[♪♪] >> Bill: THE CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR WORK THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL HARD AS EARLY VOTING GETS UNDERWAY AHEAD OF ELECTION DAY TUESDAY.

>>> THE CANDIDATES FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CLASH ON ISSUES ON STATE-WIDE TV.

>>> SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL PRESSES FOR MORE AID FOR UKRAINE AND BRINGS THAT AMBASSADOR TO LOUISVILLE.

>>> A REPORT CARD ON KENTUCKY SCHOOLS SHOWS ABSENTEEISM IS ONE MAJOR CHALLENGE FOR STUDENTS.

>>> WE ARE NOW INTO NOVEMBER AND COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

>> Bill: GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT.

AND WE WELCOME YOU TO COMMENT "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" A LOOK BACK AND SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND TONIGHT, A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON THE KENTUCKY STATE-WIDE ELECTION AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE RYLAND BARTON, MANAGING EDITOR FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO, WITH STATIONS IN MURRAY, BOWLING GREEN, LOUISVILLE AND RICHMOND.

>> TESSA DUVALL, FRANKFORT BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER AND PHILLIP BAILEY LOUISVILLE BASED NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT FOR "USA TODAY".

>>> AS THE DUST IS SETTLING AFTERRED UAW STRIKE COULD THERE BE MORE INVESTMENTS IN KENTUCKY AUTO PLANTS?

FIRST HERE WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF VOTING.

THE EARLY VOTING UNDERWAY THE CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR PUSHED HARD THIS WEEK TO GET THEIR VOTERS TO THE POLLS.

AFTER TELEVISED DEBATES AND SPENDING MILLIONS FOR TV ADS, ANDY BESHEAR AND DANIEL CAMERON NOW CRISSCROSSING THE STATE ON BUSES.

THEY BROUGHT SPECIAL GUESTS ALONG AS THEY MADE THEIR FINAL PITCHES TO VOTERS.

>> THE FOLKS UP HERE RECOGNIZE THAT A GOOD JOB ISN'T DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN.

THAT A NEW BRIDGE IS NOT RED OR BLUE.

CLEAN DRINKING WATER IS A HUMAN RIGHT AND WHAT WILL BE TRANS FOR MARTIALAL.

WHEN I BRING HIGH SPEED INTERNET ACCESS TO EVERY HOME AND BUSINESS IN KENTUCKY.

>> AND ANDY BESHEAR TALKS A LOT ABOUT AN ECONOMY THAT IS ON FIRE.

BUT YOU ALL ARE HERE TODAY KNOW THIS ECONOMY IS NOT ON FIRE.

IN FACT IT IS AN ECONOMY ON LIFE SUPPORT.

I MEAN, JUST THINK ABOUT THIS...

IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME DROP BY 12%.

>> Bill: WELL, IT IS ALL THAT TURNOUT NOW, TESSA.

AND THIS IS THE FIRST GOVERNOR'S RACE IN WHICH THERE ARE THE MULTIPLE VOTING DAYS.

DOES ANYBODY KNOW THE IMPACT THAT MAY HAVE?

>> RIGHT, YEAH.

LAST YEAR'S ELECTION WE DO HAVE COMPARABLE DATA FOR THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING IN 2022, NOT A GOVERNOR'S RACE.

AND THEN THE FIRST DAY THIS YEAR.

AND AS OF THE FIRST DAY, ONLY THURSDAY, THERE WERE ABOUT 2700 MORE VOTERS WHO CAST NO EXCUSE NEEDED ABSENTEE VOTES ON THURSDAY.

WHEN YOU DIVE INTO THAT AND YOU LOOK AT THE BREAKDOWN YOU SEE THAT DEMOCRATS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY OUTPERFORMING REPUBLICANS IN THIS AGAIN, ONE DAY OF EARLY VOTING.

AND OF COURSE, WE KNOW THAT REPUBLICANS TEND TO LIKE TO SHOW UP MORE ON ELECTION DAY.

I WOULDN'T READ TOO MUCH INTO THAT BUT THAT EARLY LEAD IS FEELING GOOD FOR GOVERNOR BESHEAR RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: WE MIGHT HAVE A CLOSE RACE A NEW POLL THAT WAS RELEASED TODAY, HAS THE RACE TIED AT 47%.

IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE TO SEE THAT ON THE SCREEN HOW CLOSE IT POTENTIALLY COULD BE, TESSA WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE POLL?

