[♪♪] >> Bill: IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR, LIVELY INTENSE DEBATES WRAP UP AS ANDY BESHEAR AND DANIEL CAMERON CLASH ON THE ISSUE.

THE CANDIDATES FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL HAVE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON THE JOB.

>>> REPUBLICAN SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL ADAMS FEATURES THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR BESHEAR IN NEW TV ADS.

APPEARS THE UAW STRIKE AGAINST FORD IS ABOUT TO END, MEANING BACK TO WORK IN LOUISVILLE.

>>> HEADING TOWARD HALLOWEEN AND EARLY VOTING DAYS.

COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

>> Bill: 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 ARE AUSTIN HORN POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER.

McKENNA HORSLEY POLITICS REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN AND MARK METCALF REPORTER FOR WLKY IN LOUISVILLE.

THE DEAN OF THE U.S. HOUSE KENTUCKY'S HAL ROGERS GETS TO SWEAR IN A NEW SPEAKER.

AND REMEMBERING PIONEER KENTUCKY TV JOURNALIST SUE WILEY.

LET'S START WITH NEWS UNFOLDING ABOUT THE FORD BATTERY PLANT THE DECISION TO DELAY OPERATIONS ON THE SECOND OF TWO EV BATTERY PLANTS.

AUSTIN FIRST TELL US WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS AND HOW IT POTENTIALLY COULD IMPACT THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE VOTING?

>> RIGHT.

THIS IS A HUGE PROJECT THAT IS HAPPENING IN HARDEN COUNTY.

IT'S 5.8 BILLION IN INVESTMENT.

5,000 JOBS.

THE GOVERNOR TOUTS THIS AS THE LYNCHPIN ACCOMPLISHMENT OF HIS TENURE.

AND NEWS JUST BROKE ON THURSDAY THAT PRODUCTION START AT THE SECOND PLANT NOT CONSTRUCTION THEY ARE BUILDING THE PLANT, HAS BEEN DELAYED.

IT WAS INITIALLY SLATED FOR 2026.

SO IT'S A BIG DEVELOPMENT IN THE PROJECT.

BESHEAR TOOK TO SOCIAL MEDIA HE DID A DIRECT TO CAMERA STATEMENT IN THE AFTERMATH TO SAY THAT EVERYTHING IS HUNKY DORY ON THE PROJECT AND WE'RE GOOD TO GO THIS IS A DELAY BECAUSE OF CONSUMER DEMAND CONCERNS THAT WE THINK ARE GOING TO GET THERE ANYWAY.

MEANWHILE, THE CAMERON CAMPAIGN IS SAYING A LYNCHPIN ARGUMENT THAT BESHEAR HAS MADE IN HIS REELECTION CAMPAIGN IS NOT GOING TO MATERIALIZE IN THE WAY THAT HE SAID.

HE IS CALLING THIS A FAILED PROMISE.

I DID A STORY TODAY AND TALKED TO LOCAL OFFICIALS, AND SO FAR, LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE PRETTY UNPHASED BY THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT.

THEY EXPRESSED RELIEF.

ONE OF THEM DID.

AND SAID A DELAY ON THIS MASSIVE OF A PROJECT ALLOWS US TO GET ALL OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE DUCKS IN A ROW.

THIS ISN'T A QUOTE CHICKEN LITTLE MOMENT AS HE SAID.

THE SKY IS NOT FALLING.

AND HE SAID THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY AND NOT A SIGNIFICANT SETBACK.

>> Bill: WE DO NOTE THIS IS NOT A DELAY IN THE CONSTRUCTION IT'S THE PRODUCTION BEGINNING?

>> I THINK THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

IF THEY ARE STILL BUILDING THE PLANTS, THEY MUST FEEL GOOD IN THE LONG-TERM ABOUT THE PROSPECTS.

>> Bill: A LOT MORE ON THE GOVERNOR'S RACE NOW.

AND A LOT TO PICK FROM TONIGHT INCLUDING THREE TELEVISED ENCOUNTERS JUST BEFORE VOTERS RENDER THEIR DECISIONS.

THERE WAS THE WLKY DEBATE IN LOUISVILLE.

KET'S "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" WITH RENEE SHAW AND I WRAPPED UP AS MODERATOR OF THE KENTUCKY DEBATE ON WKYT.

