By Dave Andrusko
In an incredible turnaround, the race for governor in Kentucky now has pro-life Attorney General Daniel Cameron and pro-abortion Gov. Andy Beshear tied at 47% each, according to the final Emerson College Polling survey.
“Since last month’s poll of registered Kentucky voters, Beshear’s initial support has decreased by two points, 49% to 47%, while support for Cameron increased 14 points from 33% to 47%,” the survey reported. “Undecided voters have reduced by nine points, from 13% undecided to 4% ahead of the Tuesday election.”
What can explain Cameron making up a 16 point deficit in a month?
One data point is clearly true, the other data point makes sense and is very suggestive.
Spencer Kimball, Executive Director of Emerson College Polling, said, “Cameron appears to have gained ground by consolidating Republican voters who supported former President Donald Trump in the 2020 election. In October, 54% of Trump supporters supported Cameron; now, as election day approaches, that number has jumped to 79% – a 25-point increase. Notably, October’s poll was of registered voters in Kentucky, while this final election poll includes only those who are very likely or have already voted in Kentucky.
So, consolidating the Trump voters is huge. “Sean Southard, a spokesperson for the campaign, said the new poll shows momentum building for the Republican candidate, who was first endorsed by Trump last year,” Lucas Aulbach of the Louisville Courier Journal reported. “The former president reaffirmed that endorsement earlier this week with a video encouraging voters to support Cameron on Election Day.”
What about Beshear, who is seeking a second term? It’s noteworthy that in the September survey, Kimball “attributed Beshear’s lead in part to the candidate’s ability to separate himself from President Joe Biden, a fellow Democrat who lost Kentucky by about 26 points to Donald Trump in the 2020 election.”
Depending on the survey, Biden’s national job approval range from 37% to 41%.
Just guessing here but as we move into 2024, we shouldn’t be surprised if there is a mass exodus off the Biden bandwagon.