was a lot of partisan noise in this interview.

    Matt did make a good point. Last year’s US Senate race should let everyone know that the earliest polls are not very good predictors of primary elections. The TEA Party will stomp on the terra again this year. Just as Rand Paul quickly took the lead in the polls and kept it, Phil Moffett will soon eat David Williams’ lunch. The 2011 gubernatorial GOP primary presents an even easier choice than last year’s Paul/Grayson matchup. People are finally starting to pay attention in this race and the TEA Party likes Moffett a LOT and dislikes Williams a LOT. As the TEA Party goes, the GOP primary election goes. The schedule is compressed this year, but the results will be the same as last year. Look for another TEA Party win!

    Holly was right about Conway. He defined himself to Kentucky voters in last year’s US Senate race, and Kentuckians did not like what they saw. A lot of the polling in favor of Todd P’Pool is the “Anyone But Conway” vote, and as people hear more from Todd P’Pool, his numbers will increase substantially.

  • Ray wrote on March 09, 2011 10:04 AM :

    Holly spends alot of time bashing Beshear and trying to make people dislike him. She evens turns ugly for a few turns. Note, she never said anything good about Senator Williams. Interesting. Not a thing positive about Williams from the Repub spokesperson. Is she truly a Moffet lady?

    Of course, Matt doesn’t say anything bad about Williams but he would have plenty of ammunition. The Democrats don’t ever seem to point out the shortcomings of their opposition. Republicans gain because of that.

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