IN EVERY ENCOUNTER THE CANDIDATES WENT AFTER EACH OTHER PREDICTING AT TIMES WHAT THE OTHER WAS ABOUT TO SAY.

WE'LL LOOK AT THE SNIPS INCLUDING THIS ONE FROM THE WLKY DEBATE ON CRIME IN LOUISVILLE.

>> HE SITS AT HIS DESK AND RELEASES 2,000 CRIMINALS TO PREY ON OUR FAMILIES.

THAT SHOULD NOT BE SOMETHING AND YOU HEARD IT FROM HERE HE IS A FOLLOWER HE IS NOT A LEADER.

YOU NEED LEADERSHIP IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THAT IS GOING TO FIGHT ALONGSIDE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY TO TAMP DOWN VIOLENT CRIME AND GET THE HOMICIDES UNDER CONTROL.

I WILL BE THE GOVERNOR THAT DOES THAT.

>> Mr. BESHEAR?

>> I THINK THAT GENERAL CAMERON CRITICIZED ME FOR FOLLOWING DONALD TRUMP I DID NOT EXPECT THAT TONIGHT IT WAS NOT ON MY BINGO CARD.

LISTEN, PEOPLE DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE IN THEIR HOME AND IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

THAT IS WHY WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK.

WHY I SECURED THE LARGEST RAISES IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE POLICE.

$15,000.

WE ARE INCREASING OUR NUMBER OF TROOPERS AND WE HAVE MORE APPLICATIONS THAN WE HAVE SEEN IN A LONGTIME.

>> Bill: MARK YOU WERE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT ONE.

THE CANDIDATES WENT RIGHT AFTER EACH OTHER ON A LOT OF ISSUES AND WE CAN ALL AGREE THIS WAS SORT OF AN UNHEARD OF DEBATE SPREE OVER SEVERAL DAYS.

DID WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CANDIDATES?

>> YES, I THINK THAT LIVE DEBATES LIKE THIS ARE GREAT FOR VOTERS.

IT IS A WAY FOR THEM TO COMPARE THE TWO CANDIDATES SIDE-BY-SIDE, UNFILTERED WITHOUT THE SLICK COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING PRODUCTION OR EVEN, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO DISTILL EVERYTHING DOWN TO TWO MINUTES.

AUSTIN HAS 24 INCHES THIS IS A WAY FOR THEM TO DO A DEEP DIVE ON THE CANDIDATINGS.

I LOVE LIVE DEBATES.

>> Bill: WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO COVER THESE DEBATES AS NEWS EVENTS?

>> I THINK THESE DEBATES KIND OF AS MARK SAID THESE WERE A GREAT WAY FOR VOTERS TO HEAR THE CORE OF THE CAMPAIGN MESSAGES THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR MONTHS.

BUT TOGETHER IN A SETTING WHERE THEY CAN SHOW THEIR DIFFERENCES, BESHEAR AS HE HAS THROUGHOUT HIS CAMPAIGN PAINTED HIMSELF AS A LEADER WHO SAW KENTUCKIANS THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, NATURAL DISASTERS.

AND CAMERON SAYS THAT HE IS SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT KENTUCKIANS HAVE QUALITY SCHOOLS, SUPPORTS TEACHERS, KEEP STREETS SAFE FROM CRIME AND DRUGS AND REPRESENT KENTUCKIANS VALUES.

>> Bill: RED FLAGS CAME UP IN THE DEBATE.

THAT WAS BEFORE THE MASS SHOOTING IN MAINE.

BUT THERE IS A CLEAR CONTRAST BETWEEN THESE CANDIDATES ON THAT?

>> SO RECENTLY LOUISVILLE'S MAYOR CRAIG GREENBERG LAID OUT HIS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND HE WANTS FOR LAWMAKERS TO GIVE HIM THE AUTONOMY TO ENACT CITY GUN CONTROL MEASURES.

I ASKED THE CANDIDATES DO YOU SUPPORT THIS AND WHY OR WHY NOT.

IN GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAID THAT HE SUPPORTS RED FLAG LAWS AND HE RELATED THE STORY OF THE LOSS OF A CLOSE PERSONAL FRIEND IN THE OLD NATIONAL BANK SHOOTING AND FRAMED IT AS A WAY TO EMPOWER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO STEP IN WHEN THEY SEE THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH SOMEBODY.

CAMERON SAID THAT HE FULLY SUPPORTS THE SECOND AMENDMENT.

