UNDERWAY AND ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY AS KENTUCKIANS CHOOSE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LAWMAKERS AND LEADERS.

TWO CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ARE ALSO ON THE BALLOT THAT COULD BRING MAJOR CHANGES.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR VOTES EARLY AND TALKS ABOUT HIS ROLE OR LACK OF A ROLE IN LEGISLATIVE RACES.

REMEMBERING FORMER KENTUCKY CONGRESSMAN ROMANO MAZZOLI WHO DIED THIS WEEK.

YOU CAN'T TELL BY THE WARM WEATHER, BUT NOVEMBER IS HERE AND "COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET!

GOOD EVENING.

I'M BILL BRYANT, AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY," A LOOK BACK AT AND SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT AR JOE SONKA, FRANKFORT BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE COURIER-JOURNAL.

ALEX ACQUISTO, REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

AND RYLAND BARTON, MANAGING EDITOR FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO WITH STATIONS IN MURRAY, BOWLING GREEN, LOUISVILLE AND RICHMOND.

ALSO TONIGHT, MORE THAN A DOZEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE TEMPORARILY CLOSED BECAUSE OF ILLNESS, INCLUDING WIDESPREAD F MOST OF OUR FOCUS TONIGHT WILL BE ON THE ELECTION THAT WE'RE ESSENTIALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF, WITH THE EARLY VOTING THAT'S GOING ON LEADING TO TUESDAY'S ELECTION DAY WHEN ALL THE POLLING PLACES WILL BE open SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL ADAM IS PREDICTING A TURNOUT OF ABOU THAT WOULD BE CLOSE TO THE TURNOUT IN THE 2018 MIDTERMS.

WE DO WANT TO CLARIFY SOMETHING FROM OUR PROGRAM LAST WEEK.

THERE IS A FOUR-MINUTE TIME LIMIT FOR VOTERS AT THE POLLING STILL, THE WORD IS STUDY AHEAD AND MAYBE BRING SOME NOTES ALONG AS SOME ARE DOING.

RHODE ISLAND, THERE WAS SURGE IN VOTERS REGISTERING AND THERE'S EARLY VOTING, ABOUT 82,000 VOTERS WENT TO THE POLLS ON THURSDAY, THE FIRST DAY.

>> Ryland: VOTERS ARE STARTING TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT EARLY VOTING.

HA WAS JAWS IMPLEMENTED A COUPLE OF THE YEARS AGO.

AND THERE IS ONE MORE DAY OF EARLY VOTING ON SATURDAY.

IT'S NOT THE SAME AS YOUR NORMAL POLLING PLACE.

YOU CAN FIND WHERE IT IS AT GO VOTEDY.COM.

BUT, YEAH, THERE'S A LOT MORE PEOPLE REGISTERED TO VOTE THIS YEAR AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF NEWS OVER THE COURSE OF THIS YEAR.

SO I'M THINKING THAT THIS RELATES TO THE DOBBS DECISION THAT OVERTURNED ROE V. WADE BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS ON THE BAHL IN KENTUCKY, ESPECIALLY THE TWO CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ONE WHICH ALSO RELATING TO ABORTION, THE OTHER DEALING WITH THE LEGISLATURE'S POWERS.

AND, I MEAN, I THINK A LOT OF THIS, TOO, CONTINUES TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF THE TRUMP FACTOR WHERE THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WANTING TO CONTINUE ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE PRESIDENT DID DURING HIS ONE TERM IN OFFICE, AND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WANTING TO KEEP THAT FROM HAPPEN.

>> Bill: JOE, IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE IT WAS ABOUT EVEN IN TERMS OF THE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS SHOWING UP IN THE EARLY VOTING AND IN THE ABSENTEES, RIGHT?

>> Joe: YEAH, IN ABSENTEE VOTING, DEMOCRATS HAVE REQUESTED AND TURNED IN MORE BALLOTS SO FAR & IN THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING, WHICH WAS THURSDAY.

THERE WERE MORE REPUBLICANS THAT HAVE A SLIGHT ADVANTAGE THERE.

SO RIGHT NOW IT'S KIND OF EVEN IN THE EVENING VOTING.

WE'LL SEE HOW THINGS WENT TODAY AND TOMORROW.

>> Bill: ALEX, THE MAKE-UP OF NEW VOTERS IS INTERESTING.

THERE WAS SOME INCREASE IN WOMEN REGISTERING.

THE BIGGEST GAIN IS MATCHING INDEPENDENT VOTERS AS A PERCENTAGE SHOEING THE REPUBLICANS IN AND DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

FIRST OF ALL, LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT THE WOMEN NUMBER WAS UP A BIT BUT NOT ENOUGH THAT MIGHT SHOW ANY KIND OF TIDAL WAVE IN THE ELECTION.

>> Alex: SURE.

UNLIKE WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN SOME OTHER STATES, PARTICULARLY IN STATES THAT HAVE STRONG RESTRICTIVE ABORTION LAWS, THEY HAVE SEEN A NOTABLE UPDICK IN WOMEN REGISTERING TO VOTE.

KENTUCKY HASN'T REALLY.

