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2008 United States Senate election in Kentucky

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2008 United States Senate election in Kentucky

← 2002
November 4, 2008
2014 →
 
Nominee Mitch McConnell Bruce Lunsford
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 953,816 847,005
Percentage 52.97% 47.03%

McConnell:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Lunsford:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election

Mitch McConnell
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Mitch McConnell
Republican

The 2008 United States Senate election in Kentucky was held on November 4, 2008. Minority Leader and incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell won re-election to a fifth term. Although Barack Obama lost Kentucky by a 16.22% margin to John McCain in the concurrent presidential election, McConnell more narrowly kept his seat with a 5.94% margin against businessman Bruce Lunsford. This was a greatly reduced margin from when he won re-election in 2002 with a 29.4% margin. John McCain outperformed McConnell by 4.4%, while Bruce Lunsford outperformed Obama by 5.88%.

Background

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In 2007, Kentucky's unpopular Republican Governor Ernie Fletcher lost his re-election bid. The Democrats took control of both Houses of Congress in the 2006 mid-term elections, and in October Chuck Schumer acknowledged they were aiming for McConnell's seat.[1]

State Auditor Crit Luallen was considered a top contender for the Democratic nomination, but she decided to remain as auditor.[2] Lunsford was asked to run by Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear.[3] Seven candidates competed for the Democratic Primary nomination. The primaries for both parties took place on May 20, 2008, in which Lunsford took more than 50%.

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican primary results[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mitch McConnell (incumbent) 168,127 86.09%
Republican Daniel Essek 27,170 13.91%
Total votes 195,297 100.00%

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic primary results by county
  Lunsford
  •   <40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  Fischer
  •   <40%
  •   40–50%
Democratic primary results[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bruce Lunsford 316,992 51.15%
Democratic Greg Fischer 209,827 33.85%
Democratic David L. Williams 34,363 5.54%
Democratic James E. Rice 20,403 3.29%
Democratic Michael Cassaro 17,340 2.80%
Democratic Kenneth Stepp 13,451 2.17%
Democratic David Wylie 7,528 1.21%
Total votes 619,904 100.00%

General election

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Candidates

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Campaign

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In October, Lunsford and McConnell were statistically tied in the polls. Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said, "If Lunsford is actually doing this well, it's got to be because the public is so upset by the economic meltdown and may be blaming the legislative leaders."[6]

A debate scheduled for October 7 hosted by the League of Women Voters was canceled when incumbent McConnell decided not to participate even though Lunsford announced he wanted to debate.[7]

On November 2, 2008, media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal noted that the website of The New Republic had reported that anti-McConnell flyers questioning the senator's sexuality, as well as the reasons for his 1967 military discharge, were being distributed in Kentucky.[8][9]

Predictions

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Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[10] Lean R October 23, 2008
CQ Politics[11] Lean R October 31, 2008
Rothenberg Political Report[12] Lean R November 2, 2008
Real Clear Politics[13] Tossup November 1, 2008

Polling

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Poll source Dates administered Lunsford McConnell
Voter/Consumer Research[14] January 6–8, 2008 37% 52%
Research 2000/
Lexington Herald-Leader/
WKYT-TV[15]
May 7–9, 2008 36% 48%
Voter/Consumer Research[16] May 21–22, 2008 39% 50%
Rasmussen Reports[17] May 22, 2008 49% 44%
Survey USA[18] June 13–16, 2008 46% 50%
Voter/Consumer Research[19] June 15–17, 2008 39% 50%
Rasmussen Reports[20] June 25, 2008 41% 48%
Rasmussen Reports[21] July 29, 2008 42% 52%
Survey USA[22] August 11, 2008 40% 52%
Voter/Consumer Research[23] September 7–9, 2008 35% 52%
Research 2000 for Daily Kos[24] September 15–17, 2008 37% 50%
SurveyUSA[25] September 21–22, 2008 46% 49%
Rasmussen Reports[26] September 30, 2008 42% 51%
SurveyUSA[27] October 20, 2008 48% 48%
Rasmussen Reports[28] October 21, 2008 43% 50%
Research 2000/
Lexington Herald-Leader/
WKYT-TV[29]
October 22, 2008 43% 47%
Rasmussen Reports[30] October 29, 2008 44% 51%
Survey USA[31] November 1, 2008 45% 53%

