[♪♪] EARLY VOTING IS UNDERWAY IN THE KEN KEN PRIMARY WITH ALL PRECINCT LOCATIONS SET TO BE OPEN FOR ELECTION DAY TUESDAY.

CANDIDATES MAKE THEIR FINAL PUSHES FROM THE HARD-FOUGHT RACE FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR INCLUDING DEBATES FOR SOME AND SPECIAL GUESTS FOR SOME.

DESPITE THE MONEY SPENT AND THE TRAVEL BY CANDIDATES HOW MANY VOTERS WILL SHOW UP FOR THE PRIMARY?

AND HOW FAST AFTER THE RESULTS ARE KNOWN WILL THE GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN GET ROLLING.

ON HIS MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND THE KENTUCKY PREPRIME EDITION IS NEXT ON KET.

>> Bill: GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT AND WE JAMES COMEY OF YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" A LOOK BACK AT THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND A LOOK AHEAD TO THE PRIMARY.

THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE MARK PAYNE, GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS REPORTER FOR LINK NKY.

McKENNA HORSLEY POLITICS REPORTER TO THE KENTUCKY LANTERN.

AND AUSTIN HORN POLITICAL REPORTER NOT THE LEXINGTON HAROLD LEADER.

ALSO TODAY KENTUCKY EDUCATION COMMISSIONER JASON GLASS IS A TIME LIST FOR A NEW JOB OUT OF STATE.

AND NICHOLAS WILT BADLY INJURED IN THE LOUISVILLE BANK SHOOTING SHOWS MORE SIGNS OF PROGRESS IN THIS LONG JOURNEY.

LET'S BEGIN WITH THE KENTUCKY PRIMARY AND THE G.O.P.

'S GOVERNOR'S RACE.

12 CANDIDATES ARE RUNNING THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL DEBATES BUT AFTER THIS WEEK THERE REMAINS ONE TIME WHEN ATTORNEY DANIEL CAMERON AND KELLY CRAFT SHARED THE SAME STAGE MAY 1.

THIS WEEK THERE WERE TWO FORUMS INVITED CANDIDATES, NEITHER CRAFT NOR CAMERON SHOWED UP.

CAMERON DID JOIN OTHERS FOR A DEBATE.

NO NEW THEMES ALTHOUGH CANDIDATE ERIC DETERS DID CALL FOR SIGNIFICANT RAISES FOR TEACHERS AND STATE AUDITOR MIKE HARMON CALLED HIMSELF THE MOST EXPERIENCED CANDIDATE OF THE BUN: AND AG COMMISSIONER RYE RAN QUARELS WAS THERE AND THEY FEATURED A RANGE OF TOPICS.

>> YOUR FREEDOMS YOUR LIBERTIES YOUR CONSERVATIVE VALUES ALL MY LIFE.

BUT POLITICALLY, FOR 20 PLUS YEARS I HOPE YOU WILL THINK OF ME MIKE HARMON.

>> I AM THE ANTIESTABLISHMENT, THE MEDIA HAS NOT CHECKED OUT MY CAMPAIGN.

I'VE PUT OUT HUNDREDS OF ISSUES AND THOUSANDS OF VIDEOS YOU WILL WANT TO VOTE FOR ME.

I SPENT HALF MY LIFE CRISSCROSSING THE STATE VISITING ALL 120 COUNTIES I'M PUTTING THE EFFORT WE NEED AS A REPUBLICAN NOMINEE WHO HAS THE BEST CHANCE OF BEATING ANDY BESHEAR IN THE FALL.

>> I'M HONORED TO HAVE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT I DO KNOW THAT ALVIN BRAGG IN NEW YORK HAS WEAPONIZED THE POLITICAL JUDICIAL SYSTEM TO TRY TO DESTROY PRESIDENT TRUMP BUT HE HAS ENDORSED BY CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR HE IS A FIGHTER AND I AM A FIGHTER AND WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THE WORKING MEN AND WOMEN OF THIS COMMONWEALTH.

>> Bill: SO IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET CRAFT AND CAMERON TO FACE EACH OTHER AGAIN THEY DID IT THE ONE TIME BUT THEY'VE FOCUSED ON EACH OTHER IN THE CLOSING WEEKS OF THE CAMPAIGN.

