How did Alison Grimes lose to Mitch McConnell? Let some political talking heads tell it she lost because she would not own up to being an Obama backer.

 

Did she vote for Obama or didn't she? We all think she did but she wouldn't admit it publicly and in the opinion of people like Roland Martin that is why she lost. Roland Martin pointed out on twitter that Tom Wolf won in Pennsylvania and he openly embraced Obama to the point that Obama appeared at rallies for Tom Wolf. Roland Martin also pointed out that ACA has been considered a success in KY and Grimes could have used that to rally support as well.

 

Me personally, I've said it before and I'll say it again. In this state politicians don't even try to engage black people. We'll never know now but I can't help but wonder what embracing Obama could have done for Grimes. She spent so much time trying to engage people who weren't going to vote for her anyways that people who probably didn't even vote would have likely voted for her had she tried a different strategy.

 

I don't know, maybe I am wrong and don't know what I am talking about but not one person is surprised she lost and most aren't surprised by how much she lost. She had nothing to lose and I wish she'd have ran a better campaign. Or at least embraced Obama a whole lot more than she did. She was proud to say she voted for Hillary and last I saw Hillary couldn't beat Obama either.

 

Just saying.......

She lost because she was a terrible candidate and a terrible campaigner.

 

She's in a conservative state. She had 2 choices, go totally liberal to appeal to people in urban areas which was likely a loser or try to act like a neo-conservative. She wasn't convincing.

How did Alison Grimes lose to Mitch McConnell? Let some political talking heads tell it she lost because she would not own up to being an Obama backer.

 

Did she vote for Obama or didn't she? We all think she did but she wouldn't admit it publicly and in the opinion of people like Roland Martin that is why she lost. Roland Martin pointed out on twitter that Tom Wolf won in Pennsylvania and he openly embraced Obama to the point that Obama appeared at rallies for Tom Wolf. Roland Martin also pointed out that ACA has been considered a success in KY and Grimes could have used that to rally support as well.

 

Me personally, I've said it before and I'll say it again. In this state politicians don't even try to engage black people. We'll never know now but I can't help but wonder what embracing Obama could have done for Grimes. She spent so much time trying to engage people who weren't going to vote for her anyways that people who probably didn't even vote would have likely voted for her had she tried a different strategy.

 

I don't know, maybe I am wrong and don't know what I am talking about but not one person is surprised she lost and most aren't surprised by how much she lost. She had nothing to lose and I wish she'd have ran a better campaign. Or at least embraced Obama a whole lot more than she did. She was proud to say she voted for Hillary and last I saw Hillary couldn't beat Obama either.

 

Just saying.......

 

PP92, you mentioned that in KY no politicians try to engage black people. Isn't that the same in most states? Republicans have been demonized so much for being racists in this country, I think a lot of them feel any time trying to reach out to blacks is simply a waste of time and energy. And when blacks consistently vote over 90% for democrats, the republicans are probably right. Conversely, democrats think they can do anything (or nothing) and get 90% of the black vote so why spend much time wooing blacks? If I was an African American right now, I would be ticked off because both parties (for the reasons I have mentioned above...and others I am sure) don't feel the need to engage you.

Beeecccauuussseee not enough people voted for her?

She was the best of a bad crop. Nobody wanted to take on the McConnell machine.

 

Poor candidate. I could rail on and on about the Kentucky Democratic Party and the way they operate until I'm blue in the face but it hasn't helped so far so I won't bother.

I am in agreement that she should have owned who she is. I disagree with left-side-of-the-aisle ideology in a pretty strong way, but I have greater respect for the person who isn't afraid to take a stand and explain their beliefs and why they believe that way. Grimes was reluctant to own up to her general support of the President, and I believe that did hurt her some.

 

But at the end of the day, she didn't just lose. She was trounced by an unpopular Senator, to the tune of an astronomical 15% margin. Her campaign was poorly run and she was just a bad candidate. The anti-Obama backlash was undoubtedly strong--more so than I imagined--and Grimes might be able to pin the loss on the President. But she can't pin the blowout on anyone but herself.

 

I commented to a friend of mine the other day, a strong Democrat, that Governor Beshear would unseat McConnell if he had chosen to run. Maybe that's not the case, but I'll guarantee he wouldn't have lost by 15 percentage points.

Grimes would have lost anyway but her failure to admit she voted for Obama contributed to the margin of the victory. Both sides have to admit she looked foolish doing so - major gaffe. Also, while a lot of people in the state don't love McConnell, he is still an excellent politician (whether you deem that good or bad, he is a seasoned pro) who ran a better campaign in a state that sends republicans to Washington and keeps democrats in the state houses.

I am in agreement that she should have owned who she is. I disagree with left-side-of-the-aisle ideology in a pretty strong way, but I have greater respect for the person who isn't afraid to take a stand and explain their beliefs and why they believe that way. Grimes was reluctant to own up to her general support of the President, and I believe that did hurt her some.