HE NOTED HE HAS THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE NRA.

AND HE SAID HE DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT KENTUCKY NEEDS RED FLAG LAWS.

>> Bill: AUSTIN OPTICS AND DEMEANOR MATTER ON TELEVISION.

DID EITHER CANDIDATE HAVE AN ADVANTAGE DURING THESE ENCOUNTERS HOW THEY PROJECTED THEMSELVES TO VOTERS?

>> YES.

I WAS REALLY STRUCK WITH THE FINAL TWO DEBATES.

THE KET AND THE WKYT ONES AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT BECAUSE WE ARE ON KET PROGRAM AND I'M TALKING TO A WYKT ANCHOR.

I WAS STRUCK BY THE SORT OF FINAL TONE THAT BOTH OF THEM TOOK.

I THINK BESHEAR CHANGED A LITTLE BIT AND WAS MORE AGGRESSIVE, PARTICULARLY IN BOTH OF THOSE DEBATES.

HE WAS REALLY, I THINK, PROSECUTING A LOT OF CAMERON'S RECORD AND HIS STATEMENTS.

AND CAMERON, MEANWHILE, HE SHIFTED A LITTLE IN THE FINAL DEBATE.

BUT HE TRIED TO SORT OF PLAY THIS CALM, HE DID A LOT OF DIRECT TO CAMERA MOMENTS WHERE CAMERON IS A GIFTED POLITICIAN.

AND HE REALLY SHOWED IT IN THAT WAY.

SO THAT IS KIND OF WHAT STUCK WITH ME.

AND I THINK IN AN AGE WHEN A LOT OF VOTERS VOTE ON PERSONALITY.

AND THEY VOTE HOW THE PEOPLE PRESENT THEMSELVES AS PEOPLE, NOT NECESSARILY THE EXACT POLICIES THEY COMB THROUGH THE LONG PLANS THE GUYS PRODUCE.

THAT IS WHAT KIND OF STRUCK ME AT THE END OF THOSE DEBATES.

>> Bill: BY THE TIME HE GOT TO RENEE AND ME WE HAD SEEN WHAT HAPPENED WITH MARK AT WLKY.

AND I THINK THE CANDIDATES LEARNED FROM THE ENCOUNTERS AS WELL WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT.

AND INTERESTINGLY, McKENNA, A LOT OF GROUND COVERED BUT IT DEMONSTRATED NOT ONLY HOW THEY STOOD ON THE PARTICULAR ISSUES THAT WERE ASKED ABOUT THEIR DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO THE ROLE OF STATE GOVERNMENT?

>> YES.

SO THROUGHOUT THAT TIME, BESHEAR HIGHLIGHTED HIS OWN RECORD.

AND THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT HE HAS HAD THROUGHOUT HIS TERM ESPECIALLY IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND CAMERON TOOK THE ROLE OF SAYING WHILE THOSE THINGS HAVE HAPPENED, HE'S THE PERSON WHO IS GOING TO REPRESENT KENTUCKIANS' VALUES AND MORE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH.

>> Bill: ABORTION HAS BEEN A MAJOR TOPIC IN THE CAMPAIGN AND WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE EXCEPTIONS TO THE STATE BAN FOR CASES OF RAPE OR INCEST.

AND ON KET'S "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" RENEE SHAW PRESSED FOR ANSWERS.

>> SO YOU SAY IF YOU ARE SENT A BILL OR IF THE COURT WERE TO ORDER IT, BUT FROM A PERSONAL CONVICTION, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT IN CASES OF RAPE OR INCEST ABORTION SHOULD BE A LEGAL OPTION FOR WOMEN IN KENTUCKY, YES OR NO, SIR?

>> LOOK, IF THE LEGISLATURE BRINGS ME THAT BILL I WILL SIGN THIS EXCEPTIONS.

>> BUT YOU WILL NOT PUSH OR ADVOCATE FOR IT?

>> IF THE LEGISLATURE IF THEY WORK ON THIS I WILL SIGN THOSE EXCEPTIONS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY I'M THE PRO-LIFE CANDIDATE AND ANDY BESHEAR IS THE PRO ABORTION CANDIDATE.

>> Mr. CAMERON?

>> YOU DESERVE A GOVERNOR WHO WILL LEVEL WITH YOU.

LET ME SHOW HIM OUT TO DO IT.

I BELIEVE THAT VICTIMS OF RAPE AND INCEST DESERVE OPTIONS.