WHAT DRIVES THAT DYNAMIC?

>> I THINK FROM AN OBSERVER'S STANDPOINT, CAMERON HAS BEEN THE PRESUMED FRONTRUNNER THIS WHOLE TIME.

AND I THINK HE STILL IS BASED ON THE AVAILABLE POLLING THAT WE HAVE.

SO NATURALLY, CRAFT WHO IS SOMEBODY WHO HAS A LOT OF RESOURCES THROUGH HER HUSBAND WHO IS A BILLIONAIRE, ENTREPRENEUR WOULD WANT TO BRING HIM DOWN.

AND HE WOULD WANT TO RESPOND.

THAT HAS BEEN THE DYNAMIC THIS WHOLE RACE.

SOME NATIONAL OUTLETS HAVE PERHAPS UNFAIRLY LABEL TO DO A TWO-PERSON RACE BECAUSE WE SEE THE ACTION THE ACTUAL INTERFACE BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES IS THOSE TWO.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME WHEN THEY ATTACK EACH OTHER, THEY HAVE THEIR PACS GIVING LINES OF ATTACK.

CAMERON IS AN ESTABLISH GUY.

AND CRAFT IS A DESPERATE WEALTHY PERSON.

THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT PEOPLE WHO GET THAT MESSAGING GO TO THE TEAM THAT IS DELIVERING THE MESSAGING, RIGHT?

THAT VOTER WHO IS NOW TURNED OFF FROM CRAFT, COULD GO TO ERIC DETERS IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY THE VOTERS TURNED OFF FROM CAMERON COULD GO TO RYAN QUARLES.

IT MAKES FOR AN INTERESTING RACE WHERE YOU HAVE A CLASS OF CANDIDATES BELOW THEM.

>> AUSTIN, DO YOU THINK THAT CRAFT AND CAMERON SAW IT AS A RISK TO FACE EACH OTHER TOO MANY TIMES?

>> I THINK SO.

AND FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.

CAMERON PROBABLY FEELS LIKE HE'S GOT THIS ONE LOCKED DOWN.

AND THERE'S NO REASON WHEN YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE THE FRONTRUNNER TO EXPOSE YOURSELF IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'VE GONE TO ENOUGH DEBATES, TO GO TO EVEN MORE AND POTENTIALLY GAFFE IT UP OR DO SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T REALLY BODE WELL FOR YOUR CAMPAIGN.

AND FROM CRAFT'S PERSPECTIVE DURING THEIR ONE SHOWDOWN, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT THE SORT OF KIND OF MORE OUT THERE WILDCARD CANDIDATE ERIC DETERS JUST SORT OF CONSTANTLY WENT ON THE ATTACK AGAINST HER.

AND IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE.

I DON'T KNOW THERE'S NO WAY TO KNOW UNTIL MAY 16TH.

BUT THAT COULD HAVE DISSUADED HER, I THINK FROM GOING TO ANOTHER DEBATE.

>> Bill: MARK?

>> THEY ARE CERTAINLY COMPETING FOR THE SAME ENDORSEMENTS AND THE SAME VOTERS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY THEY HAVE MORE SIMILARITIES THAN THEY DO DIFFERENCES.

THEY HAVE TO HIGHLIGHT THE DIFFERENCES AND KIND OF ATTACK THOSE DIFFERENCES.

A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT IS FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT.

DANIEL CAMERON GOT IT LAST YEAR.

KELLY CRAFT ARGUES SHE WAS NOT IN THE RACE.

THAT IS A BIG THING THAT THEY'VE CONTINUED TO FIGHT OVER IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

>> Bill: McKENNA.

>> SOME WAYS NOT APPEARING TOGETHER MAKES IT HARDER FOR UNDECIDED VOTERS TO MAKE A DECISION BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES WITHOUT SEEING THEM THE CONTRAST AGAINST EACH OTHER.

>> Bill: WELCOME FOR THE FIRST TIME WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TONIGHT.

DO YOU THINK THAT VOTERS WERE MORE EAGER TO HEAR MORE FROM THE CANDIDATES AND BE ABLE TO MAKE THEIR DECISION?

WE HAVE A THE OF UNDECIDES OUT THERE IN THE LATE POLLING WE SAW?