Results

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General election results[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mitch McConnell (incumbent) 953,816 52.97% −11.7%
Democratic Bruce Lunsford 847,005 47.03% +11.7%
Total votes 1,800,821 100.0%
Republican hold

By county

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County[33]PrecinctsReportingLunsford% LunsfordMcConnell% McConnellTotal
Adair16162,19830.88%4,92069.12%7,118 (R)
Allen13132,33131.85%4,98768.15%7,318 (R)
Anderson14144,78746.27%5,55853.73%10,345 (R)
Ballard13131,89346.68%2,16253.32%4,055 (R)
Barren24246,73541.15%9,63058.85%16,365 (R)
Bath12122,74761.36%1,73038.64%4,477 (D)
Bell33333,49438.83%5,50561.17%8,999 (R)
Boone606015,22430.75%34,28569.25%49,509 (R)
Bourbon18184,32552.26%3,95147.74%8,276 (D)
Boyd474711,17454.23%9,43045.77%20,604 (D)
Boyle25255,85446.90%6,62753.10%12,481 (R)
Bracken881,38241.17%1,97558.83%3,357 (R)
Breathitt21213,11161.41%1,95538.59%5,066 (D)
Breckinridge15153,73644.02%4,75255.98%8,488 (R)
Bullitt444412,50141.85%17,36858.15%29,869 (R)
Butler12121,77133.59%3,50166.41%5,272 (R)
Caldwell13132,82146.30%3,27253.70%6,093 (R)
Calloway30306,87045.39%8,26654.61%15,136 (R)
Campbell666614,78937.55%24,59162.45%39,380 (R)
Carlisle661,22046.51%1,40353.49%2,623 (R)
Carroll11112,15757.23%1,61242.77%3,769 (D)
Carter23235,22053.74%4,49446.26%9,714 (D)
Casey15151,78330.55%4,05369.45%5,836 (R)
Christian44449,03040.79%13,10959.21%22,139 (R)
Clark26267,43648.49%7,89851.51%15,334 (R)
Clay20202,45833.85%4,80466.15%7,262 (R)
Clinton13131,02925.42%3,01974.58%4,048 (R)
Crittenden12121,61541.59%2,26858.41%3,883 (R)
Cumberland9976328.62%1,90371.38%2,666 (R)
Daviess848420,77947.94%22,56352.06%43,342 (R)
Edmonson10101,99638.06%3,24961.94%5,245 (R)
Elliott771,83071.99%71228.01%2,542 (R)
Estill15152,16241.36%3,06558.64%5,227 (R)
Fayette27427468,02954.15%57,60545.85%125,634 (R)
Fleming18182,84550.04%2,84149.96%5,686 (D)
Floyd424210,10564.35%5,59835.65%15,703 (D)
Franklin444413,88859.00%9,65141.00%23,539 (R)
Fulton13131,45653.49%1,26646.51%2,722 (D)
Gallatin881,43545.66%1,70854.34%3,143 (R)
Garrard13132,85840.11%4,26859.89%7,126 (R)
Grant23233,40839.33%5,25760.67%8,665 (R)
Graves30307,83948.76%8,23951.24%16,078 (R)
Grayson23233,86339.23%5,98360.77%9,846 (R)
Green10101,77735.73%3,19764.27%4,974 (R)
Greenup32328,25852.83%7,37447.17%15,632 (D)
Hancock10102,29856.09%1,79943.91%4,097 (D)
Hardin555517,31843.68%22,32656.32%39,644 (R)
Harlan35354,44045.92%5,22954.08%9,669 (R)
Harrison17173,81450.47%3,74349.53%7,557 (D)
Hart19192,96244.60%3,68055.40%6,642 (R)
Henderson424211,04856.06%8,65943.94%19,707 (D)
Henry20203,19446.52%3,67253.48%6,866 (R)
Hickman661,04947.49%1,16052.51%2,209 (R)
Hopkins40408,48144.87%10,41955.13%18,900 (R)
Jackson14141,24524.71%3,79475.29%5,039 (R)