WE SAW AN UPTICK I THINK WAS IN SEPTEMBER OF WOMEN REGISTERING TO VOTE, BUT GENERALLY IT'S BEEN ON PAR WITH MEN WHICH IS INTERESTING.

BUT AS YOU NOTED, THERE HAS BEEN A SURGE IN INDEPENDENT VOTERS, WHICH IS A BIGGER QUESTION.

>> Bill: WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT?

>> Ryland: I THINK THERE'S A LOFTING YOU CAN THESE ARE TO BE MADE.

ONE, POLITICIANS, ESPECIALLY TALKING CONGRESS, THEY'VE POLLED VERY LOW IN TERMS OF POPULARITY FOR YEARS, AND YOU WOULD DID.

IF PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO GET SICK OF THEIR PARTISAN OFFICIALS THEY MIGHT START REGISTERING AS AN INDEPENDENT SO THEY'RE NOT AFFILIATING WITH EITHER PARTY.

BUT IN KENTUCKY IT'S A LITTLE PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IN ORDER TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION, YOU HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF A PARTY HERE.

>> Bill: BUT IT LOOKS LIKE, JOE, WITH THE TREND THAT IT WILL BE OVER 10% OF THE ELECTORATE IN NEXT YEAR WHEN THE STATEWIDE RACES ARE RUN.

>> Joe: YEAH, IT WILL BE OVER 10.

IF IT WASN'T FOR THE CLOSED PRIMARIES, I THINK IT WOULD BE EASILY OVER 20 IF NOT OVER 30.

I THINK THERE'S A DEFINITE TREND THERE BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT THEIR VOTE TO COUNT IN THE MY PRAYERS WHERE A LOT OF THE ACTION -- PRIMARIES WHERE A LOT OF THE ACTION HAPPENS, AND YOU CAN'T DO THAT ANSWER INDEPENDENT.

>> Bill: WE'LL WATCH THAT TREND INTO NEXT YEAR.

NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT IS ON THE WALT, AND AMENDMENT 2 HAS BEEN THE TALKUR, ALEX.

IT WOULD ADDRESS ABORTION IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION WHICH IS SILENT ON THAT NOW.

THE STATE SUPREME COURT IS HOLDING UP A DECISION AWAITING KENTUCKY'S OUTCOME OF THE VOTE AS TO WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO UPHOLD A NEAR TOTAL BAN ON ABORTION.

>> Alex: RIGHT.

THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT EXACTLY A WEEK AFTER THE ELECTION IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN HEARING ORAL ARGUMENTS ON THE CASE OF KENTUCKY'S TWO OUTPATIENT ABORTION PROVIDERS WHICH HAVE CHALLENGED THE COOL ALT OF THE TRIGGER LIEU ON THE BASES THAT BODILY AUTONOMY AND ABORTION ARE PROTECTED BY THE KENTUCKY CONSTITUTION.

SUPREME COURT PURPOSELY CHOSE TO WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE VOTE WAS WHICH IS AGAIN WERE IT'S ALL THE MORE HIGH STAKES.

BUT, YEAH, IT WILL DETERMINE QUITE A BIT.

>> Bill: WELL, THIS IS A VERY PERSONAL ISSUE TO MANY WITH A LOT OF STRONG FEELINGS OUT THERE ON BOTH SIDES.

WHAT HAVE THE CAMPAIGNS FOR AND AGAINST AMENDMENT 2 LOOKED LIKE?

>> Alex: IT'S INTERESTING.

ABORTION IS PROBABLY THE SINGLE MOST SOCIALLY DIVISIVE ISSUE OF MY LIFETIME, AT LEAST SO FAR.

BOTH CAMPAIGNS -- SO FIRST THERE'S BEEN A FAIR AMOUNT OF MISINFORMATION.

JUST GENERALLY THERE IS ON THE TOPIC OF ABORTION, YOU THE ABOUT THERE'S BEEN A FAIR AMOUNT OF MISINFORMATION BY BOTH CAMPAIGNS.

THE ONE CAMPAIGN HAS AUN DONE QUITE A BIT MORE.

BUT THE PREVAILING MESSAGE FROM PROTECT KENTUCKY ACCESS IS THAT THIS BAN WOULD ALLOW FOR LAWMAKERS TO BAN ABORTIONS WITHOUT EXCEPTIONS, INCLUDING MEDICAL EXCEPTIONS.

THERE'S NO REAL EVIDENCE TO SHOW THAT LAWMAKERS WANT TO TAKE AWAY MEDICAL EXCEPTIONS.

IF ANYTHING, I WOULD VENTURE TO GUESS THAT THEY WOULD CONSIDER ADDING MORE EXCEPTIONS WHEN THEY COME BACK INTO SESSION.

BUT STILL, IT'S A SUCCINCT WAY TO CONVEY A MESSAGE, WHICH IS A LOT EASIER THAN TALKING ABOUT WHAT IT ACTUALLY MEANS TO CHANGE A CONSTITUTION IN A 30 SECOND TV AD.