>> YES, I THINK THAT VOTERS THERE IS A LARGE CHUNK OF VOTERS WHO ARE UNDECIDED IN THIS RACE AND IT WILL SEE ON TUESDAY HOW THEY DECIDE.

>> Bill: RYAN QUARLES SAYS THAT MADE ABOUT ALL OF THE DEBATES AND IN HIS LATEST AD OUT THIS WEEK AND WITHOUT NAMING NAMES HE CRITICIZED THOSE WHO SKIPPED DEBATES AND NOTED THAT HE'S TRAVELED TO ALL 120 COUNTIES.

>> MY MAMA USED TO SAY WATCH HOW A POLITICIAN RUNS THEIR CAMPAIGN AND IT WILL TELL YOU WHO THEY ARE.

NEGATIVE ADS NOT SHOWING UP TO DEBATES AND NOT TRAVELING ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH TO ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.

THAT IS NOT ME.

>> Bill: SO HEADING INTO MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND HE MENTIONED MAMA IN HIS AD AND TALKS ABOUT PUTTING IN THE WORK.

DOES THAT KIND OF APPROACH HAVE TRACTION FOR QUARELS?

>> I THINK BOTH QUARELS AND SOMERSET MAYORAL LEN KECK HAVE YOU RUN ON THIS CAMPAIGN WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON KENTUCKY ISSUES AND NOT THE LARGER NATIONAL ISSUES.

OF COURSE, KELLY CRAFT WAS IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY TODAY SAYING SHE'S BEEN TRAVELING AROUND THE STATE LONGER THAN QUARELS HAS.

BUT QUARELS' CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN INTERESTING THEY HELD ON TO A LOT OF MONEY UNTIL LATE IN THE CAMPAIGN AND NOW THEY ARE SPENDING IT AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE STRATEGY PLAYS OUT ON MAY 16.

>> Bill: WITH THE DIRE PREDICTION OF VOTER TURNOUT AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAYS IT COULD BE AS LOW AS 10% WITH THAT SMALL PIE DOES THAT OPEN POSSIBILITIES?

COULD ERIC DETERS REALLY TURN UP THE VOTE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY WHERE HE IS VERY WELL-KNOWN.

OR ALAN KECK PUT TOGETHER A STRATEGY THAT WOULD SHREWD REPUBLICAN COUNTIES AROUND LAKE CUMBERLAND SOUTH EASTERN KENTUCKY IS THAT SOMETHING TO WATCH?

>> I THINK IT'S IN THE REALM.

POSSIBILITY WITH DETERS OR KECK I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT WE WOULD BE QUITE SURPRISED IF THEY MADE IT OVER THE FINISH LINE.

BUT WE'RE GRADING ALL OF THE CANDIDATES ON AN EXPECTATIONS CURVE.

SO I WOULDN'T BE SHOCKED AT ALL IF SOMEBODY LIKE ERIC DETERS PARTICULARLY, REALLY SURPRISES PEOPLE IN TERMS OF THE REGIONAL SUPPORT THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO GET.

AND ALSO CARVING OUT A LANE.

ERIC DETERS HAS CARVED OUT A CLEAR LANE TO THE RIGHT OF THE MAJORITY OF THE PACK AND ALAN KECK HAS CARVED OUT IN MY OPINION, A CLEAR LANE TO THE CENTER OR TO THE LEFT HE MAY NOT LIKE SAY ASSOCIATING HIS NAME WITH LEFT BUT TO THE LEFT.

>> Bill: HE PROBABLY WON'T GO FUR THAN MODERATE.

>> OF THE PACK HE STAKED OUT POSITIONS THERE.

>> Bill: AND I WANT TO GET EVERYBODY'S TAKE ON THIS.

McKENNA YOU HAVE ATTENDED SO MANY EVENTS BY THE CANDIDATES AND WATCHED THEM OPERATE.

WHAT ARE THE STRENGTHS AND THE WEAKNESSES OF THE TOP REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES AS RETAIL CAMPAIGNERS?

>> WELL, DANIEL CAMERON OFTEN IN HIS CAMPAIGN EVENTS HE FOCUSED ON HIS RECORD OF ATTORNEY GENERAL HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE LAWSUIT WINS HE HAS HAD AGAINST GOVERNOR BESHEAR.

