Northup on KY-3: ‘A lot has changed’

Congressional candidate Anne NorthupLOUISVILLE -- Former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup (R-Louisville) echoed the keynote speaker at her campaign's Wednesday afternoon fundraiser, arguing that the electoral picture for Republicans is brighter this year than in 2006 -- when she lost the 3rd Congressional District seat she is again seeking to current incumbent U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville).

"You can almost not imagine a worst climate than 2 years ago," Northup told PolitickerKY.com yesterday. "A lot has changed."

Earlier in the afternoon, former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele told a crowd at the Seelbach Hilton in downtown Louisville that many Republicans who did not "deserve" to lose in 2006 were caught up in losses caused by general anti-Republican sentiment.

Steele himself was on the losing end of a 2006 U.S. Senate race in Maryland.

Northup expressed a similar disposition after Steele's remarks.

"Everything that was breaking was breaking against Republicans and It meant that a lot of people that were good strong leaders - including Michael Steele -- were swept out," said Northup. "It had less to do with the people running against them and the vision they had -- which in many cases was very little - than the public's intention to send a message."

"But that was then and this is now. The need for strong conservative determination is just as important. The importance of that kind of leadership can't be overstated," added Northup.

In recent polling, Northup was shown to be trailing Yarmuth in the 3rd District. A SurveyUSA poll showed her down seventeen points, while an internal poll released by the Northup camp gave her a seven point disadvantage.

Still, she pointed to changes from 2006 which she speculated could benefit Republicans such as herself.

"First of all, Bush will not be on the ballot and Bush will not be the president, so people that try to use that old argument - the public is instinctively clear in their minds that that is irrelevant for the future," said Northup. "Number two, the war is going better. It's time for people who say ‘get out now, no matter what the consequences'... to rethink their position - including John Yarmuth. That is an insult to the brave men and women that are on the front line."