>> THE FIRST THING TO KNOW IS THAT, YES, THERE WAS AN EMERSON POLL BUT THIS METHODOLOGY IS DIFFERENT.

THE POLL THAT SHOWED GOVERNOR BESHEAR UP 16 PERCENTAGE POINTS THAT IS ABOUT REGISTERED VOTERS A SMALLER SAMPLE SIZE.

WITH THIS POLL THIS MORNING, ABOUT A THOUSAND VOTERS AND THEY ARE LIKELY OR SOME HAVE VOTED.

THAT IS NOT REALLY AN APPLES TO ORANGES COMPARISON.

>> Bill: WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU LOOK THAT THAT?

>> I THINK THE RACE HAS ALWAYS BEEN QUESTION OF TWO THINGS: ANDY BESHEAR FORCE AND CHARM, THE PERSONA VERSUS KENTUCKY'S BASIC CONSERVATIVE AND DONALD TRUMP HOLD ON THE STATE.

WE KNEW THE RACE WAS GOING TO TIGHTEN.

WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THIS AND HOW THE POLL IS SHOWING IT'S TIED WHEN THE UNDECIDED VOTERS THE 4% ARE PUSHED AND ASKED WHO WOULD YOU SUPPORT, DANIEL CAMERON IS IN THE LEAD.

IF YOU WANT TO BE ANYBODY THIS WEEKEND YOU WANT TO BE DANIEL CAMERON BECAUSE AT LEAST YOU HAVE THE MOMENTUM FOR YOU.

ONE THING WE'LL SEE THE BESHEAR PEOPLE WILL SAY LOOK DON'T BELIEVE THE PREVIOUS POLLS SHOW US UP BY 8, 16 POINTS.

IF ANYTHING, NONE OF US KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN THAT IS WHAT MAKES IT EXCITING.

WE HAVE TO WAIT-AND-SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON TUESDAY THE POLL THAT REALLY MATTERS.

>> Bill: RYLAND, YOU HAVE A THEORY THIS LATE POLL IS A GIFT MAYBE TO BOTH CAMPAIGNS?

>> FOR SURE.

I MEAN THESE CAMPAIGNS ESPECIALLY ANDY BESHEAR'S CAMPAIGN, BEFORE WHEN THEY HAVE THIS WIDE GAP SHOWING HIM AHEAD THEY MIGHT WORRY SOME SUPPORTERS MIGHT STAY AT HOME HE HAS IT IN THE BAG.

THIS CREATES USUALSY.

LIKE THEY LIGHT SOME FIRE UNDER SOME OF THE VOTERS TO GO OUT AND VOTE FOR THE CANDIDATES.

I THINK, YEAH, THIS POLL IS PRETTY -- WE HAD BA A YEAR ALMOST OF POLLS SHOWING ANDY BESHEAR WITH REALLY HIGH FAVORABLES, 10 PERCENTAGE POINT AS HEAD.

NO SURPRISE IT'S TIGHTENING CLOSER TO ELECTION.

SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IS THERE WAS 10% OF UNDECIDED VOTERS.

WE'VE BEEN WONDERING WHO ARE THEY AND WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO.

MAYBE THERE IS A THEORY HERE THAT THEY ARE GOING TOWARDS CAMERON THE POLL SHOWED THEM SLIGHTLY FAVORING CAMERON.

BACK TO THE POINT, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT BOTH THE CANDIDATES WOULD WANT TO CREATE URGENCY FOR VOTERS TO GET OUT THERE ESPECIALLY IN THIS YEAR.

IT IS AN ODD YEAR.

THERE'S NO COATTAILS OF A PRESIDENTIAL OR CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION AND REALLY THE MEDIA FERVOR THAT GOES WITH THE THAT FOR FOLKSES TO KNOW THAT THERE'S AN ELECTION GOING ON.

THE LAST TIME IN 2019 IT WAS LIKE A RECORD-HIGH ONE OF THE HIGHEST VOTER TUSH OUTS AND IT WAS LIKE OVER 40%.

THE TIME BEFORE THAT WHEN MATT BEVIN DEFEATED JACK CONWAY IT WAS 30%.

THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR LOW VOTER TURNOUT IN THE ODD-YEAR ELECTIONS.