WITH CRAFT, SHE'S TAKEN A DIFFERENT APPROACH THROUGHOUT HER CAMPAIGN SINCE FEBRUARY GOING TOWARD FOCUSING ON A ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATION AND BRINGING IN SOME OF THE HIGH PROFILE ENDORSEMENTS SHE GOT REILLY GAINS, THE FORMER U.K. SWIMMER AND SHE WILL HAVE TED CRUZ VISIT HER AS WELL.

AND QUARELS IS FOCUSING ON HIMSELF AS BEING A RURAL CANDIDATE.

HE FOCUSES ON HIS BACKGROUND SOMEBODY WHO GREW UP IN SCOTT COUNTY AND WORKING ON THE FARM AND USING THAT TO APPEAL TO VOTERS.

>> Bill: IT'S LONG BEEN SAID THAT KENTUCKIANS WHEN THEY ELECT THE GOVERNOR THEY WANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THEM AND LOOK THEM IN THE EYE AND THESE CANDIDATES FOR THE MOST PART HAVE BEEN OUT THERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THEY HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE STATE QUITE A BIT.

WE'VE SEEN THEM ON THE AIR QUITE A BIT.

KELLY CRAFT'S STRATEGY HAS BEEN UNIQUE SHE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON ADS.

IT'S SIMILAR TO JOHN BROWN JUNIOR'S CAMPAIGN.

THIS IS NEW TO KENTUCKY BRINGING IN SOME OF THE LARGER NATIONAL ISSUES AND WE'LL SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT ON MAY 16TH.

THE MAJORITY OF VOTERS LIKE TO GET OUT AND MAKE A PERSONAL CONNECTION WITH THE CANDIDATES.

I TALKED TO A VOTER TODAY IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND IT WAS A BIG DEAL HE GOT TO MEET KELLY CRAFT AND TALK TO HER AND HEAR ABOUT THE ISSUES IMPORTANT TO HIM PERSONALLY.

>> Bill: YOUR THOUGHT ON THAT?

>> I THINK MARK IS DEFINITELY CORRECT MEETING VOTERS WHERE THEY ARE AT MATTERS A LOT.

AND TO SORT OF OFFER, I GUESS, THE OTHER SIDE OF WHAT McKENNA WAS TALKING ABOUT, I AGREE THAT KELLY CRAFT'S STRENGTH IS IN THE ONE-ON-ONE SETTING.

BUT PERHAPS HER WEAKNESS IS IN SORT OF SPEECHIFYING, I COULD SAY, THE ELOQUENCE DOESN'T NECESSARILY COME ACROSS SOMETIMES SENTENCES AND WORDS CAN GET JUMBLED AS WE'VE SEEN IN A COUPLE INSTANCES WITH HER.

WITH DANIEL CAMERON, HE DOES A GREAT SPEECH AND A REALLY GOOD J.F.K.

IMPRESSION.

I THINK.

ONCE YOU LOOK FOR IT.

YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO UNHEAR IT.

BUT HE CAN GET HIT WITH BEING SORT OF AN ESTABLISHMENT GUY.

I WENT BACK TO OUR ARCHIVE AND SAW AN ARTICLE FROM LIKE 2005 OR 2006 AND IT WAS A BRIEF ABOUT A FRESHMAN FOOTBALL PLAYER AT U OF L WHO INTERNED WITH McCONNELL AND LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING THE WORLD BY STORM AS A POLITICIAN.

HE HAS BEEN WANTING THIS FOR A LONGTIME.

AND QUARELS IS A SIMILAR, YOU CAN CRITICIZE HIM IN THAT VAIN AS WELL.

AND WE HEARD ERIC DETERS SAY THIS ON THIS STAGE HE CALLED QUARELS ROBOTIC.

AND I THINK IN A PERSON TO PERSON SETTING SOMETIMES HE CAN COME ACROSS AS A POLISHED POLITICIAN AND HE'S BEEN DOING THIS SINCE HE WAS LIKE 26 OR 25.

SO IT MAKES SENSE THAT HE CAN SORT OF COME ACROSS THAT WAY TO SOME PEOPLE.