THERE HAS TO BE AN EXCEPTION.

SOME OF THE GIRLS ARE AS YOUNG AS NINE YEARS OLD AND MY OPPONENT WOULD MAKE THEM CARRY THE RAPIST'S BABY.

A RAPIST SHOULD NOT HAVE MORE RIGHTS THAN THE VICTIM.

>> Renee: A CAMERA WOULD NOT GO SO FAR TO SAY HE WOULD ADVOCATE EXCEPTIONS BUT HE WOULD SIGN A BAN IF IT CAME TO HIM BY THE JUDGMENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

>> RIGHT AND ABORTION IS ONE OF THOSE TOPICS I THINK HAS BECOME VERY PERSONAL TO KENTUCKY VOTERS SINCE THE LAST GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION WITH THE OVERTURN OF ROE VS. WADE AND KENTUCKY VOTERS VOTED ON AN ANTIABORTION CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

IT'S SOMETHING RECENT.

AND I THINK IT MATTERS TO KENTUCKIANS WHAT THESE CANDIDATES PERSONAL STANCES ON ABORTION IS.

AND IF CAMERON'S PUSHING TOWARD THIS SAYING THIS IS A GENERAL ASSEMBLY PROBLEM WE'LL SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.

>> Bill: DOES BESHEAR SEE THIS AS AN OPENING?

>> FOR SURE.

BESHEAR KNOWS THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS POPULAR WITH SWING VOTERS AND HE ALSO KNOWS IT PUTS CAMERON BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE.

IF CAMERON COMES OUT AND SAYS THAT HE DOESN'T SUPPORT THE EXCEPTIONS, HE STANDS TO LOSE SWING VOTERS.

IF HE SAID I DO SUPPORT THE EXCEPTIONS EVERY FUTURE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY THAT HE IS EVER IN HIS REPUBLICAN OPPONENT IS GOING TO PULL THAT OUT AND USE IT AGAINST HIM.

>> Bill: WELL, THERE WAS ALSO A STARK DIFFERENCE ON THE ECONOMY OF THE STATE ON THE KENTUCKY DEBATE THAT I MODERATED ON WKYT CAMERON CAST KENTUCKIANS AS STRUGGLING WITH COSTS WHILE BESHEAR PAINTED MOTEN TUM FOR THE ECONOMY.

>> LOOK THE GOVERNOR TONIGHT WILL TELL YOU AGAIN THAT HE BELIEVES THAT THIS IS AN ECONOMY ON FIRE.

BUT CHANCES ARE YOU DON'T FEEL THAT WAY.

THIS IS FOR MANY FOLKS AN ECONOMY THAT IS ON LIFE SUPPORT.

WE HAVE 22,000 FEWER KENTUCKIANS WORKING SINCE THIS GOVERNOR TOOK OFFICE.

THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME HAS DROPPED BY 12% MAKING THE LAST THREE YEARS THE LARGEST DECLINE IN MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THIS COMMONWEALTH'S HISTORY.

>> THIS ADMINISTRATION SET A RECORD 27.5 BILLION NEW DOLLARS INVESTED IN US, INVESTED IN KENTUCKY.

LOOK AT OUR NATIONAL RANKINGS NUMBER TWO IN PER CAPITA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

NUMBER THREE IN THE CREATION OF RURAL JOBS.

WE'RE BUILDING THE TWO BIGGEST BATTERY PLANTS ON EARTH.

WE'RE HOME TO THE BIGGEST INVESTMENTS IN THE HISTORY OF FORD AND AMAZON.

WE ARE GETTING PICKED TIME AND TIME AGAIN FOR THE BIGGEST PROJECTS EVER.

>> Bill: SO McKENNA, HERE WE ARE SORT OF A WORST OF TIMES VERSUS BEST OF TIMES ARGUMENT IN THAT EXCHANGE?

>> YES, AND THAT CLIP REALLY SHOWS WHAT BOTH CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN SAYING ABOUT THE ECONOMY OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS.

AND IF YOU ARE AN UNDECIDED VOTER IT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT WHO TO BELIEVE IN THAT CLIP BECAUSE THEY ARE SO DIFFERENT.

BESHEAR'S CORE MESSAGE HAS BEEN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE MOUNTAIN LANE PARKWAY AND BRING THE BRIDGE WITHOUT TOLLS AND CAMERON USES THE ECONOMY AS A WAY TO TIE BESHEAR TO DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN WHO IS UNPOPULAR WITH KENTUCKY VOTERS.