 

But at the end of the day, she didn't just lose. She was trounced by an unpopular Senator, to the tune of an astronomical 15% margin. Her campaign was poorly run and she was just a bad candidate. The anti-Obama backlash was undoubtedly strong--more so than I imagined--and Grimes might be able to pin the loss on the President. But she can't pin the blowout on anyone but herself.

 

I commented to a friend of mine the other day, a strong Democrat, that Governor Beshear would unseat McConnell if he had chosen to run. Maybe that's not the case, but I'll guarantee he wouldn't have lost by 15 percentage points.

 

He got trounced by McConnell back in 2002. I think he'd probably do better now with being a relatively popular governor and having all that experience under his belt.

He got trounced by McConnell back in 2002. I think he'd probably do better now with being a relatively popular governor and having all that experience under his belt.

 

He did, but as you point out, he's a considerably better candidate now. And Mitch is more vulnerable as well.

How did Alison Grimes lose to Mitch McConnell? Let some political talking heads tell it she lost because she would not own up to being an Obama backer.

 

Did she vote for Obama or didn't she? We all think she did but she wouldn't admit it publicly and in the opinion of people like Roland Martin that is why she lost. Roland Martin pointed out on twitter that Tom Wolf won in Pennsylvania and he openly embraced Obama to the point that Obama appeared at rallies for Tom Wolf. Roland Martin also pointed out that ACA has been considered a success in KY and Grimes could have used that to rally support as well.

 

Me personally, I've said it before and I'll say it again. In this state politicians don't even try to engage black people. We'll never know now but I can't help but wonder what embracing Obama could have done for Grimes. She spent so much time trying to engage people who weren't going to vote for her anyways that people who probably didn't even vote would have likely voted for her had she tried a different strategy.

 

I don't know, maybe I am wrong and don't know what I am talking about but not one person is surprised she lost and most aren't surprised by how much she lost. She had nothing to lose and I wish she'd have ran a better campaign. Or at least embraced Obama a whole lot more than she did. She was proud to say she voted for Hillary and last I saw Hillary couldn't beat Obama either.

 

Just saying.......

 

 

I posted in other thread - I think Grimes is a Clinton PUMA. The PUMAs (stands for Party Unity My ......) emerged after Obama's 'overthrow' of Hilliary's coronation. I bet she did not vote for Obama. She may not have 'owned up' to being an Obama backer for a simple reason - she wasn't. Instead she was getting bear hugs from the Clintons - her political mentors.

 

Had she turned her back completely on the national party and Obama the national funding would have dried up earlier than it did. She tried to walk a tight rope of cow-tying to the national party and Obama machine and trying to distance herself at same time. You can not do this and come off well. And she did not. Had she run a true grass roots campaign without the influence of the national party and trying to please them I think she would have come off up better. Probably still does not win at all but now she seems like damaged goods politically. Had she run the grassroots campaign she may have had a better future. But also, hey, could it have gone much worse anyway.

 

On the reach out I think you are right. Neither candidate addressed the issues viewed as minority or black related. Did they reach out to Portland area in Louisville or the north Lexington communities? Not that I recall. Yet if a candidate can take the two major metros in a statewide election they are in a good position. I doubt she fired up the black base in either city.

 

 

 

PS - back to Clintons. Coattails? Hardly. Their open backing of Ms. Grimes shows their power fading.

Grimes lost because

1. She never answered questions on where she stood on certain issues and instead always turned the question into bashing Mitch.

 

2. Her entire campaign was based on spreading lies about Mitch and had zero substance.

I didn't vote for her because I don't think she actually hit the target when shooting trap. Nobody needs that.

I commented to a friend of mine the other day, a strong Democrat, that Governor Beshear would unseat McConnell if he had chosen to run. Maybe that's not the case, but I'll guarantee he wouldn't have lost by 15 percentage points.

 

He got trounced by McConnell back in 2002. I think he'd probably do better now with being a relatively popular governor and having all that experience under his belt.

 

I think Beshear would have been a viable candidate this time, but obviously he wasn't going to leave the governor's mansion just yet. The problem for him is McConnell is now in for six years - will Beshear be viable in six years? Could Beshear run against Rand Paul in two years? Paul is very popular, unlikely to lose to Beshear, but Paul could be in the hunt for the presidency instead.

 

And also...does Beshear want a job like Senator?

On the reach out I think you are right. Neither candidate addressed the issues viewed as minority or black related. Did they reach out to Portland area in Louisville or the north Lexington communities? Not that I recall. Yet if a candidate can take the two major metros in a statewide election they are in a good position. I doubt she fired up the black base in either city.

 

Well if you're looking for black people you probably shouldn't start in the Portland neighborhood. That would be the first problem. It's probably 80 percent white.

 

Head south. Hit up Shawnee and Russell.

She would have done better than McConnell and have more energy.

She lost because of Obama.

 

But now that McConnell is Majority Leader, maybe he will get some things done for KY, like Hal Rogers has done.