CONVERSELY, YES FOR LIFE HAS SAID THEIR SORT TAG LINE SAID THIS WOULD USE TAX -- IT WOULD ALLOW FOR TAX-PARE FUNDED MONEY TO PAY FOR LATE-TERM ABORTIONS UP TO THE MOMENT OF BIRTH.

LET'S STOP THAT.

A LOT OF FALLACY IN THERE.

LATE-TERM ABORTION ISN'T REALLY A THINK.

TAX-PARE FUNDED ABORTIONS ARE ALREADY ILLEGAL IN KENTUCKY.

BUT IT MAKES IT EASY FOR TRYING TO SORT OF CONVINCE -- IT'S KIND OF LIKE A SCARE TACTIC, IS WHAT THAT IS BEEN DESCRIBED TO ME, BUT IT MAKES IT EASY TO ANTAGONIZE PEOPLE WHO SORT OF WANT ABORTION ACCESS.

GOING BACK TO THE FIRST PUBLIC RALLY THAT YES FOR LIFE HAD IN EARLY OCTOBER IN FRANKFORT, YES FOR LIFE CAMPAIGN MANAGER ADDIA WUCHNER WAS FLANKED BY A HANDFUL OF FAITH LEADERS.

THEIR CAMPAIGN HAS LARGELY BEEN A PUSH BY RELIGIOUS LEADERS.

ESSENTIALLY THIS IS YOUR CHRISTIAN DUTY TO PROTECT LIVES OF THE UNBORN.

THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO RESTRICT ABORTION ACCESS EVEN FURTHER OR AT LEAST GIVE CONTROL TO THE LAWMAKERS WHO HAVE ALREADY PASSED MOSTLY A BAN.

AT THAT RALLY THERE WAS A REVEREND FROM COVINGTON WHO SAID ESSENTIALLY THAT HE WANTED PEOPLE THERE TO GO TO THEIR CHURCHES, TO TELL THEIR CHURCH LEADERS TO TALK ABOUT WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE YET PULPIT TO REALLY CAN -- FROM THE PULPIT TO FOAM AROUND THE STATE CHURCH LEADERS TALKING ABOUT HAVE HEEDED THE CALLS LISTENING TO A SERMON TODAY, AND SO IT'S REALLY INTERESTING.

PROTECT KENTUCKY ACCESS, THEIR CAMPAIGN STRATEGY IS LARGELY TO GO TO ALREADY -- VOTERS THAT THEY KNOW ARE LIKELY ON VOTE FOR THEIR CAUSE, AND MAYBE THEY WEREN'T GOING TO GO TO THE BALLOT BOX BUTTED THEY'RE TRYING TO SUMMON THEM TO THE BALLOT BOX JUST TO BRING THAT TIDAL HAVE WAIF SUPPORT SO IT'S REALLY QUITE INTERESTING HOW THEY DIVERGE IN THAT WAY.

>> Bill: YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE IMPLICIT BIAS POLITICAL STRATEGISTS OUT THERE WILL SAY THAT IT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO TRY TO BRING THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY ON YOUR SIDE TO THE POLLS THAN IT IS TO TRY TO CHANGE MINDS, PARTICULARLY ON A VERY DIVISIVE ISSUE.

>> Ryland: ESPECIALLY ISSUE LIKE THIS.

AND ONE THING, TOO, I WOULD BE REALLY INTERESTED TO SEE IF THE LEGISLATURE COMES IN AND PASSES ANY SORT OF EXCEPTION GOING FORWARD BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT'S BEEN ONE OF THE GREAT QUESTIONS FOR REPUBLICANS IN KENTUCKY ESSENTIALLY IS PASSING A TOTAL BAN ON ABORTION OR AT LEAST WITH THE TRIGGER BAN, CONFUSING CASES IN WHICH THE -- A WOMAN'S HEALTH CAN BE BROUGHT INTO CONSIDERATION, BUT SAY WITH THE SIX WEEK BAN, IT'S A TOTAL BAN.

AND IT WOULD BE FASCINATING TO SEE IF THEY WOULD EVER PASS ANY EXCEPTIONS LIKE THAT.

BUT THIS IS -- IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY AS THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT IS GOING TO BE CONSIDERING THIS A WEEK LATER.

THEY'VE SAID THAT THEY'RE -- IT'S THEIR INTENTION TO RULE ON THIS, THIS VERSION OF THE COURT BECAUSE THERE ARE FOUR SEATS THAT ARE UP FOR ELECTION THIS YEAR, FOUR SEATS ON THE SEVEN-PERSON COURT.

BUT THERE'S KIND OF A SCENARIO IN WHICH IT WOULD BE INTERESTING.

IF THEY DON'T GET THAT OPINION OUT BEFORE THE END OF JANUARY OR BEFORE THE END OF DECEMBER, IF A NEW VERSION OF THE COURT END UP RULING ON THIS, WHICH COULD BE A VERY DIFFERENT-LOOKING SUPREME COURT IN KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: IT APPEARS THE CURRENT LAW IS HAVING IMPACT.

I KNOW YOU HAVE LOOKED INTO THAT, AND THE NUMBER ABORTIONS REPORTED IN AUGUST, FOR INSTANCE, WAS ONE.