>> Bill: AND YET WHEN WE HAVE THE ODD-YEAR ELECTION THAT IS SORT OF THE QUAINT DISCUSSION OF KENTUCKY INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND POLITICS WE ALSO KNOW THAT MANY ARE LOOKING AT THIS AS A POTENTIAL HARBINGER FOR 2024.

THERE ARE NATIONAL INTERESTS INVOLVED IN THIS RACE.

WE DID SEE DONALD TRUMP ENDORSE CAMERON EARLY ON.

WE'VE SEEN THE REPUBLICANS ATTEMPTING TO TIE BESHEAR TO PRESIDENT BIDEN.

WILL THE NATIONAL LANDSCAPE PLAY BIG IN THE RESULTS TUESDAY?

>> EVEN THOUGH KENTUCKY DOES NOT MATCH THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, NATIONAL ADVISERS ON THE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN SIDE LOOK AT KENTUCKY OFF YEAR ELECTION AS A CHANCE TO TEST THE MESSAGING.

DEMOCRATIC SIDE, JOBS AND ABORTION ACCESS.

AND REPUBLICAN SIDE, TRENDS RIGHTS AND YOUR DOLLAR, AND PRESIDENT BIDEN'S UNPOPULARITY.

BUT LET'S REMEMBER, KENTUCKY IS A BELLWETHER STATE.

FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS, THE PARTY WON THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE TURNED AROUND AND WON THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

STEVE BESHEAR?

2007 AND MATT BEVIN IN 15 AND DONALD TRUMP IN 2016.

MANY LOOK AT KENTUCKY HAS THE PLACE THAT CAN CLUE THEM IN ON THE MOOD OF VOTERS NATIONALLY.

>> Bill: RYLAND DID EACH CANDIDATE DO WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO WITH THE TIME AND MONEY AND RESOURCES AND ASSETS HE HAD IN THIS CAMPAIGN?

>> NOT EXACTLY SURE ABOUT VALUE JUDGMENT WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO.

WHAT THEY SPENT IT ON WAS TV ADVERTISING.

A LOT WAS ISSUES FOCUSED.

ATTACKING THEIR OPPONENTS AND SUPPORTING THEMSELVES.

BESHEAR FOCUSING FOR HIS OWN CAMPAIGN ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

I THINK ONE PROBABLY THE MOST REMARKABLE THING ABOUT THIS CAMPAIGN THAT AD WITH HIM GOING AFTER DANIEL CAMERON FOR NOT SUPPORTING EXCEPTIONS TO KENTUCKY'S TOTAL BAN ON ABORTION.

THAT MUST HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE MOST POLITICALLY UNCOMFORTABLE MOMENTS FOR DANIEL CAMERON WHERE HE FOUND HIMSELF ON HIS HEELS HINTING THAT HE MIGHT SUPPORT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND THEN WALKING IT BACK A WEEK LATER.

THAT WAS REMARKABLE TO SEE A DEMOCRAT RUNNING FOR A STATE-WIDE CAMPAIGN IN A SOUTHERN STATE REALLY LEANING INTO THAT ISSUE WITH AD AFTER AD.

AND THIS WILL BE A BIT OF A REFERENDUM ON TO WHAT EXTENT IS THAT METHOD EFFECTIVE.

I THINK WE'LL SEE THAT GOING FORWARD.

>> AND TO BUILD OFF OF THAT ISSUE RELATING TO ABORTION DEMOCRATS LOOK AT THE RESULT WITH AMENDMENT TO IN 2022 AND SEE THAT AS SOMETHING THAT MOTIVATES PEOPLE.

AND SO I THINK PLAYING INTO THIS VERY NARROW RAPE AND INCEST EXCEPTION AND REMINDING PEOPLE OF CAMERON SUPPORTED THAT AMENDMENT THAT YOU VOTED DOWN.

I THINK THEY ARE HOPING MOBILIZES PEOPLE.

>> Bill: TESSA, THE PANDEMIC CAME OUT OF NOWHERE AND CAMERON HAS TRIED TO PORTRAY BESHEAR AS OVER THE TOP IN HIS RESPONSE TO COVID HE MADE LEGAL CHALLENGES AS TECHNOLOGY AND CRITICIZED HIM FOR THE CLOSINGS THAT HE SAYS WENT TOO FAR.