>> Bill: MARK IS THERE ANYWAY TO KNOW WHAT RESONATES WITH VOTERS HAVING THAT COMRIK DISCUSSION?

>> TALKING TO PEOPLE I THINK THEY BOTH UNDERSTAND THAT EACH CANDIDATE IS RIGHT IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

THE ECONOMY IS HOT.

THERE IS A WORKER SHORTAGE.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND EVEN THOUGH WAGES ARE GOING UP BECAUSE THE ECONOMY IS HOT AND THERE IS A WORKER SHORTAGE, INFLATION IS EATING ALL THAT UP.

SO BOTH THINGS ARE KIND OF TRUE HERE.

AND THE QUESTION IS DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE HORSES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RACE?

>> Bill: THE STATE INCOME TAX CREATED ANOTHER CLASH ECONOMIC RELATED.

CAMERON INDICATES HE WANTS TO ELIMINATE IT QUICKLY BUT WOULD BE CAREFUL AND BESHEAR SAYS SPEEDING UP THE ELIMINATION AND IGNORING THE STRATEGY APPROVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY COULD SPELL TROUBLE?

>> YEAH, BESHEAR'S URGED CAUTION EVEN THOUGH HE KIND OF TRIED TO HAVE HIS CAKE AND EAT IT TOO ON THE INCOME TAX.

HE VETOED THE BILL THAT REALLY SET THE WHEELS IN MOTION FOR OUR INCOME TAX DROP BUT HE SIGNED AN INDIVIDUAL REAFFIRMING THE DROP FROM 4.5 TO 4.

CAMERON SINCE HE HAS BEEN, I THINK, NONCOMMITTAL ON IF HE WOULD CHANGE THE CURRENT LAW, HE SAYS HE DOES WANT TO GET THERE FAST BUT HE HASN'T, I DON'T THINK, COMMITTED TO CHANGING IT IN ANY SIGNIFICANT WAY.

I HAVE TO WONDER IF THEIR POSITIONS MATTER ON THIS AT ALL.

DOES THIS CHANGE -- THIS IS REALLY A BABY OF THE REPUBLICAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THIS WAS THEIR CROWN JEWEL THAT THEY PASSED IN 2022.

SO I'M LEFT WITH THE QUESTION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IT SEEMS LIKE IS GOING TO DO WHAT THEY WANT WITH SENATOR McDANIEL AND JASON PETRI IN THE HOUSEWORKING ON THIS.

>> Bill: AND THE CURRENT LAW WOULD SAY YOU DON'T REDUCE NEXT TIME BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HIT THE TRIGGER TO DO THAT.

THE ADS ARE TOUGH AND NUMEROUS.

MONEY RAISED AND SPENT FOR THE CANDIDATES AND THE POLITICAL GROUPS TRYING TO GET THEM ELECTED OR ATTACK THEM IS APPROACHING $70 MILLION.

MARK, A LOST MONEY TO SPEND FOR A JOB THAT PAYS $175,000.

>> I THINK THERE ARE A FEW THINGS GOING ON.

ONE, EVERYBODY IS LOOKING AT THIS AS A BELLWETHER FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION BOTH SIDES WANT TO COME OUT WITH THE MOMENTUM.

FOR REPUBLICANS, TOO, THEY LOOK AT IT AS YOU KNOW, DOES TRUMP HAVE INFLUENCE CAN HE PICK WINNERS AND LOSERS IN LOCAL AND STATE ELECTIONS?

AND I THINK FOR DEMOCRATS, I HAVE PEOPLE CALLING ME UP FROM OTHER STATES ASKING ME ABOUT BESHEAR AND WHETHER HE IS A POTENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IN THE FUTURE IF HE WINS THIS ELECTION A SOUTHERN DEMOCRAT WHO CAN WIN IN A RED STATE IS VALUABLE.

>> Bill: REPUBLICANS NOW HAVE A SIGNIFICANT REGISTRATION ADVANTAGE ABOUT 75,000 OVER DEMOCRATS THAT IT'S HAPPENED SINCE BESHEAR'S 5,000 VOTE WIN OVER BEVIN IN 2019.

AND THEN ANOTHER WILDCARD IS THE SURGE IN INDEPENDENT REGISTRATION WHICH IS ALMOST 400,000.

