GOP's weak field is its own fault

Thursday, January 28, 1999
GOP's weak field is its own fault
Campaign spending law just an excuse

BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Let's get this straight. The Republicans didn't field an A-list candidate for the governor's race — or any of the down-ticket offices — because of the state's campaign-finance law.
That sounds like more of an excuse than a reason.
The loud thud you heard Tuesday afternoon was not the door of the secretary of state's office in Frankfort slamming shut on the buffoonish attempt of a couple of state lawmakers — Sen. Virgil Moore and Rep. Hoby Anderson — to supposedly file as a governor-lieutenant governor ticket just moments before the office closed.
No, that noise was the momentum the Republican Party has built in this state over the past several years running smack into a wall of indecision, failed leadership and arrogant bluster that the GOP just couldn't back up.
Republicans have been promising for months that Gov. Paul Patton, the eastern Kentucky Democrat and first governor since 1805 allowed to run for re-election, “wouldn't get a free ride” in this year's governor's race.
U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, the Southgate Republican, set the bar awfully high when, just days after the GOP's stunning performance in the November election, he promised to help “take Paul Patton down.”
With all due respect to Peppy Martin and David L. Williams — the “who are they?” candidates squaring off in this May's Republican gubernatorial primary — if Mr. Patton isn't getting a free ride, then he sure as heck has been bumped to first class after buying a ticket on standby.
Don't count on much from the Republicans this year. They'll be trying to get ready for the 2000 elections and keeping a low profile to hide all those red faces.
The Democrats, finally, are going to have a good year in Kentucky politics.
And they are having an absolute ball with the Republicans' inability to field a decent slate of candidates to take on the Democratic incumbents.
That wacky Mr. Moore admitted he was pulling a joke when he showed up in Frankfort on Tuesday to file for the governor's race just as the 4 p.m. deadline loomed.
What a hoot. As if the GOP isn't embarrassed enough after spending the last few days frantically trying to persuade a pair of basically obscure legislators, Chris Ratliff and Brian Crall, to get in the race, only to be dissed when the two backed away from jumping in.
Mr. Moore did publicly what plenty of Dems and more than a few Republicans have been doing behind the scenes for months — joke about the Republicans' attempts at finding a gubernatorial candidate.
Mr. Anderson, who delights in telling boorish stories on the floor of the Kentucky House, said he was serious about running and may hire an attorney to see about appealing Secretary of State John Y. Brown's decision not to let him file because he missed the deadline.
Hoby — can we call you Hoby? — maybe you would have been taken seriously if you showed up to file for one of the most important offices in the state more than just a few minutes before the deadline and without a sideshow sidekick like Mr. Moore.
Let's go back to that big, bad campaign finance law that allegedly kept most of the top Republican candidates from getting in the race.
Under the law, gubernatorial candidates who agree to limit election spending to $1.2 million receive $600,000 in tax money. Simple enough.
Republicans didn't mind following the law's guidelines four years ago, when Republican Larry Forgy lost the race but made the best GOP showing in a gubernatorial race since Louie Nunn won the office in 1967.
OK, so if the spending limits kept Republicans out of the governor's race, how about the so-called down-ticket offices, such as attorney general, auditor and secretary of state? No GOP candidate bothered to file for any of those seats, either.
The spin from GOP leaders is that without a credible candidate at the top of the ticket, the lower-run offices don't stand a chance. Well, whose fault is that?
The Democratic spin was in full motion Wednesday afternoon in Silver Grove, where Mr. Patton went to announce construction of a $90 million drywall plant.
Patton supporters, loyal Democrats and even some Republicans said the no-show by the GOP proves Mr. Patton is doing a good job as governor.
Maybe that's it. Maybe the Republicans will wait for another four years, when the seat will be open again.
Or, maybe it truly was the campaign finance laws that kept the Republicans out. We all know how good the GOP is at raising and spending campaign money.
Just look at the campaign style of Mr. McConnell, Kentucky's leading Republican. He'll make campaign appearances on the stump, but his style is lots of bucks for lots of TV, a tack you just can't take in a race where spending is capped.
The powder taken by the Republicans probably isn't fatal for the party. But there's little doubt the GOP has taken a pretty big step back.
Patrick Crowley covers Kentucky politics for The Kentucky Enquirer. His column appears Thursdays and Sundays. He can be reached at 578-5581, or (502) 875-7526 in Frankfort, or by e-mail at crowleys@cinci.infi.net
Patrick Crowley covers Kentucky politics for the Enquirer. He can be reached at 578-5581, or (502) 875-7526 in Frankfort.
CROWLEY ARCHIVE