Jefferson515515195,40155.73%155,24144.27%350,642 (D)
Jessamine37377,84739.60%11,96960.40%19,816 (R)
Johnson31313,25238.81%5,12861.19%8,380 (R)
Kenton10810819,21736.26%33,78763.74%53,004 (R)
Knott30303,47762.14%2,11837.86%5,595 (D)
Knox30304,32939.01%6,76760.99%11,096 (R)
LaRue12122,52341.97%3,48958.03%6,012 (R)
Laurel45456,85031.15%15,13868.85%21,988 (R)
Lawrence18182,64147.47%2,92352.53%5,564 (R)
Lee10101,07339.77%1,62560.23%2,698 (R)
Leslie17171,08325.15%3,22474.85%4,307 (R)
Letcher32324,19851.82%3,90348.18%8,101 (D)
Lewis14141,78738.26%2,88461.74%4,671 (R)
Lincoln17174,11945.47%4,93954.53%9,058 (R)
Livingston10102,14247.35%2,38252.65%4,524 (R)
Logan20204,37940.70%6,37959.30%10,758 (R)
Lyon661,82147.80%1,98952.20%3,810 (R)
McCracken545413,00642.91%17,30357.09%30,309 (D)
McCreary18181,57630.41%3,60669.59%5,182 (R)
McLean882,22550.55%2,17749.45%4,402 (D)
Madison565614,65745.96%17,23754.04%31,894 (R)
Magoffin14142,71958.81%1,90441.19%4,623 (D)
Marion17174,30457.68%3,15842.32%7,462 (D)
Marshall25257,46348.94%7,78551.06%15,248 (R)
Martin14141,20333.19%2,42266.81%3,625 (R)
Mason20203,09544.58%3,84755.42%6,942 (R)
Meade18185,14946.58%5,90553.42%11,054 (R)
Menifee661,52061.51%95138.49%2,471 (D)
Mercer17174,33844.17%5,48455.83%9,822 (R)
Metcalfe12121,76644.03%2,24555.97%4,011 (R)
Monroe12121,23727.16%3,31872.84%4,555 (R)
Montgomery18185,52654.25%4,66045.75%10,186 (D)
Morgan12122,47557.03%1,86542.97%4,340 (D)
Muhlenberg26267,43657.90%5,40642.10%12,842 (R)
Nelson26268,82349.60%8,96550.40%17,788 (R)
Nicholas551,73759.47%1,18440.53%2,921 (D)
Ohio25254,66447.08%5,24252.92%9,906 (R)
Oldham343410,20435.25%18,74464.75%28,948 (R)
Owen13132,01942.93%2,68457.07%4,703 (R)
Owsley8855934.46%1,06365.54%1,622 (R)
Pendleton12122,15537.97%3,52062.03%5,675 (R)
Perry37375,02649.10%5,21150.90%10,237 (R)
Pike575712,91257.16%9,67942.84%22,591 (D)
Powell11112,86357.91%2,08142.09%4,944 (D)
Pulaski57578,10832.20%17,07267.80%25,180 (R)
Robertson5549849.21%51450.79%1,012 (R)
Rockcastle14141,83730.55%4,17769.45%6,014 (R)
Rowan18184,71058.71%3,31241.29%8,022 (D)
Russell16162,45033.67%4,82766.33%7,277 (R)
Scott35359,23847.36%10,26752.64%19,505 (R)
Shelby33337,54641.15%10,79058.85%18,336 (R)
Simpson13133,11844.29%3,92255.71%7,040 (R)
Spencer11113,15939.64%4,81160.36%7,970 (R)
Taylor20204,16338.52%6,64461.48%10,807 (R)
Todd13131,77236.89%3,03263.11%4,804 (R)
Trigg14142,63740.76%3,83359.24%6,470 (R)
Trimble12121,92750.87%1,86149.13%3,788 (D)
Union16163,33555.46%2,67844.54%6,013 (D)
Warren636319,16243.84%24,54756.16%43,709 (R)
Washington14142,31645.04%2,82654.96%5,142 (R)
Wayne19193,04543.30%3,98756.70%7,032 (R)
Webster14143,00054.39%2,51645.61%5,516 (D)
Whitley36364,84936.37%8,48463.63%13,333 (R)
Wolfe881,88662.74%1,12037.26%3,006 (D)
Woodford16165,90348.65%6,23151.35%12,134 (R)
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

