With the media, both in Kentucky and around the country, doing a good job of publicizing Republican Rand Paul's extremism, Democrat Jack Conway has decided to take the high road in his first general election ad:
Take particular note of the line "Jack was part of the largest drug bust in Kentucky history." While this might not have particular resonance outside of the Bluegrass states, many Kentuckians will know understand the exact meaning of the line: While Paul has been dismissive of the drug issue, Conway is seeking to highlight his strong position on the topic. This spot could be particularly helpful in the Eastern part of the state, which has been afflicted by drug problems in recent years. As Aaron Blake noted recently for The Washington Post, one recent poll of an Eastern Kentucky congressional district pegged drugs as the most important non-economic issue in the area.
It's unlikely that the Kentucky Senate race will turn on the issue of drugs alone. But inasmuch as Conway is responsive to local concerns and Paul is running a campaign based on 19th century ideology, Conway is setting up exactly the kind of contrast that might have Kentucky's conservative electorate sending a Democrat to the Senate for the first time since 1992.
So the Democratic Party motto of the 21st century... convict on drug charges the minorities and poor people the Repubs didn't lock up in the 20th century?
ReplyDelete