SO WHAT ARE WE TO MAKE OF AT LEAST THE PARTISAN LINEUP GOING INTO THE ELECTION?

>> YEAH.

I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT THAT THIS IS A NATURAL STRENGTH OF CAMERON.

AND IT IS A NATURAL STRENGTH FOR THE ENTIRE REPUBLICAN SLATE.

THEY ARE BANKING ON THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACTIVELY CHOSEN TO SWITCH OR SIGN UP TO THE COMPANY PARTY TO BE LOYAL.

AS WE'VE SEEN THROUGH POLLS THROUGHOUT THE RACE, THE STRENGTH OF BESHEAR, THE UNIQUE STRENGTH WITH ROUGHLY EVEN ALTHOUGH THERE IS A SLIGHT REPUBLICAN ADVANTAGE, ROUGHLY EVEN PARTISANSHIP IS THAT CROSSOVER REPUBLICAN VOTER THAT IS SAYING THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR BESHEAR.

WE DON'T KNOW THEY WILL DO IT IN POLLS THEY SAID THEY ARE GOING TO.

AND WE SEE CAMERON TRYING TO JUICE REPUBLICAN TURNOUT IN THE WAY THAT HE'S CAMPAIGNING, HE'S REALLY FOCUSED ON THESE RURAL AREAS.

HE SORT OF CRISSCROSSED THE STATE AND BEEN HE HAS BEEN EVERYWHERE, MAN, TO QUOTE THE JOHNNY CASH SONG.

BUT IT REALLY HAS SHOWED UP IN HIS CAMPAIGN STRATEGY AND HE'S HOPING IT'S THIS QUIET SORT OF REVOLUTION THAT HE'S BUILDING IN THESE MANY STOPS.

>> Bill: MARK THERE WAS THIS EVENT THIS WEEK IN WHICH THE NATIONAL GUARD WAS THANKED FOR SERVING AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER AND CAMERON'S TEAM CALLED OUT THE GOVERNOR FOR THAT PHOTO-OP.

BUT BESHEAR IS OPENLY HE WOULD SAY THAT WAS AN OFFICIAL APPEARANCE AND OFFICIAL EVENT NOT A CAMPAIGN EVENT.

BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT HAS APPEAL TO CONSERVATIVES.

>> YEAH, HE CAN'T JUST RELY ON DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENT VOTERS.

HE ALSO HAS TO COURT MODERATE REPUBLICANS AND HOPE SOME SWING HIS WAY AS WELL.

>> Bill: AUSTIN CAMERON HAS NOT APPEARED WITH HIS RIVALS FOR THE NOMINATION.

RYAN QUARELS HE WAS KEEPING A LOW PROFILE AS HE WAS SEEKING THE PRESIDENCY OF KH OF TCKS.

KELLY CRAFT HAS NOT APPEARED?

>> NO.

AND YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT QUARELS EVERYBODY SPECULATED AT THE TIME.

BUT GIVEN HIS POSITION AND THE POSITION THAT HE WAS APPLYING FOR, I THINK IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE THAT HE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN REALLY ON THE STUMP IN A PARTISAN WAY FOR DANIEL CAMERON.

KELLY CRAFT IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION IN HER SPEECH FOLLOWING THE ELECTION WHERE SHE GOT THIRD PLACE IN THE PRIMARY, SHE DID SEEM A LITTLE UPSET THAT SOME ATTACKS WERE LEVIED AGAINST HER AND THOSE WERE PRIMARILY FROM GROUPS SUPPORTING DANIEL CAMERON, SOME FOR ERIC DETERS TOO.

BUT I DO THINK IT MIGHT BE REASONABLE TO GUESS THAT THE REASON WHY SHE HASN'T EITHER GIVEN MONEY TO OR APPEARED WITH DANIEL CAMERON IS BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE HARD FEELINGS THAT I THINK WERE FAIR TO INTERPRET FROM THAT SPEECH.

>> Bill: THIS TWIST.

REPUBLICAN SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL ADAMS HAS FEATURED BESHEAR IN A NEW TV AD.

>> SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL ADAMS HAS BEEN A GOOD, BIPARTISAN PARTNER.

>> Bill: WELL, McKENNA THIS IS ATTENTION GETTING.

YOU HAVE BESHEAR BEING TOUTED IN AN AD BY THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR SECRETARY OF STATE.

>> RIGHT.