>> Bill: RATHER THAN ATTEND MONDAY'S NIGHT DEBATE, CRAFT HELD A TOWN HALL WITH SUPPORTERS WHO MADE A COMMENT THAT HER CAMPAIGN BACKTRACKED ON AND YOU DON'T WANT TO BE EXPLAINING YOURSELF DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION.

IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION CRAFT SAID IF EFFECTED QUOTE WE WILL NOT HAVE TRANSGENDERS IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THE CRAFT CAMPAIGN REFERRED TO WOKE IDEOLOGIES BEING PUSHED IN SCHOOL AND THAT STORY GOT NATIONAL ATTENTION.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SOME PEOPLE SAW THAT AND INTERPRETED THAT AS WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY WHO IDENTIFIES AS TRANSGENDER IN THE STATE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND OF COURSE, AS YOU SAID, HER CAMPAIGN HAS BACKTRACKED AND SAID THEY MEAN TRANSGENDERRISM OR THE IDEOLOGY BUT IT GETS AT THE DIFFICULTY IN TERMS OF REPUBLICAN MESSAGING ON THIS ISSUE AND IDENTITY ISSUES IN PARTICULAR OF BEING ABLE TO SAY AND SIGNAL TO VOTERS WHO MIGHT SHARE SOME UNEASINESS ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS.

BUT WITHOUT SOUNDING LIKE YOU'RE A BULLY OR YOU WANT TO IRRADICATE A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHICH I THINK IS WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE TOOK HER WORDS TO MEAN AND RAN WITH IT.

>> Bill: MARK, ON TUESDAY NIGHT CRAFT DIDN'T GO TO THE OTHER DEBATE THAT SHE WAS INVITED TO AND SHE APPEARED ON "FOX NEWS" AND HOST LAURA INGRAHAM DRILLED DOWN WHY SHE WAS SKIPPING DEBATES?

>> SURE, I THINK THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A SURPRISE FOR KELLY CRAFT.

YOU SAW HER HELD UP AND YOU KNOW, SHE TRIED TO STICK TO HER TALKING POINTS WHEN SHE WAS ON THE SHOW.

I DON'T THINK HER COMMUNICATIONS TEAM SAW THAT COMING.

WE SAW HER TEAM TEASE IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA EARLIER THAT DAY AND ONCE THAT VIDEO CAME OUT, YOU KNOW THEY DIDN'T POST IT TO SOCIAL MEDIA OF COURSE.

A GENERAL CAMERON'S CAMPAIGN DID.

>> Bill: HIS MANAGER DID.

McKENNA, CRAFT IS BRINGING IN TEXAS SENATOR TED CRUZ FOR A GET OUT THE VOTE EVENT SATURDAY.

IS IT HIGH PROFILE SURROGATE LIKE THAT LIKELY TO BOOST THE TURNOUT FOR HER?

>> IT POTENTIALLY COULD.

I THINK WHAT VOTERS WILL SEE FROM THAT THEY WILL PUT THEIR FEELINGS THEY HAVE ABOUT TED CRUZ WHETHER POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE AND ASSOCIATE THAT WITH CRAFT.

THE MORE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THIS IT SHOWS A NATIONAL DIVIDE IN NATIONAL REPUBLICAN POLITICS BECAUSE HE IS BACKING A CANDIDATE THAT DONALD MILLER HAS NOT PICKED.

>> Bill: IT'S IT INTERESTING HOW THE NATIONAL ISSUES PLAYED SO BIG IN THIS ELECTION.

AND I RECALL IN COVERING THESE CAMPAIGNS GOING BACK TO THE 80s, THAT HAS HAPPENED FROM TIME TO TIME.

THERE WOULD BE OCCASIONAL ISSUES THAT CAME UP, CLOSING FEDERAL LANDS IN THE LAKES WAS AN ISSUE IN THE ' 95 RACE.

BUT IN THIS CASE THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH NATIONAL INFLUENCE ON THIS RACE.

IS IT BECAUSE WE ARE IN SUCH A POLITICALLY DIVIDED TIME IN A PREPRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN YEAR?

>> I THINK SO.

IN SOME WAYS.

I THINK A LOT OF NATIONAL ATTENTION COMES TO KENTUCKY BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS IN NON-PRESIDENTIAL YEARS.