>> Alex: THERE'S ONE COMPARED WITH A EQUILIBRIUM HUNDRED IN MONTHS PRIOR, AND SO IT SHOWS THAT THE BAN IS SUCCESSFUL, BUT ONE THING THAT I'VE BEEN DOING IS TALKING WITH MANY OB/GYNs WHO HAVE REALLY FRIED TO PUT OUT THERE HOW THE SORT OF KAMPF AULL, SORT OF FULL STOP BAN IS IMPACTING THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE.

AND BACK TO RYLAND'S POINT, I HAVE HEARD JUST AS ASSUME SURE YOU HAVE, MURMURING, LAWMAKERS MERE AND IS THERE WHO SAY WE REALLY SHOULD HAVE EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE AND INCEST.

WHETHER THAT'S HEAL PROPOSED, WHETHER IT GETS SUPPORT IS ANOTHER QUESTION.

THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THIS ON THE BALLOT NOW, WE CONTINUE TO ELECT REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS WHO PASS THESE LAWS.

REPRESENTATIVE NANCY AT A TIME TOUTED THE REPUBLICAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS MOST PRO-LIFE GENERAL ASSEMBLY?

MEM ARE YOU AND IT'S TRUE IF YOUR VERSION IS PASSING RESTRICTIVE ABORTION LAWS.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME LAWMAKERS HAVE THE ABILITY TO WEIGH IN ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE SATISFIED WITH THIS LAW THAT'S REPUBLICAN BACKED.

AND THE BIG QUESTION IS IN IT'S DEFEATED REPUBLICANS LISTEN AND LOOSEN THE TRIGGER LAW, FOR EXAMPLE.

>> Bill: JOE, DOES THERE SEEM TO BE A GEOGRAPHIC COMPONENT TO THE WAY THIS CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN RUN AND HOW THE RESULTS MAY CALL?

>> Joe: IT SEEMS LIKE PROTECT KENTUCKY ACCESS, THEIR STRATEGY IS REALLY FOCUSED ON LOUISVILLE, LEXINGTON, THE URBAN AREAS, GETTING OUT VOTERS IN THOSE AREAS WHO ARE GOING TO VOTE THAT DOWN.

YES FOR LIFE, IT SEEMS LIKE, LIKE MOST ELECTIONS IN KENTUCKY WHERE REPUBLICANS WIN, THEY LOSE IN LOUISVILLE, LEXINGTON, BUT THERE ARE ENOUGH RURAL VOTERS AROUND THE STATE FOR THEM TO WIN.

WHAT'S INTERESTING AND WHAT I REALLY WANT TO SEE ON ELECTION NIGHT IS WHAT HAPPENED IN KANSAS THIS SUMMER WHEN THEY VOTED DOWN A VERY SIMILAR ABORTION AMENDMENT BY A WIDE MARGIN.

THERE WERE SO MANY RURAL COUNTIES I SAW THAT YOU WOULD THINK WOULD VOTE FOR IT, AND NECESSITY -- THEY VOTED IT DOWN.

SO I'M GOING TO BE REALLY INTERESTED TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY RURAL COUNTIES IN KENTUCKY THAT SURPRISE US.

IF THERE ARE, THEN IT'S PROBABLY VERY BAD NEWS FOR THE AMENDMENT.

>> RYLAND: >> Bill: SO IT'S AMENDMENT 2 AND WE'LL WATCH THEAVE CLOSELY.

AMENDMENT 1, THAT'S THE HEFTY READ, THE ONE THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY ALLOW THE LEGISLATURE TO CALL ITSELF INTO SPECIAL SESSION.

A UK POLITICAL SCIENTISTS DR. IS EVEN VOSS HAS SAID THAT THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT IS SENT HEAL THE OUTGROWTH OF A POWER STRUGGLE, INDICATED THAT THERE'S SOME LEFTOVER COVID UNDERTONES, BUT SOME REPUBLICANS POINT OUT, JOE, THAT THAT WAS FIRST TALKED ABOUT PRE-COVID IN 2019 WHEN MATT BEVIN WAS GOVERNOR.

>> Joe: YEAH, THERE WAS TALK -- >> Bill: ONLY TALK.

>> THEY DIDN'T GET TO THE POINT WHERE THEY PASSED IT AND GAVE IT TO US FOR A VOTE.

THERE'S A LOT OF MYSTERY ON THIS, ON HOW THIS AMENDMENT IS GOING TO FARE.

IT'S A VERY, VERY LONG BALLOT AMOUNTED.

YOU HAVE TO READ THROUGH IT ALL THE WAY, AND I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY POLITICAL, PUBLIC POLLS ABOUT THIS, SO IT'S REALLY A MYSTERY.

THE ONLY SPENDING OR EFFORT I SEE BEHIND THIS IS ACTUALLY TO DEFEAT IT FROM THE ANTI SIDE.

THERE'S AN ISSUES COMMITTEE THAT'S HELPED RUN BY RUN OF BESHEAR'S CAMPAIGN MANAGERS, AND THEY'VE PUT A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN IT.