BESHEAR SAYS THAT HIS ACTIONS SAVED LIVES AND, OF COURSE, THE PEOPLE REMEMBER THE 5:00 WITH ANDY NEWS CONFERENCES HELD DURING THE EARLY PART OF THE PANDEMIC.

HOW DOES THAT ALL PLAY OUT?

>> THAT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS TO SEE.

WHEN YOU GO TO MOHAMMAD KAHN CAMPAIGN STOPS AND SEE HIM TALK ABOUT COVID AND THE PANDEMIC, IT'S REALLY FRAMED AROUND HE CLOSED DOWN CHURCHES.

HE SENT STATE TROOPERS TO CHURCHES WHEN PEOPLE WANTED TO WORSHIP ON EASTER.

HE CLOSED SMALL BUSINESSES.

HE PICKED WINNERS AND LOSERS.

YOUR KIDS HAVE LEARNING LOSS AND IT PLAYS WELL TO THE PEOPLE TURNING OUT TO SUPPORT DANIEL CAMERON.

THE WAY THE GOVERNOR FRAMES IT IS THAT THIS WAS AN UNPRECEDENTED TIME.

NO ONE REALLY KNEW WHAT THIS WAS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

I WAS TRYING TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION WITH THE INFORMATION I HAD.

AND COUNTING ON PEOPLE REMEMBERING THAT FEELING OF UNCERTAINTY.

AND JUST THEM GIVING HIM SOME LEEWAY, SOME GRACE FOR WHAT HE DID WITH THAT.

>> I HAD A CHANCE TO FOLLOW THE CAMERON CAMPAIGN IN CAMPBELLSVILLE WHEN SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS AND REILLY GAINS WAS THERE.

AND I THINK YOU SEE HERE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS A GOOD JOB OF PROSECUTING THAT CASE TO HIS SUPPORTERS IN-PERSON.

HE IS TALKING ABOUT TRANS RIGHTS AND TALKING ABOUT LEARNING LOSS.

BUT WHEN I TALK TO VOTERS, I TALK TO A GENTLEMAN NAMED BRADLEY TAYLOR A FACTORY WORKER AND HE IS A CHRISTIAN CONSERVATIVE AND PLANS ON VOTING FOR CAMERON HE DON'T DISLIKE ANDY BESHEAR I NEVER HEAR ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT HIM.

ONE THING IF DANIEL CAMERON COMES UP SHORT IN THIS RACE, ONE THING HAS TO BE ABLE TO KICK HIMSELF ABOUT THE NATIONAL OUTSIDE GROUPS DIDN'T PROSECUTE THE CASE THE WAY HE DID.

YOU DID NOT HEAR ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT CONTROVERSY THAT WE HAD HERE IN KENTUCKY.

IT WAS ABOUT THE NATIONAL ISSUES THAT I DON'T THINK A LOT OF KENTUCKIANS CARED ABOUT.

>> Bill: WHICH IS INTERESTING.

MAYBE THE NATIONAL GROUPS DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE INSTATE ISSUES AT THE TIME AND THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO COORDINATE THAT MESSAGE WITH THE CAMPAIGNS.

>> I'M WONDERING FROM THE SELECTION, WHETHER THIS WILL BE A TEST FOR HOW BIPARTISAN A MOMENT WAS THAT.

WAS HIS COVID RESPONSE.

BECAUSE HE WAS ON TV EVERYDAY.

IF HE DID NOT HAVE 100% NAME RECOGNITION GOING INTO THE PANDEMIC, HE PROBABLY EMERGE FROM IT WITH THAT.

GOOD OR BAD.

AND I THINK THAT SOMETHING I'VE WONDERED IS TO WHAT EXTENT IS THIS SOMETHING WHERE HIS POLITICAL OPPONENTS REALLY DIDN'T LIKE THE FACT HE WAS ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CONSIDERABLE EMERGENCY POWERS WHICH WERE ENSHRINED IN STATE LAW BEFORE THEY CHANGED IT.

AND HOW MUCH OF IT WAS HIS POLITICAL OPPONENTS NOT LIKING WHAT HE WAS DOING VERSUS THE VOTERS, ACTUAL ELECTORATE.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING I HOPE THAT WE'LL LEARN MORE FROM THIS ELECTION.

>> Bill: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MAP ITSELF.

AND WE KNOW LEXINGTON AND LOUISVILLE ARE LIKELY TO BE STRONGHOLDS FOR BESHEAR.

