By RONNIE ELLIS
CNHI News Service
May 17, 2008 04:02 pm
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FRANKFORT
In the end, Kentucky’s primary Tuesday isn’t likely to affect the Democratic presidential primary all that much but there’s an excitement — and anxiety — in the air anyway.
CNN has its huge CNN Express vehicle parked in the round-about in front of the state capitol; other national media will follow; Bill Clinton campaigned across the state Thursday and Friday; and Hillary Clinton was due in the state Saturday. She’s expected to be here through election night. Kentucky is her kind of state — it fits the demographic profile of her strongest areas of support, her husband carried the state in his races and both Clintons have personal ties to prominent political figures here. Republican John McCain has visited Inez and was in Louisville on Friday. Democrat Barack Obama was in Louisville last Monday.
There’s an active, sometimes hostile conversation going on between those who support Obama and supporters of Clinton and McCain. But there is sometimes softness in the enthusiasm of supporters of both Clinton and McCain, especially McCain. Clinton at least has supporters who are deeply, genuinely for her, regardless of the opponent. They believe in her or are excited about electing the first female president. But some of her supporters talk more about Obama, citing concern about his experience, his patriotism, his religion or his former pastor. Some appear to search for reasons to explain their antipathy for the biracial Obama, hinting there may be darker reasons.
McCain’s support is occasionally tenuous. Some Republicans who support McCain are unenthusiastic, almost reluctant. They aren’t too sure of the Arizona senator and political maverick. He is apostate on some crucial Republican orthodoxy and many find him uninspiring.
Something which comes up again and again in conversation with supporters of all three is concern about where the country is headed. A recent national poll found nearly 80 percent of respondents believe the country is on the wrong track. But Obama’s supporters approach the election as an exciting opportunity to change course.
“This country is in dire straights,” said one Clinton supporter. He doesn’t trust Obama, thinks he lacks experience. A Republican McCain supporter is genuinely frightened on ideological and policy grounds of both Clinton and Obama. He thinks the country can’t afford a mistake in choosing our next president “during very dangerous times.” But he’s not entirely comfortable with McCain either. He’ll vote for the Republican but said, “I sometimes have to work at liking him.”
There are fewer Obama supporters in Kentucky, but they are enthusiastic. Close to 10,000 of them showed up Monday night in Louisville to cheer his rhetoric of change. I’ve never felt that much electricity at any political event. They weren’t all young or African-American, although both groups were heavily represented. Young and old, white and black, they were all excited about their candidate and the possibility of real change. Many said they’ve never been so engaged in a political contest, so determined to participate in a very personal way.
McCain has wrapped up the Republican nomination. Obama is poised to do the same on the Democratic side. Clinton will win Kentucky, likely by a large margin over Obama. Kentucky’s decision Tuesday in the presidential primary probably won’t matter much nationally. But the nation will be watching for a change.
Kind of exciting, isn’t it?
Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. He may be contacted by e-mail at rellis@cnhi.com.
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