May 16, 2003
...Kentucky Governor
"Pulling a Cuomo" in the Bluegrass State
More ridiculous than New York gubernatorial hopeful Andrew Cuomo pulling out of the Democratic primary one week before the balloting in 2002? Weirder than New Jersey Sen. Bob Torricelli dropping his bid for reelection after the filing period had closed last cycle?
I'm not sure, but I know Bruce Lunsford's exit from the Kentucky governor's race just days before the primary - and after he had pumped about $8 million of his own money into his campaign - borders on the bizarre.
No, change that. It is bizarre.
State Attorney General Ben Chandler was likely to win the nomination anyway, and he's still the favorite against underfunded state House Speaker Jody Richards, whom Lunsford endorsed as he exited the contest. Given that, Lunsford's exit isn't likely to change the bottom line of the general election, which is expected to pit Chandler against United States Rep. Ernie Fletcher (R).
Lunsford, a wealthy businessman with more than his share of personal baggage, just spent months, and many millions, beating up on Chandler and running against the Frankfort establishment. It's hard to believe that the 55 year old businessman figures that he can get out now gracefully to fight another day (which is apparently what Cuomo was trying to do).
Lunsford has already burned his bridges, and his past business dealings make him very damaged goods. That leaves only one explanation - panic about his impending defeat and utter contempt for the Attorney General.
In exiting the race, Lunsford cited the "negative campaigning" of Chandler, saying he never expected the personal attacks. That can't be true, since he tested attacks against himself to see how they would resonate prior to entering the contest. In any case, he's a big boy now and he should have understood that the attacks were coming.
A Chandler-Fletcher race sets up an interesting dynamic, with Fletcher, a doctor, running against outgoing Gov. Paul Patton and the state Democratic machine. Chandler, however, is poised and personable, and he has a great family name, since his grandfather A.B. "Happy" Chandler served as governor, in the Senate and as the commissioner of Major League Baseball.
The general election race looks interesting and competitive. And Lunsford looks like an idiot.