WE KNOW THAT CAMERON IS LIKELY TO DO WELL IN RURAL KENTUCKY.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW THERE ARE LOTS OF COUNTIES THAT ARE IN QUESTION IN 2019, BESHEAR FLIPPED COUNTIES INCLUDING IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

WARREN, HE WON, SCOTT AND MADISON.

ARE THOSE PLACES TO WATCH ON TUESDAY?

>> I THINK SO.

FOR THOSE ARE THINGS TO WATCH WHETHER OR NOT ANDY BESHEAR IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO BUILD A ROADMAP TO VICTORY.

THAT IS HOW HE WAS ABLE TO DO IT IN 2019 WHETHER HE IS ABLE TO KEEP THOSE PLACES.

I REFER TO THE COUNTIES AS PLACES THAT HAVE REGIONAL STATE UNIVERSITIES NORTHERN KENTUCKY, ROWAND COUNTY, MADISON, WARREN COUNTY, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE THE CALLOWAY COUNTY IN WESTERN WESTERN KENTUCKY IS THE ONE THAT DID NOT GO WITH THAT TREND.

AND SOME OF THE SUBURBAN COUNTIES ONES THAT ARE JUST OUTSIDE OF URBAN AREAS LIKE SCOTT COUNTY WHERE GEORGETOWN IS.

IF BESHEAR IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THAT COALITION, PROBABLY A BIPARTISAN COALITION OR FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN VOTING REPUBLICAN LATELY NOT REPUBLICAN FOR THE ENTIRE TICKET, HE NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO PICK UP SOME OF THAT.

I THOUGHT IT WAS NOTABLE A COUPLE REPORTERS JOE SONKA PUT UP A MAP SHOWING WHERE THE CANDIDATES WERE RAISING THE MOST MONEY ACROSS THE STATE.

AND BESHEAR DID VERY, VERY WELL ACROSS LARGE SWATHSES OF RURAL KENTUCKY.

INCLUDING SOME OF THOSE REGIONAL UNIVERSITY COUNTIES AND IN EASTERN KENTUCKY WHERE DEMOCRATS HAVE DONE SO POORLY JUST ABOUT THE LAST DECADE.

SO WE HAVE YET TO SEE IF THIS WORKS OUT FOR ANDY BESHEAR BUT IT WORKED OUT IN THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE WORLD.

>> IN ADDITION TO WHAT RYLAND MENTIONED ABOUT THE COUNTIES WITH UNIVERSITIES, WARREN, MADISON, ROWAND, YOU CAN LOOK HOW THEY VOTED ON AMENDMENT 2 AS WELL.

AND WARREN COUNTY DID GO VERY NARROWLY FOR BESHEAR IN 2019 AND IT VOTED AGAINST AMENDMENT 2.

SO I THINK AGAIN THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE DRAWING SOME HOPE FROM JUST KNOWING THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THERE WHO CAN BE MOVED, THEY CAN TURNOUT IN THEIR FAVOR.

>> Bill: BEFORE WE MOVE ON, WHAT IS IT THAT IS DIFFERENT COMPARING 2019 TO 2023?

>> WELL, I THINK THE THICK WE TALK ABOUT ANDY BESHEAR'S POPULARITY AND HOW LIKABLE HE IS.

WELL, AGAIN WE HAVE TO REMEMBER, EVEN THOUGH THAT IS TRUE, HE WOULD BE AN INCUMBENT GOVERNOR MATT BEVIN WHO WAS AS POPULAR AS A SEWER RAT IN KENTUCKY AND DANIEL CAMERON IS NOT THAT.

HE IS A CHARMING INDIVIDUAL, MUCH MORE LIKABLE PEOPLE WOULD AGREE THAT MATT BEVIN WAS.

AND REPUBLICANS TOLD ME A FEW YEARS AGO WE DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WE HAD A MATT BEVIN PROBLEM.

I'M INTERESTED TO SEE IS THE DIVISIVE ISSUE OF ABORTION AND THE BREONNA TAYLOR CASE.

DANIEL CAMERON HAS HAD SOME.

MOST VICIOUS ADS BY THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN GROUPS THAT SAID HE IS A RACE TRADER.

AND I WONDER IF THAT IS GOING TO BE THE TEACHER ISSUE THAT WAS SUCH A ANCHOR AROUND MATT BEVIN'S NECK IF THAT IS GOING TO BE THE SAME THING WITH DANIEL CAMERON.