AND YOU KNOW, ADAMS AND BESHEAR ARE AN INTERESTING PAIRING IN FRANKFORT BECAUSE THEY HAVE A HISTORY OF WORKING TOGETHER THROUGHOUT THEIR TERMS.

SHORTLY AFTER THEY WERE ELECTED IN 2019, IN 2020 WE HAD THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND THROUGHOUT THAT TIME, THEY BOTH TOOK ACTIONS IN THEIR OFFICE VERY PUBLICLY WORKING TOWARD BIPARTISANSHIP TO ENSURE THAT VOTING HAPPENED IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR.

>> Bill: AND WE'LL NOTE THAT ADAMS FACES DEMOCRAT BUDDY WHEATLEY IN THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S RACE.

YOU LOOKED INTO THE RACE FOR KENTUCKY ATTORNEY GENERAL AND FOUND THAT REPUBLICAN RUSSELL COLEMAN AND PAMELA STEVENSON LOOK AT THE OFFICE THROUGH DIFFERENT LENSES AND PERSPECTIVES.

>> YES.

SO THEY ARE BOTH RUNNING FOR THIS OFFICE.

COLEMAN APPOINTED BY FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WHAT TO BE THE U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY.

SAID THAT HE IS OFTEN WANTED TO BE A LAW MAN AND KIND OF HELP LAW ENFORCEMENT AND HE VIEWED PART OF THE JOB AS BEING ATTORNEY GENERAL AS DEFENDING LAWS PASSED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THAT IS HOW CAMERON APPROACHED THE OFFICE THERE.

PAMELA STEVENSON WHO IS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND IS A DEMOCRAT, SHE VIEWS THE ROLE MORE AS BEING FOR THE PEOPLE.

SHE OFTEN TALKED ABOUT WORKING FOR KENTUCKIANS' BEST INTERESTS.

>> Bill: THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN A LAW THAT ALLOWS RANDOM CHANGES OF VENUE IN CASEY PARKER-BELLS THAT CHALLENGE STATE LAW.

IT VIOLATED SEPARATION OF POWERS AMONG THE STATE'S THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.

THAT BILL WAS PASSED OVER THE GOVERNOR'S VETO?

>> IT WAS AND PART OF A LONGSTANDING COLD WAR BETWEEN THE LEGISLATURE AND FRANKLIN CIRCUIT COURT WHO THEY THINK IS NOT AS HOSPITABLE OF A COURT TO THEM AS THEY LIKE.

AND THEY GOT HANDED A LOSS BY THE SUPREME COURT WITH ONE DISSENTING VOTE.

>> Bill: IT APPEARS THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS STRIKE IS ABOUT TO END.

PREDICTIONS THAT THOUSANDS OF WORKERS AT THE LOUISVILLE TRUCK PLANT WILL BE GOING BACK TO WORK MAYBE NEXT WEEK.

THE DEAL STILL HAS TO BE RATIFIED BUT IT APPEARS IT'S WORKED OUT?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

A COUPLE OF DETAILS 25% RAISE OVER FOUR YEARS IF YOU COUNT COST OF LIVING 33% AND MORE RETIREMENT BENEFITS.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL UAW IN LOUISVILLE TODD DUNN AND HE TOLD US HE HADN'T SEEN ALL THE DETAILS BUT HE LIKES WHAT HE HAS SEEN.

IN HIS OPINION CARRIES A LOT OF WEIGHT.

HE IS WELL RESPECTED BY THE RANK-AND-FILE AND IF HE LIKES THE DEAL CHANCES ARE IN LOUISVILLE THEY WILL VOTE FOR IT.

>> Bill: IT APPEARS THEY WILL GO BACK TO WORK BEFORE THE VOTE TOTAL IS KNOWN.

>> RIGHT.

>> Bill: IN WASHINGTON THE DEAN HOUSE OF THE HOUSE KENTUCKY CONGRESSMAN HAL ROGERS GOT IT SBAR IN A NEW SPEAKER THIS WEEK.

MIKE JOHNSON WAS ELECTED WEDNESDAY AFTER THREE WEEKS OF POLITICAL CHAOS AT THE CAPITOL THAT INCLUDED THREE OTHER NOMINEES BEING CAST ASIDE OR STEPPING ASIDE.

AUSTIN, IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE HOW ROGERS, THE LONGEST SERVING MEMBER OF THE U.S. HOUSE THERE.

