Former Governor Carroll argues Lunsford could win on split-tickets

FRANKFORT -- Down-ballot Democratic candidates in the Commonwealth have a chance at success even if their party picks a presidential nominee unpopular in the state, according to former Governor Julian Carroll (D-Frankfort).

While Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois) and Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) appear to be fighting to the bitter end over the Democratic presidential nomination, the favorite among Kentucky Democrats was clearly Clinton, who carried Tuesday's primary by over 35 points.

Should Obama ultimately secure the nomination, as many predict is likely, Kentucky Democrats may be worried sentiment in the Commonwealth against the Illinois Senator could impact other races, such as the effort to unseat incumbent Republican Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) with Democrat Bruce Lunsford.

Carroll pointed to two elections as examples from Kentucky's history that voters here are willing to split their tickets between Presidential and Senatorial candidates.

"My point is the top of the ticket doesn't necessarily carry the United States Senate race," Carroll told PolitickerKY.com today. "Look at history and you will find at least two instances: one with Dee Huddleston and one with Mitch McConnell."

In 1972, Huddleston - a Democrat - won an open U.S. Senate seat in Kentucky by 35,000 votes even while Republican presidential Candidate Richard Nixon carried the state by over 305,000 votes. Huddleston then lost to McConnell in 1984.

McConnell held his seat in 1996 as incumbent Democratic President Bill Clinton carried Kentucky by 13,000 votes. McConnell won over then-Democratic Senate candidate - and current Governor - Steve Beshear by over 160,000 votes.

Carroll, currently serving in the state Senate, used these examples to argue McConnell could lose in Kentucky regardless of the Democrat's - or the Republican's - presidential pick.

"Don't think for a moment that the presidential candidate carries his ticket in Kentucky," said Carroll. "Mitch McConnell is going to be the individual that is going to get beat even if the Republican ends up carrying the state of Kentucky in the presidential race."