I REALLY HAVEN'T SEEN ANY KIND OF EFFORT OR SPENDING TO BACK THE AMENDMENT.

>> Ryland: IT'S INCREDIBLE LONG AND REALLY -- THIS MUST BE SOME SORT OF RECORD FOR HOW LONG A BALLOT IS GOING TO BE IN KENTUCKY ESPECIALLY IN JEFFERSON COUNTY WHERE THERE ARE SO MANY JUDICIAL RACES ALREADY.

IT'S VERY LONG FOR PEOPLE TO GO THROUGH.

AND JUST TO BE CLEAR WHAT THIS AMOUNTED DOES IS IT GIVES THE LEGISLATURE MORE POWER, IT ALLOWS THE HOUSE SPEAKER AND THE SENATE PRESIDENT, IF THEY AGREE, THEY CAN CALL LAWMAKERS BACK INTO SESSION OUTSIDE OF THEIR NORMAL REGULAR SESSION AND ALLOWS THE LEGISLATURE TO VOTE TO EXTEND THE REGULAR SESSION.

SO THIS WOULD REALLY JUST ALLOW LEGISLATORS TO MEET MORE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

AT THE TOP OF THAT LONG BAT IS THE RACE THE U.S. SENATE HERE IN KENTUCKY.

RAND PAUL HAS OUTSPEND CHARLES BOOKER, THE DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER, MY BORN FOUR-TO-ONE.

PAUL IS VIRTUALLY ON THE AIRWAVES, I THINK HE HAS SOMETHING LIKE 12 DIFFERENT VARIATIONS MESSAGES OUTED THERE.

BOOKER HAS CAMPAIGNED VERY HARD.

HOW UNEXPECTED WOULD IT BE, RYLAND, IF BOOKER MAKES THIS A STRONG RACE TUESDAY?

>> Ryland: IT WOULD BE PRETTY UNEXPECTED, BUT THE PROOF WILL BE IN THE PUDDING ON ELECTION DAY.

IT'S BEEN REALLY HARD FOR DEMOCRATS TO RUN STATEWIDE CAMPAIGNS IN KENTUCKY, AS JOE WAS TALKING ABOUT BEFORE.

A LOT OF TIMES WHAT YOU SEE IS DEMOCRATS RUNNING, TRYING TO RUN UP.

BOARD IN LEXINGTON, LOUISVILLE AND NOT DOING TOO WELL IN RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE.

HOWEVER, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT BOOKER HAS SAID SINCE THE BEGINNING THAT HE'S TRYING TO DO, IS SAY THAT THERE'S MORE IN COMMON BETWEEN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS THAN WE MIGHT EXPECT OTHERWISE.

SO WE WILL SEE ON ELECTION DAY IF THAT IS BORN OUT.

HE SPENT THE LAST FEW WEEKS TRAVELING ACROSS THE STATE TO TRY AND SPEND THAT HOOD TO THE HOLLER MESSAGE BUT WE'RE REALLY GOING TO I.

WAIT AND SEE IF IT'S ANYTHING DIFFERENT FROM WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EXPECTING, WHICH IS THE TRADITIONAL BOWL OF TOMATO SOUP WITH A COUPLE OF BLUEBERRIES IN IT, THE BLUEBERRIES BEING JEFFERSON AND FAYETTE COUNTY.

>> Bill:, OF COURSE, KENTUCKIANS CAN ALSO WATCH THE NATIONAL SENATE MAP ON ELECTION NIGHT.

IT WILL DETERMINE IF SENATE MAJORITY LEADER WERE OR IF SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER MITCH McCONNELL AGAIN BECOMES THE MAJORITY LEADER.

>> Joe: HE GOES FROM MINORITY TO MAJORITY LEAD.

THERE'S A HALF DOZEN STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY, GEORGIA, NORTH CAROLINA, OHIO, NEVADA, WHERE THE SENATE LEADERSHIP FUND WHICH IS BASICALLY McCONNELL'S COMMITTEE HE RUNS HAS SPONSORED $200 MILLION SUPPORT BE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES TRYING TO GET AHOLD OF THAT MAJORITY.

BUT ALL OF THOSE RACES SEEM VERY CLOSE.

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TO TRUST THE POLLING IN THAT, SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHETHER HE CHANGES THE TITLE.

>> Bill: SO McCONNELL STAYS UP ALL NIGHT TO FIND OUT ON THAT ONE.

RYLAND, WATCHING THE NATION HOUSE RACES WILL ALSO BE INTERESTING.

IF REPUBLICANS CAN REGAIN THE MAJORITY IN HOUSE, AND POLLING SUGGESTS THAT'S LIKELY, IT WILL CHANGE SOME THINGS FOR SOME OF KENTUCKY'S DELEGATION.

>> Ryland: THIS MIGHT BE THE MOST INTERESTING THING THAT COMES OUT OF CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS FOR KENTUCKY THIS YEAR, WHICH IS THAT 1st DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN JAIME COMB BETWEEN FORMER AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE, WOULD BECOME THE CHAIRPERSON OF HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, A VERY POWERFUL COMMITTEE THAT CAN LAUNCH INVESTIGATIONS, HAS BEEN USED IN THE PAST FOR SUCH EFFORTS.

