Longtime Kentucky political observer Al Cross gives a slight edge to Gov.Matt Bevin in Tuesday’s contest against Attorney General Andy Beshear.
Cross said it comes down to voter turnout.
Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes is predicting a 31% voter turnout. Cross, head of the University of Kentucky Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, said
voter numbers could fall a little short of Grimes forecast.
“I don’t think the candidates have very many ardent supporters and you can’t really say that either of them are very well-liked and that will keep turnout down,” Cross said.
The five gubernatorial debates have included many verbal attacks by the candidates. Cross said voters will often say they want candidates to take the high road, but they still respond to negative political advertising.
President Donald Trump’s election eve rally at Rupp Arena will work to energize Bevin’s supporters to vote. But, he said, it could work both ways.
“Oh, sure it will stir up some Democratic votes because Trump has become more controversial. He is going to be impeached. And his presence here will energize some Democrats, but I suspect most of those Democrats were already energized.”
Cross says he hasn’t seen any major surprises during the governor’s race. Overall, Beshear’s essential platform has been, ‘I’m not Matt Bevin,’ and the governor’s has been, ‘we’re just getting started and I’m with the president’.”
Here's an extended interview with Cross:
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