AND SOMETIMES YOU SEE NATIONAL MEDIA TAKING THE OUTCOME OF THIS RACE AND USING THAT AS A PREDICTOR IN THE PRESIDENTIAL THAT IS SOMETHING WE SAW IN 2019 BUT AN INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN WAS DEFEATED BY A DEMOCRAT.

>> Bill: WELL, KENTUCKY EDUCATION COMMISSIONER JASON GLASS ANNOUNCED THAT HE IS A FINALIST FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE BALTIMORE COUNTY SCHOOLS IN MARYLAND.

GLASS HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF TENSION FROM THE GOVERNOR GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES.

SOME SAY THEY WANT HIM OUT IF ELECTED.

HE HAD DIFFICULTY WITH THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

IS HE THINKING OF MOVING, MARK, BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL SCENARIO?

I THINK THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAID TODAY THAT IS NOT WHY HIM.

I THINK HE WOULD CONSIDER IT IS A TOUGH POLITICAL CLIMATE TO BE IN RIGHT NOW FOR HIM.

AND I THINK HE MENTIONED IN A STATEMENT KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DID THAT IF HE CAN FIND A PLACE WHERE HE CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND SETTLE DOWN WITH HIS FAMILY, I THINK THAT IS WHAT HE WANTS.

IF ONE OF THE REPUBLICAN FRONTRUNNERS WERE TO MOVE FORWARD AND WIN THE GOVERNORSHIP AND POTENTIALLY TRY TO GET HIM OUT THAT MAKES HIS JOB UNSECURE.

WITH THAT INSECURITY AND THE JOB HE MIGHT WANT TO LOOK SOMEWHERE ELSE.

>> Bill: IF HE IS OUTDOES THAT TAKE AWAY A TALKING POINT FOR REPUBLICANS AGAINST BESHEAR IN THE FALL ELECTION?

>> YES.

I THINK KELLY CRAFT I THINK WAS THE FIRST TO SAY FIRE JASON GLASS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND A LOT OF REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES SAID THAT IN VARIOUS WAYS DURING THE DEBATE OR THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND IT'S COME UP IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE AS WELL.

>> Bill: DO YOU HAVE A THOUGHT ON THAT?

>> IT DOES MAKE YOU WONDER WHAT THE SORT OF SPECIFIC LINE OF ATTACK FROM REPUBLICANS IS GOING TO BE IF JASON GLASS LEAVES.

AND ALSO HOW THAT BOARD WOULD PICK A REPLACEMENT AND HOW THAT REPLACEMENT WOULD BEHAVE IN THE MIDST OF A GENERAL ELECTION YEAR WOULD BE REELING INTERESTING, I THINK.

>> Bill: HOW DO THE REPUBLICANS COME TOGETHER AFTER TUESDAY WHEN THE ELECTION RESULTS COME IN IF WE KNOW THAT NIGHT IT MAY BE'S WHILE.

WE HAVE A NEW REPORTING SYSTEMS NOW THAT WHERE THE NUMBERS DON'T JUST COME IN AS THEY USED TO.

IT WILL BE RELEASED COUNTY BY COUNTY WHEN THE TOTALS ARE IN.

WE'LL KNOW SOON ENOUGH BY MIDWEEK NEXT WEEK.

CAN THEY COME TOGETHER?

>> I THINK SO.

BUT IT IS A NATURAL DIFFICULTY WHEN YOU ARE THE DOMINANT PARTY IN THE STATE.

THERE ARE LOTS OF FACTIONS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THERE ARE LOTS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN KENTUCKY WHO HAVE DIFFERENT FEELINGS WILL THE DIRECTION OF THE STATE AND TRUTH BE TOLD FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT, THE PARTY IS SORT OF AT THE HELM WITH THE LEGISLATURE BEING ABLE TO VETO OR OVERRIDE ANY VETO FROM BESHEAR.

WHEREAS THE DEMOCRATS SINCE THEY JUST HAVE BESHEAR THAT IS THEIR ONE THING IN POWER THAT THEY CAN HOLD ON TO.

IT'S MUCH EASIER FOR EVERYBODY TO JUST GET IN LINE, I THINK.

>> Bill: WOULD YOU SEE THEM TRYING TO COME TOGETHER QUICKLY IN THIS CAMPAIGN GET ROLLING IN THE SUMMER EVEN PREFANCY FARM LOOKED AT IN KENTUCKY AS THE TRADITIONAL KICKOFF OF THE CAMPAIGN?