By congressional district

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McConnell won four of six congressional districts.[34]

District McConnell Lunsford Representative
1st 56% 44% Ed Whitfield
2nd 56% 44% Ron Lewis (110th Congress)
Brett Guthrie (111th Congress)
3rd 44% 56% John Yarmuth
4th 59% 41% Geoff Davis
5th 56% 44% Hal Rogers
6th 49% 51% Ben Chandler

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ Stein, Sam (October 31, 2007). "Schumer Takes Aim At Senate's Top Republican". Huffington Post. Retrieved October 31, 2007.
  2. ↑ "KY-Sen: Schumer says Crit is in". Daily Kos.
  3. ↑ Gerth, Joseph (January 30, 2008). "Lunsford to challenge McConnell; Lewis is out". Courier-Journal.
  4. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ↑ "2008 Kentucky Statewide Election Results by Office". Kentucky State Board of Elections. June 11, 2008. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  6. ↑ "McConnell, Lunsford race a dead heat". The Courier-Journal. September 27, 2008. Retrieved September 27, 2008.[dead link]
  7. ↑ "Lunsford-McConnell Debate Now Off". Kentucky Post. September 30, 2008. Archived from the original on October 11, 2008. Retrieved October 17, 2008.
  8. ↑ "McConnell Outing Controversy Breaks Into National Mainstream Media". Proud of Who We Are (Press release). Proud of Who We Are. November 3, 2008.
  9. ↑ Michelle, Cottle; Orr, Christopher; Zengerle, Jason (November 2, 2008). "Democratic Gay-Baiting? You Don't Say..." The New Republic. Archived from the original on November 6, 2008.
  10. ↑ "2008 Senate Race ratings for October 23, 2008". The Cook Political Report. Archived from the original on June 25, 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  11. ↑ Race Ratings Chart: Senate Archived October 28, 2010, at the Wayback Machine CQ Politics
  12. ↑ "2008 Senate ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  13. ↑ "2008 RCP Averages & Senate Results". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  14. ↑ Voter/Consumer Research
  15. ↑ Research 2000/Lexington Herald-Leader/WKYT-TV Archived July 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ↑ Voter/Consumer Research
  17. ↑ Rasmussen Reports
  18. ↑ Survey USA
  19. ↑ Voter/Consumer Research
  20. ↑ Rasmussen Reports
  21. ↑ Rasmussen Reports
  22. ↑ Survey USA[link removed]
  23. ↑ Voter/Consumer Research
  24. ↑ Research 2000 for Daily Kos
  25. ↑ SurveyUSA
  26. ↑ Rasmussen Reports
  27. ↑ SurveyUSA
  28. ↑ Rasmussen Reports
  29. ↑ Research 2000/Lexington Herald-Leader/WKYT-TV Archived January 20, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  30. ↑ Rasmussen Reports
  31. ↑ Survey USA
  32. ↑ "Results". elect.ky.gov. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  33. ↑ "Results". elect.ky.gov. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  34. ↑ "KENTUCKY STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS".
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