I SEE THE GROUPS COMING IN, NOT JUST RUNNING ADS, THEY ARE HITTING HARD HITTING ADS BY BLACK VOTERS MATTER, AND UNTOLD FREEDOM ARE HERE IN KENTUCKY THEY ARE ORGANIZING ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND GETTING AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOTERS WESTERN KENTUCKY AND SOME OF THE HOLLERS AND ORGANIZING FOLKS THAT IS THE RACE THAT THE ISSUE THAT WILL NATIONALIZE THIS RACE.

YOU HAVE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ACTIVISTS AND COMMENTATORS SAYING KENTUCKY IS A NATIONAL RACE FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

THIS IS A RACE WE CARE ABOUT ACROSS THE BOARD IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

THAT MIGHT BE THE ISSUE THE LYNCHPIN THAT THE BESHEAR CAMPAIGN WILL NEED TO PUT THEM OVER THE HUMP.

>> Bill: WE'LL SEE WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF VOTING NOW AND THE CANDIDATES FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR APPEARED ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" WITH RENEE SHAW THEY DEFENDED THEIR RUNNING MATES' POSITIONS AND CLASHED OVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> THEY ARE USING THIS VOUCHER AS A RED HERRING.

IF I HAD TEST SCORES LIKE THEY HAVE, IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND THEY CALL THEMSELVES AN EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION, I WOULD BE LOOKING FOR A RED HERRING, TOO.

WE HAVE NOT TALKED A TALKED ABOT VOUCHNERS THIS CAMPAIGN AT ALL.

>> OUR VOTERS KNOW WHEN THEY SEND THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL IT SHOULDN'T MATTER THE ZIP CODE.

IT SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE THAT THEY HAVE TO MOVE AROUND.

IT SHOULD BE THAT EVERY SCHOOL IS THE BEST IT CAN BE.

OTHERWISE YOUR ZIP CODE DETERMINES YOUR OPPORTUNITY.

AND I CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTION VERY SIMPLY.

I DON'T AGREE WITH THE CHARTER SCHOOL AMENDMENT BEING ON THE BALLOT.

>> Bill: TESSA, THE ROLE OF A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR AND APPEAR TO BE CAPABLE OF LEADING THE STATE IF THAT BECAME NECESSARY.

WHAT DO WE SEE FROM THE TWO RUNNING MATES?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STOOD OUT TO ME ABOUT THIS DEBATE IS HOW MUCH TIME WAS SPENT ON CHILDREN'S ISSUES ON PRE-K ON CHILDCARE ON EDUCATION ON HIGHER-ED.

BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY THE HOME TURF FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR COLEMAN HER BAND IS AN EDUCATOR A LARGE PART OF THE REASON SHE WAS SELECTED AS THE RUNNING MATE KNOWING TEACHERS HAD STRONG ANTI-BEVIN FEELINGS.

I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT SENATOR MILLS DID NOT TRY TO GET AWAY FROM THAT TO HIS STRONGER POINTS WHERE HE COULD TALK ABOUT WHAT HE HAS DONE IN THE LEGISLATURE WITH COLE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THEY TOUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRIAL IS HE WAS SPONSOR OF THE 2022 BILL TO BAN TRANS ATHLETES THEY PLAYS WELL TO THE BASE PART OF THE BONA-FIDES THAT MADE HIM THE PICK FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY IS ELECTING ALL CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICE HOLDER AND THE RACE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN HAD HIS EYE ON THE PRIZE THE MOMENT THAT DANIEL CAMERON JUMPED INTO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

COLONEL PAM STEVENSON DID NOT RAISE A LOT OF MONEY WORKED HARD.

IS SHE HOPING THERE COULD BE COATTAILS THAT MIGHT HELP HER?

>> AN UNDER CURRENT OF THE 2023 RACE IS WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE GOVERNOR'S RACE BUT THIS IS THE LAST STAND OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

OTHER THAN ANDY BESHEAR'S WIN, THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS NOT HAD MUCH TO BRAG ABOUT IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.

I HEARD DEMOCRATS TELLING ME THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RACE IS TIGHTENING WE'LL SEE IF ANDY BESHEAR HAS COATTAILS IF HE DOES, THE ONE PERSON WHO IS ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IS MICHAEL ADAMS FOR SECRETARY OF STATE, RUNNING AGAINST THE CHALLENGER BUDDY WHEATLEY.

