Politicker Staff's blog

The Pindell Report, Politicker.com's political and campaign forecast, has released its final projections for Election Day. Using polling, historical and demographic trends, tracking campaign visits and spending, The Pindell Report ranks races in terms of their competitiveness and their status as either a toss-up or leaning or likely voting in a particular way.

In Kentucky, The Pindell Report's final breakdown is as follows:

Despite excitement around the state's U.S. Senate race and the 2nd Congressional District, Kentucky will buck a national trend that will net Democrats at least seven U.S. Senate seats and 16 House seats nationwide, according to James Pindell, the editor of Politicker.com's Pindell Report, which provides independent analysis of federal and state races.

Going against the tide, State Sen. Brett Guthrie will keep the 2nd Congressional District Republican and U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell will win re-election, but in a margin too close for comfort. In addition, Pindell expects John McCain to win Kentucky's 8 electoral votes.

The Pindell Report has the Senate at 58-41, and the House at 252-180. The Senate races in Alaska, and House races in Florida, New Mexico and Kansas, remain toss-ups.

As the Politicker network expands  -- we currently have politics websites based in 16 states, with more on the way -- we'd like to get a better feeling of who is reading our sites so we can develop a better product as we grow.

Please take a moment of your time to take this brief survey.

Thanks.

A new poll from Survey USA finds U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) with an upside-down approval rating of 44 to 47 percent.

That represents a dramatic decline from their latest survey in May when 57 percent of respondents approved of the senator, while only 37 percent disapproved. The current score ties a previous all-time low measured by the polling firm in November 2007.

U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) is scheduled to address the Republican National Convention on Wednesday evening between 6 and 7 p.m. CST.

Vice presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin (R) of Alaska will speak between 9 and 10 p.m.

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell and U.S. Rep. John Boehner: Getty Images PhotoU.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) with U.S. Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) at the Republican National Convention.

The fourth and final day of the Democratic National Convention will be called to order at 5:00 PM EST on Thursday, with a theme of "Change You Can Believe In."

The final day's events will take place at INVESCO Field at Mile High, where over 70,000 people are expected to attend.

Featured speakers will include Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D), former Vermont Gov. and Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean (D), New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D), U.S. Rep. and U.S. Senate candidate Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (D), former Vice President Al Gore (D) and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D).

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), the Democratic presidential nominee, is scheduled to address the convention at 10 p.m. EST.

The full schedule is below.

The third day of the Democratic National Convention will be called to order at 5:00 PM EST on Wednesday, with a theme of "Securing America's Future."

The day will begin with the nominating process for President, including nominating speeches for U.S. Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.), followed by a roll call vote.

The headline speaker will be vice presidential nominee, U.S. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.).

Featured speakers will include President Bill Clinton (D), U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Gov. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.), U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), U.S. Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.).

The full schedule is below.

Republicans announced today that Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) will speak on Monday, September 1 -- the first day of the Republican National Convention. President Bush (R) is also scheduled to address the convention on Monday.

McConnell's Democratic Senate challenger Bruce Lunsford  is not scheduled to speak at the Democratic National Convention this week.

U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.)U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) is in the Commonwealth today to support the Congressional campaign of state Sen. Brett Guthrie (R-Bowling Green). The two will be in Elizabethtown this afternoon to hold a joint press conference on energy policy.

As reported earlier by PolitickerKY.com, Minority Whip Blunt is also expected to headline a fundraiser for Guthrie.