>> THAT'S LIKELY.

AND IF REPUBLICANS WANT TO SEND A MESSAGE OF UNITY IT'S PROBABLY IN THEIR BEST INTEREST TO HAVE GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES QUICKLY CONCEDE AND SHOW STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE NOMINEE.

>> Bill: YOUR THOUGHT?

>> THEY HAVE BEEN ATALKING BESHEAR I THINK IT WILL BE SEAMLESS IT SEEMS LIKE HEADING INTO THE SUMMER.

>> Bill: THEY WILL HAVE TO NAME RUNNING MATES AND KELLY CRAFT INDICATED HERS WOULD BE MAX WISE.

THE OTHERS WOULD CHOOSE AND POTENTIALLY COULD CHOOSE A OPPONENT, RIGHT?

>> SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE WILL WATCH.

OTHER RACES.

STATE TREASURER'S RACE IS ONE THAT HEATED UP?

>> YES, IT IS A THREE-WAY RACE.

SORT OF THE INITIAL TALK CENTERED AROUND ANDREW COOPERRODER, A LOCKDOWN LEXINGTON AREA FOLK HERO FOR SOME ON THE RIGHT VERSUS O.J.

OLEKA THE MORE ESTABLISHMENT PICK I THINK YOU CAN SAY WHO WORKED UNDER TREASURER ALLISON BALL.

BUT THERE IS A THIRD CANDIDATE, MARK METCALF WHO SPENT THE MOST BY QUITE A BIT.

I BELIEVE MOST OF IT FROM HIMSELF.

ALTHOUGH THAT HASN'T BEEN CONFIRMED THROUGH A FINANCIAL REPORT JUST YET.

>> Bill: HE FELL SHORT OF WINNING A CONGRESSIONAL PRIMARY AGAINST FLETCHER IN THE 1990s.

>> I DIDN'T KNOW THAT AT ALL.

WOW, OK. WELL THAT CHANGES MY PERSPECTIVE ENTIRELY.

BUT YEAH, THAT ONE IS GOING TO BE REALLY FUN TO WATCH, I THINK.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF ALL THREE CROSSED 20% OR 25%.

>> Bill: WE'LL WATCH THAT AND THE AG COMMISSIONER'S RACE IS A EAST-WEST BATTLE AS WELL.

A STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND A FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

>> I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT GOING INTO THIS MOST PEOPLE CONSIDER JO JOHN MINTON THAN SHL THE FAVORITE, THE YOUNGEST CHOSEN G.O.P.

MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER EVER AT 28 YEARS OLD.

AND AFTER HE GOT BEATEN IN A PRIMARY, HE CHAIRED McCONNELL'S SENATE CAMPAIGN HE HAS A LOT OF CONNECTIONS.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME RICHARD HEATH IS SOMEBODY WHO HAS RUN FOR THIS BEFORE HE ALMOST BEAT RYAN QUARELS IN 2015.

HE IS A FARMER AND SPENT A LOT OF HIS OWN PERSONAL FUNDS AS WELL.

IF YOU REMEMBER HE IS A CONSTRUCTION GUY WHO WORKS IN FAR WESTERN KENTUCKY SO WE KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THINGS TO BUILD AFTER THE TORNADOES THERE.

AND HE'S USED A LOST OF HIS OWN MONEY TO FUND HIS CAMPAIGN.

>> Bill: WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING FOR ON ELECTION NIGHT?

>> I WILL BE WATCHING TO SEE HOW MANY VOTERS COME OUT.

AND HOW CLOSE THIS RACE WILL POTENTIALLY GET.

>> Bill: MARK?

>> THE SAME.

YOU KNOW, TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IF LOW TURNOUT THE POPE FOR A CANDIDATE SUCH AS QUARELS TO SNEAK THROUGH OR ERIC DETERS, YOU KNOW IF YOU SEE A CANDIDATE GO HIGH UP IN ONE REGION OF THE STATE IS THAT GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO PROPEL THEM FORWARD THROUGHOUT THE STATE?

WE SAW THAT IN 2015 WITH GOVERNOR BEVIN.