HE IS THE ONE PUTTING THE GOVERNOR IN HIS ADS NOT PUTTING DANIEL CAMERON IN HIS ADS.

BUT, LOOK, I THINK IF WE SAW IN 2019 THERE WEREN'T ANY SIGNIFICANT DEMOCRATIC VICTORIES OR GAINS.

SO IF THERE IS A FUTURE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OUTSIDE OF THE BESHEAR NAME OUTSIDE OF ANDY BESHEAR WHETHER HE WINS OR LOSES TUESDAY, SOME OF THE DEMOCRATS WILL HAVE TO DO WELL AND MAY WIN A RACE OR TWO.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HERE IS WILL THIS BE THE END OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AS WE KNOW IT?

>> Bill: TWO OF THE G.O.P.

NOMINEES ARE MARK METCALF AND JONATHAN SHELL FOR AG COMMISSIONER AND BOTH PLAN TO HAVE THEIR EVENTS IN LANCASTER IS THAT TO DO RURAL MESSAGING OR SAVE MONEY TO NOT DO THE PARTY IN LOUISVILLE?

>> MAYBE A BIT OF BOTH.

I GUESS IT'S TRADITIONAL FOR THE TICKET TO GO TO THE SAME PARTY.

BUT I THINK ONE THING TO POINT OUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT JONATHAN SHELL TRIED TO POINT OUT THAT HE WANTS TO TURN THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONER INTO THE THE OFFICE FOR RURAL KENTUCKY AND THIS LEANS INTO THAT AND JUST TO MENTION HE'S RUNNING AGAINST CANDIDATE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE SIERRA ENLOW.

AND.

>> Bill: SIERRA ENLOW A DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE AND THE TREASURER MICHAEL.

>> OK.

SOME OTHER TOPICS TONIGHT.

THE KENTUCKY SCHOOL REPORT CARD CAME OUT THIS WEEK AND REVEALS BIG CHANGES FOR STUDENTS INCLUDING ATTENDANCE AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND SOME CHALLENGES THERE AS YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN RIGHT NOW.

LESS THAN HALF OF KENTUCKY STUDENTS SCORE PROFICIENT IN MATH, READING AND SCIENCE.

AND THEN THERE IS THIS ISSUE OF ATTENDANCE.

30% OF STUDENTS CONSIDER TO HAVE A CHRONIC ABSENCE ISSUES.

SO YOU HAVE TO GET KIDS TO SCHOOL FIRST, RIGHT?

>> AND THIS IS A BIT OF A VESTIGE OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND JUST TO DEFINE THAT CHRONICALLY ABSENT MISSING 17 OR MORE DAYS IN A SCHOOL YEAR.

THAT'S CONCERNING.

IT IS CONCERNING FOR ADMINISTRATORS AND PARENTS AND STUDENTS AND EVERYBODY.

AND I THINK THAT ONE DOES PLAY INTO THE OTHER.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE PERFORMING BETTER BUT MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE, YEAH, WORSE THAN PREVIOUS YEAR.

>> Bill: IN WASHINGTON THERE IS A BATTLE OVER U.S. FUNDING FOR ISRAEL AND UKRAINE.

AND SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL WANTS A BILL THAT WOULD ADDRESS TAIWAN AND THE U.S. SOUTHERN BORDER AND THE OTHER TWO ISSUES.

McCONNELL SAID WHILE IN LOUISVILLE WITH THE UKRAINIAN AMBASSADOR THIS WEEK THIS... >> RUSSIAN VICTORY WOULD EMBOLDEN PUTIN'S GROWING ALLIANCE WITH FELLOW AUTHORITARIAN REGIMES IN IRAN AND CHINA.

THINK OF IT AS AN AXIS OF EVIL.

CHINA, RUSSIA AND IRAN.

SO THIS IS NOT JUST A TEST FOR UKRAINE.

IT'S A TEST FOR THE UNITED STATES AND FOR THE FREE WORLD.

>> Bill: PHILLIP IS THIS ANOTHER HEAVY LIFT A CHALLENGE FOR SENATOR McCONNELL?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SPEAKING TO MIKE JOHNSON WHO PASSED AN ISRAEL-ONLY AID PANG WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, BUT SPEAKER JOHNSON HAS ONE VIEW, SENATOR McCONNELL HAS ANOTHER AND I THINK PRESIDENT BIDEN THREATENED TO VETO THAT ISRAEL-ONLY PACKAGE.