AND HE SEEMED TO FEEL THE MOMENT?

>> YEAH.

I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY HE DELIVERED A PRETTY STRONG OATH OR WHATEVER IT IS YOU CALL THAT SPEECH THAT YOU GIVE WHEN YOU SWEAR SOMEBODY IN.

AND YOU CAN UNDERSTAND FROM HAL ROGERS' STANDPOINT AN ADVANCED AGE WANTING TO SHOW HIS BEST SELF AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY AND I THINK HE DID.

>> Bill: HE SEES THAT ROLE AS BEING A CONCILIATOR IN THE HOUSE.

THE REPUBLICAN DELEGATION OF KENTUCKY CLOSE RANKS BEHIND JOHNSON.

THE DEMOCRATIC VOTED FOR HAKEEM JEFFERIES AND WE'LL SEE IF THEY CAN GET THINGS PASSED AS WE MOVE ALONG.

MARK SO THIS HOUSE OVER IN LOUISVILLE FULL OF CHEMICALS THAT HAS NOW BEEN CLEANED UP, RIGHT IS THIS.

>> YEAH, POLICE CAME ACROSS THIS HOUSE BACK IN JULY.

THE OWNER OF THE HOUSE WAS LIVING IN THE NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE HE WAS SQUATTING THERE.

EITHER WAY, THIS HOUSE WAS FULL OF DANGEROUS CHEMICALS AND SOME EXPLOSIVE DEVICES.

AND INITIALLY THE CITY WANTED TO SET IT ON FIRE AND BURN IT UP.

EPA WAS LIKE WHOA.

THEY DECIDED TO TACK A DIFFERENT PATH.

REGARDLESS EVERYTHING IS TORN DOWN NOW AND REMOVED.

>> Bill: WE'VE SEEN THE GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES AS WE'VE SAID TOGETHER.

THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CANDIDATES WILL BE APPEARS ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" WITH RENEE SHAW ON MONDAY EVENING.

THAT BEING THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JACQUELINE COLEMAN AND THE DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT AND ROBBY MILLS.

ANY IDEA WHAT WE'LL SEE MONDAY NIGHT.

>> EDUCATION WOULD BE MY GUESS.

THAT HAS BEEN THE NUMBER ONE SORT OF DEMOCRATIC HIT, I THINK, ON ROBBY MILLS' ADDITION TO THE TICKET.

HE HAS A HISTORY OF SUPPORTING THE CONTROVERSIAL SEWER BILL THAT WAS A PENSION REFORM BILL THAT STOKED A LOT OF TEACHER UNREST AND PROTEST AT THE TIME.

AND JACQUELINE COLEMAN WHO HAS AN EDUCATION BACKGROUND, I EXPECT HER TO TRY TO HIT HIM ON THAT.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW HE RESPONDS.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN ROBBY MILLS IN THIS SETTING BEFORE.

WHO KNOWS.

IT WILL BE FUN.

>> Bill: THINK IT WILL BE AS RAUCOUS?

>> I THINK MILLS WILL HIT BACK AND DISCREDIT THE ECONOMY AND ALSO TRY TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO DISCREDIT THEIR PERFORMANCE THE MANAGEMENT OF THOSE NATURAL DISASTERS.

>> Bill: INTERESTING AND AGAIN THAT IS MONDAY ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT".

A TRAGIC AUTO ACCIDENT LOOK THE FIVE OF LEXINGTON TV LEGEND SUE WILEY.

SHE IS A PIONEER IN NEWS BROADCASTING THE FIRST FEMALE NEWSCASTER IN KENTUCKY IN THE 1960s.

SHE WORKED FOR WLEX FOR 30 YEARS AND HOSTED A RADIO SHOW FOR YEARS AFTER THAT.

SHE MAYBE REMEMBERED FOR HER POLITICAL PROGRAM YOUR GOVERNMENT.

SHE NEVER SHIED AWAY FROM ASKING THE TOUGH QUESTIONS AND THE POWERFUL POLITICIANS OFTEN SQUIRMED AS SHE DID.

AND YOU SAW IT ON CAMERA.

SHE WAS A MEMBER OF THE KENTUCKY JOURNALISM HALL OF FAME AND RECEIVED A TV AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT I WAS A COMPETITOR AND ADD MEYER OF SUE WILEY WHO WAS 90 YEARS OLD.

THAT'S COMMENT.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.