NOT A LOT OF NAME RECOGNITION BUT HE WAS ABLE TO SNEAK THROUGH THE PRIMARY AND WON IN KENTUCKY AND CARRIED HIM THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

>> THERE ARE A FEW PLACES TO WATCH FOR ME.

FAYETTE COUNTY IS GOING TO BE REALLY INTERESTING.

BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TWO SORT OF HOMETOWN PEOPLE IN KELLY CRAFT AND RYAN QUARLES.

BUT I THINK YOU COULD MAYBE ARGUE THAT THEY SPLIT THAT SUPPORT AND SOMEBODY LIKE DANIEL CAMERON COULD WIN IT.

IF CAMERON WINS FAYETTE COUNTY, IF THAT IS CONFIRMED IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE A GOOD NIGHT FOR HIM.

IF CRAFT DOES WELL OR MAYBE WINS SOME NORTHERN KENTUCKY COUNTIES, I THINK THAT IS A GOOD SIGNAL FOR HER.

SHE IS SOMEBODY WHO IS THE ONLY ONE PLAYING THE BROADCAST TV GAME UP THERE.

SO THAT COULD BE A SIGNIFICANT SIGNIFICANT -- SIGNAL THAT HER TELEVISION STUFF IS WORKING.

WITH RYAN QUARLES I WOULD LOOK AT SOME OF THE LITTLE RURAL COUNTIES.

IF HE IS WINNING A BIG GROUP OF THEM THEN THAT MEANS HIS SORT OF GROUND GAME STRATEGY IS WORKING.

AND I ALSO LOOK AT WARREN COUNTY, BOWLING GREEN THAT IS WHERE HE HAS THOSE OFFICIAL ELECTED OFFICIAL ENDORSEMENTS LIKE SENATE MAJORITY WHIP MIKE WILSON AND MICHAEL MEREDITH HAVE ENDORSED HIM THAT WOULD BE A SIGNAL THAT THAT IS WORKING.

>> Bill: MARK YOU PRIMARILY COVER NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND THE POLITICS STATE-WIDE.

WHAT IS HAPPENING UP THERE THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A NEW PRESIDENT AT NKU?

>> YES, THEY PARTED WAYS WITH THEIR PRESIDENT WHEN THEY HAD A $24 MILLION BUDGET DEFICIT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A NEW PRESIDENT LIKE KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY IS.

THE FACULTY RECENT HE WILL CAME OUT WITH A RESOLUTION SAYING THEY WANT THAT SEARCH TO BE OPEN AND MORE ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THE BOARD OF REGENTS.

THEY USED KENTUCKY STATE AS AN EXAMPLE.

THEY ARE HIRING A NEW PRESIDENT, TOO AND THEY ARE BRINGING THE TOP THREE CANDIDATES TO THE CAMPUS AND THE FACULTY AT NKU WANT SOMETHING SIMILAR.

>> Bill: IT'S CONSIDERED A NATIONWIDE SEARCH.

>> YES.

>> Bill: THERE'S ENCOURAGING NEWS ABOUT NICHOLAS WILT WHO WAS INJURED IN THE OLD LOUISVILLE BANK SHOOTING WITH A LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY NO QUESTION BUT HE HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED TO A REHABILITATION FACILITY AS OF THIS WEEK AND THAT IS SEEN AS A VERY IMPORTANT STEP AND HIS FAMILY CONTINUES TO ASK FOR PRAYERS AND SOME PRIVACY AS HE CONTINUES HIS LONG JOURNEY.

AND VIRGINIA MOORE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE KENTUCKY COMMISSION OF DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING HAS DIED.

SHE BECAME A CELEBRITY WHEN THE SIGN LANGUAGE INTEMPTER FOR GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR'S NEWS CONFERENCES IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC.

BESHEAR CALLED HER A ROCK OF STABILITY IN STEERING THAT PANDEMIC AND A COMFORT TO MANY.

VIRGINIA MOORE WAS 61 YEARS OLD.

EARLY VOTING WILL CONTINUE SATURDAY AND ALL POLLING PLACES WILL BE OPEN TUESDAY FROM 6:00 A.M.-6:00 P.M. LOCAL TIME AND THE RESULTS SOMETIME AFTER THAT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" AND MAKE IT A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.

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