HE'S ALREADY SIGNALED THAT WHAT HE WOULD LIKE TO USE THAT FOR IS TO INVESTIGATE HUNTER BIDEN AND ALSO TO LOOK INTO ANTHONY FAUCI'S HANDLING OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.

SO HE WILL REALLY BE PRO POLLED INTO A POWERFUL AND BIG -- PROPELLED INTO A POWERFUL -- HE WILL BE IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT A LOT IF HE GETS THAT SPOT.

>> Joe: AND IN THE HOSPICE MANY REPUBLICANS TAKE THE MAJORITY IN THE SENATE RAND PAUL WOULD BE THE HEAD OF A HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE, AND I'M SURE HE WOULD TALK ABOUT ANTHONY FAUCI AS WELL.

>> Bill: WE WILL BE WATCHING, AND CERTAINLY THOSE WHO HAVE A STAKE IN IT WILL BE WATCHING ON ELECTION NIGHT ON THAT.

ALL RIGHT.

KENTUCKY IS ELECTING ALL 100 MEMBERS OF THE STATE HOUSE ON TUESDAY AND HALF OF THE STATE SENATE.

REPUBLICANS HAVE SUPER MAJORITIES IN BOTH CHAMBERS THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO REPEATEDLY PASS BILLS OVER THE GOVERNOR'S OBJECTIONS AND HIS VETOES.

DESPITE THAT, KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS LEFT A LOT OF RACES UNCONTESTED.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAD THIS TO SAY ON THAT.

>> IF THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CRICK HOW I .MY TIME, I SPENT IT BEING GOVERNOR, TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING, TRYING TO MOVE THE STATE FORWARD.

I'VE TRIED TO BE THERE TO HELP VARIOUS CANDIDATES THAT I BELIEVE IN, THAT ARE RUNNING ON GREAT IDEAS, BUT QUITE CANDIDLY MY JOB IS TO DO THE VERY BEST I CAN AS GOVERNOR EACH AND EVERY DAY.

'67.

>> Bill: JOE, THAT ANSWER CAME IN RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION, RIGHT?

>> Joe: YEAH, I'VE HEARD FROM SOME DEMOCRATS WHO ARE SOMEWHAT CRITICAL OF BESHEAR BECAUSE HE IS RELATIVELY POPULAR, HE WHOSE HIGH APPROVAL RATINGS, AND THEY WISH THAT HE HAD EXPEND MORE OF HIS APPLICABLE CAPITOL AND GETTING INVOLVED IN RECRUITING CANDIDATES WITH GOING OUT AND CAMPAIGNING FOR THEM, RAISING MONEY, AND THEY DON'T SEE ENOUGH EFFORT FROM HIM.

IT'S INTERESTING IN TWO RESPECTED.

ONE, GOVERNOR BESHEAR IS THE DE FACTO HEAD OF THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

YOU WOULD THINK THAT HE WOULD WANT HIS AGENDA TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

RIGHT NOW HE WANTS TO DO A LOT OF THINGS AND IT'S VERY HARD IF REPUBLICANS HAVE 80% OF BOTH CHAMBERS.

BUT SECONDLY, HE IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR NEXT YEAR, AND THE TALKING POINTS THAT YOU HEARD FROM THE -- FROM GOVERNOR BESHEAR RIGHT THERE ABOUT NOT MOVING LEFT OR RIGHT, JUST MOVING FORWARD, KIND OF STAYING ABOVE THE FRAY OF POLITICS, THAT'S KIND OF WHY HE HAS THAT HIGH APPROVAL RATING, AND I THINK THAT'S THE MESSAGING THAT HE WANTS TO CONTINUE INTO NEXT YEAR TO GIVE HIM A CHANCE IN A STATE WHERE BEING A DEMOCRAT ISN'T REALLY A GOOD THING PROBABLY.

POLITICALLY.

>> >> Bill: THAT'S THE POLITICAL SIDE BUT IN PRACTICAL SIDE OF TRYING TO RUN THE OFFICE WE KNOW, RYLAND, THAT THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL ARRIVES WITH A THUD.

WE KNOW HE SUGGESTED THERE BE PRE-KINDERGARTEN FUNDING.

THAT SEEMED TO BE A DOA TO REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP.

>> Ryland: AND THE THING TO CONSIDER, TOO, IS ON THE NUMBERS GAMES, SURE, IT'S INCREDIBLE UNLIKELY THAT DEMOCRATS WOULD EVER WIN CONTROL OF THE THE STATED HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE THIS YEAR, HOWEVER, IF THERE ARE MORE DEMOCRATS JUST THAN THE 25 THAT THEY HAVE NOW, THEN THINGS DO BECOME A LITTLE HARDER FOR REPUBLICANS TO PASS SOME OF THOSE AGENDAS.

IT BECOMES HARDER TO OVERRIDE A VETO IT.

BECOMES HARDER TO PASS A BUDGET BILL.

OR AT LEAST IT REQUIRES BUY-IN FROM BOTH PARTIES.

AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR DEMOCRATS TO, SURE, NOT LET THE PERFECT GET IN THE WAY OF THE GOOD BUNCH SO WHAT ARE THE LEGISLATIVE RACES YOU'LL BE WATCHING TUESDAY NIGHT?

>> Ryland: I THINK SOMETHING TO WATCH AMONG KSP REALLY IS WHETHER THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HOLD ONTO SOME OF THE MORE RURAL SEATS THAT THEY'VE BEEN ABLE PRESERVE ESPECIALLY IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, ASHLEY TACKETT ALERT FROM PRESTONBURG AND ALSO ANGIE HATTON FROM WHITESBURG.

THEY'RE KIND OF THE TWO REMAINING DEMOCRATIC EASTERN KENTUCKIANS IN THE HOUSE.

IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY RACHEL ROBERTS AND BUDDY WHEATLEY ARE FACING CHALLENGES FROM REPUBLICANS.

AND IN BOWLING GREEN WANT PATTEDY MINTER, THE LAST MAPLING DEMOCRAT IN THE CENTRAL TIME ZONE.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO KIND OF SIGNAL REALLY WHETHER DEMOCRATS ARE ABLE TO KIND OF KEEP THE SHIP FROM TOTALLY SINKING.

AND ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, REALLY TRYING TO PICK OFF SOME OF THOSE, AGAIN, PICK OFF SOME OF THOSE SEATS.

BUTTED THEN AROUND THE LEXINGTON/LOUISVILLE AREA THEY'RE FIELDING STRONG CANDIDATES AND STRONG CAMPAIGNS.

CERELIN STEVENSON IN THE LEXINGTON AREA IS FIGHTING OFF A CHALLENGER AND AROUND THE LOUISVILLE AREA JASON NEMES AND A COUPLE OF SOUTH LOUISVILLEREs FIGHTING OFF REPUBLICAN CHALLENGERS.

>> Bill: JOE, ANYTHING ELSE IN LOUISVILLE?

>> Joe: CHARLES MILLER AND JEFF DONAHUE LONG TIME DEMOCRATS IN SOUTH LOUISVILLE ARE REPRESENT BE AREAS THAT WON'T FOR TRUMP BY DOUBLE DIGITS.

THEY'RE GET OUTSPENT BADLY IN THOSE RACES.

REPUBLICANS AND THE REPUBLICAN PAC ARE THROWING A LOT OF MONEY.

>> Bill: WIDE OPEN RACE FOR LOUISVILLE MAYOR, AND THAT'S BEEN INTERESTING.

>> Joe: YEAH, MOST PEOPLE EXPECT THIS TO BE A PRETTY CLOSE RACE.

BILL HUR DUR HALF THE REPUBLICAN MAYOR JEFFERS TON, HIS CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN ALL ABOUT CRIME, POINTING OUT THE CRIME RATE AND TRYING TO TIME HIM TO GREG FISCHER WHO IS NOT VERY POPULAR RIGHT NOW.

BUT DEMOCRAT CRAIG GREENBERG IS HOPING THERE'S SUCH A HUGE DEMOCRATIC ADVANTAGE IN THAT CITY WITH REGISTRATION, DEMOCRATIC OFFICIALS AROUND THE CITY ARE SUPPORTING HIM, SO HE HOPES THAT'S ENOUGH TO GET HIM OVER THE LINE.

>> Bill: HE GOT AN ENDORSEMENT FROM JERRY ABRAMSON.

THE KENTUCKY JUDICIAL CONE DUCT COMMITTEE HAS EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT, PARTISANSHIP IN NON-PARTISAN JUDICIAL ELECTIONS.

THAT CAME AFTER SUPREME COURT CANDIDATE JOSEPH FISCHER ANNOUNCED HE WOULD CAMPAIGN WITH GOSPEL CONGRESSMAN THOMAS MASSIE.

JOE, THIS IS INTERESTING AS FAR AS PARTISANSHIP IN JUDICIAL CANDIDATES.

>> Joe: YEAH, THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING THIS.

THE RACE HAS BEEN THE FOCUS.

WE HAVE NON-PARTISAN RACES, AND THIS IS A RACE FOR THE SUPREME COURT.

AND THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN CRITICIZING JOE FISCHER'S CAMPAIGN AS BEING OVERTLY PARTISAN.

THERE IS A PRIVATE GROUP, THE JUDICIAL CAMPAIGN CONDUCT COMMITTEE, WHICH HAS CRITICIZED HIM FOR THING LIKE PUTTING AN ELEPHANT IN THE LOGO THAT WASN'T NECESSARILY A GOP LOGO FOR SAYING HE'S THE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE ON CAMPAIGN MATERIALS.

THERE'S ALSO THE JUDICIAL CON DID GO COMMISSION, WHICH IS AN ACTUAL AGENCY WITH SO MANY SOME TEETH THAT JOE FISCHER BLOCKED IN ORDER TO INVESTIGATE -- PREVENT HIM FROM INVESTIGATING HIS CAMPAIGN OF COMPLAINTS THAT HE WAS VIOLATING THE RULES AND BEING TOO PARTISAN.