SPEAKER JOHNSON DID MEET WITH REPUBLICAN SENATORS THIS WEEK PITCHING HIS CASE SAYING I WILL DO UKRAINE FUNDING.

HE DID ADDRESS AND SPEAK TO SENATOR McCONNELL ACCORDING TO SENATORS WHO ATTENDED THAT MEETING.

SENATOR McCONNELL SAID NOTHING GIVING HIM THE COLD SHOULDER.

McCONNELL AND BIDEN ARE ON THE SAME PAGE IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THE BIDEN WHISPERER CAN NEGOTIATE SOMETHING THAT WILL GET HIS AGENDA THROUGH.

>> Bill: GIVEN ALL THE CHURN THERE'S BEEN IN THE HOUSE RECENTLY, KENTUCKY'S FIRST DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER LEADING THAT IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY INTO PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN WHERE DOES THAT STAND NOW?

>> THE COMMITTEE HAS NOT STOPPED EASTERN THOUGH WE HAD THE BREAK WITHOUT A SPEAKER, MIKE JOHNSON WAS SENIOR MEMBER OF THE HOUSE AND NOW HE'S SECOND IN LINE FOR THE PRESIDENCY.

ALL THE CHAIRMEN ARE GETTING TO KNOW HIM GETTING ADJUSTED TO HIS LEADERSHIP AND REMEMBER, BILL, WE HAVE FORMER SPEAKER McCARTHY IS THERE, SCALISE WAS TRYING TO BE SPEAKER AND I THINK THE CHAIRMEN ARE WONDERING HOW AM I GOING TO HAVE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH MIKE JOHNSON AND THE ENTIRE SNAKE PIT IN THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

>> Bill: UNITED AUTO WORKER STRIKERS RETURNED TO WORK IN LOUISVILLE AND THERE'S SOME TALK NOW THAT THE LOUISVILLE PLANTS ARE BACK IN OPERATION THERE COULD BE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS IN KENTUCKY WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLES?

>> THERE IS A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN UAW AND FORD, BUT THE ONE IS FOR 1.2 BILLION INVESTMENT FOR THE LOUISVILLE ASSEMBLY PLANT AND 750 MILLION FOR THE KENTUCKY TRUCK PLANT AND THOSE PLANNED INVESTMENTS INCLUDE PROMISES TO CONTINUE BUILDING OUT FORD'S WHETHER IT IS FUTURE HYBRID VEHICLES OR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

IT SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE PROOMING TO KEEP THOSE PLANTS AS PART OF THEIR MANUFACTURING PORTFOLIO.

>> Bill: A COAL MINE PLANT IN MARTIN COUNTY COLLAPSED TUESDAY.

TWO WORKERS KILLED.

AN AWFUL SITUATION.

>> AN AWFUL SITUATION.

AN 11 STOREY COAL PROCESSING PLANT COLLAPSED AND TODAY WE LEARNED THAT THE SECOND OF THE WORKERS WHO HAVE BEEN TRAPPED HAD SUSPEND COUPLED TO HIS INJURY, BILLY RAY DANIELS AND ALVIN NIECE AND IT TOOK PLACE IN MARTIN COUNTY.

>> Bill: TESSA ARE WE IN FOR A LONG NIGHT TUESDAY.

>> .

>> I HOPE WE DON'T NEED A RECOUNT.

>> Bill: EVERYBODY KEEP IN MIND WHATEVER THE RESULTS ARE THEY ARE UNOFFICIAL ON ELECTION NIGHT.

AS WE'RE ALL REPORTING THOSE, THAT IT TAKES UNTIL IT'S CERTIFIED AND WE'LL SEE.

EARLY VOTING DOES CONTINUE SATURDAY AND THEN ALL THE POLLING PLACES WILL BE OPEN TUESDAY NOVEMBER 7 FROM 6:00 A.M.-6:00 P.M. LOCAL TIME.

AFTER THAT, THE STATE-WIDE RESULTS WILL BE ROLLING IN.

WE WILL BE COVERING THAT FOR OUR RESPECTIVE OUTLETS AND KET WILL HAVE ELECTION COVERAGE AS WELL TUESDAY NIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

WHAT AN ELECTION YEAR IT'S BEEN.

MAKE IT A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.