>> Bill: BY THE WAY, LATE TODAY THE JUDICIAL CONDUCT COMMISSIONER REMOVED THE CIRCUIT JUDGE IN WESTERN KENTUCKY AND ORDERED HIS NAME REMOVED FROM THE BALLOT, RYLAND.

>> Ryland: THIS IS JAIME JAMESON WHO IS THE 42nd CIRCUIT JUDGE IN MARSHALL COUNTY.

THERE ARE ALLEGATIONS THAT HE HAD BEEN MISUSING ON HIS, MISMANAGING HIS COURTROOM, USING HIS OFFICE TO PRESSURE PEOPLE TO DONATE TO HIS CAMPAIGN, ENGAGING IN ACTS OF INTIMIDATION AND ATTEMPTING TO QUASH STORIES FROM MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA, SO THE JUDICIAL CONDUCT COMMISSION FINALLY CAME OUT WITH A RULING TODAY SAYING -- ORDERING HIM OFF THE BENCH, STRIPPING HIM OF HIS JUDICIAL DUTIES AND SAYING YOU CAN'T RUN FOR RE-ELECTION, WHICH HE IS CURRENTLY ON THE BALLOT RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: CAN HE APPEAL?

>> Ryland: HE CAN APPEAL.

NO SIGNAL WHETHER HE WILL YET.

>> Bill: WE HAD MORE THAN A DOZEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS CLOSED.

FLU SEEMS TO BE THE MAJOR PROBLEM RIGHT NOW LEARN OF THE RIGHT.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAID THIS WEEK EVEN THOUGH COVID IS STILL SPREADING, ITS FAR FROM I THINK THE BIGGEST THING ON A LOT OF TEACHERS' INTERESTS MINDS, WHICH I THINK WE'RE UP TO 20 SCHOOL DISTRICTS CLOSED AT THIS POINT.

IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE I HEARD IN AN INTERVIEW THIS WEEK, I THINK IT WAS WITH AN EM DEEMOLOGIST, TALKING ABOUT SORT OF THE PERFECT STORM OF WHY THE FLU IS SO IMPACTING KIDS RIGHT NOW.

ONE, FOR TWO YEARS KIDS MOSTLY WORE MASKS IN THE CLASSROOM, WHICH KEPT FLU NUMBERS AT BAY.

THEY'RE NOT DOING THAT ANYMORE.

AND WHEN YOU GO FOR A TIME WITHOUT BEING EXPOSED TO A VIRUS, WE HAD A YEAR VIRTUAL, LAST YEAR KIDS MOSTLY WORE MASKS, YOUR BODY DOESN'T ADAPT TO BEING ABLE TO FIGHT IT, AND IT'S A REALLY VIRULENT STRAIN, SO ALL THOSE THINGS COMBINED.

>> Bill: KEEP WATCH.

FORMER CONGRESSMAN ROM ROP DIED THIS WEEK ONE DAY BEFORE -- ROMANO MAZZOLI DIED ONE DAY BEFORE HIS 90th BIRTHDAY.

HE WAS IN WASHINGTON FOR 24 YEAR.

>> Ryland: THE SON OF AN ITALIAN IMMIGRANT AND ALSO THE STONE MASON AND TILE WORKER AND HE SHEPHERDED A SIGNIFICANT, ONE OF THE LAST SIGNIFICANT IMMIGRATION REFORM BILLINGS IN THE MID-80s, AND HE WAS REALLY CELEBRATED BY A LOT OF PEOPLE THIS WEEK AS BEING A TRUE MODERATE AND SOMEBODY WHO WORKED ACROSS THE AISLE.

>> Joe: HE WAS A DEMOCRAT.

HE WAS ANTI-ABORTION AND WASN'T LIKED BY LABOR GROUPS.

HE WAS ALSO SOMEONE WHO IN HIS LATER YEARS, HE REFUSE TODAY ACCEPT PAC MONEY AND WOULDN'T ACCEPT DONATIONS ABOVE $100 AND HE STILL WON HIS LAST RACE WHICH WAS CLOSE EVEN THOUGH HE STUCK BY THAT.

>> Bill: FLAGS WERE AT TAFF STAFF TODAY ACROSS KENTUCKY IN OFTEN LONDON POLICE OFFICER LOGAN MEDLOCK WHO WAS KILLED EARLY THIS WEEK.

HIS CREWS WERE HIT BY AN ALLEGED DRUNK DRIVER AND MEDLOCK, HUSBAND AND THEY'RE, DIED ON THE SCENE.

HE WAS 26 YEARS OLD.

AND ON A MUCH BRIGHTER NOTE, THE BREEDERS' CUP CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE BEING RUN THIS WEEKEND.

THAT IS GOING ON AT KEENELAND IN LEXINGTON.

BIG CROWDS ARE ON HAND.

THE CELEBRATION LAST HAS BEEN GOING ON ALL WEEK TO GET READY FOR THAT.

IF THERE'S NO LOT RI WINNER HERE, EVERYBODY WILL BE COVERING THE ELECTION.

THAT'S "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY."

WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.