There has been much talk today about what Matt Bevin's
surprise win in the Kentucky Governor's race yesterday means for Democrats in 2016. And I'm here to tell you what it means: absolutely nothing.
Like most Democrats, I find our inability to turn out voters in odd years and our lack of success in down ballot elections to be deeply disconcerting (though unlike many in the traditional media, I admit that we are hamstrung by some brutal gerrymandering). But yesterday's results in Kentucky do not mean that Democratic turnout in 2016 will be depressed (after our turnouts in 2008 and 2012 as well as having a very formidable candidate in either Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders 2016 is going to be another good year for the good guys). Basically, Jack Conway ran the same race against Bevins that Alison Lundergan Grimes ran against Mitch McConnell in 2014: he
disowned Obama and ran as a DINO. And predictably, he got his ass kicked, just like Lundergan Grimes did.
And just what kind of bozo do you have to be to believe that the results in a republican stronghold in the south are going to give pause to voters in blue and purple states? Because I'm pretty certain that voters in California and Ohio are not going to think, "You know, racism and homophobia work for me!" and vote republican in 2016.
If anything, I think it helps Democrats. For one, it is a bit of a wake up call to take nothing for granted. More importantly, though, I think it gives republicans a false sense of confidence heading into 2016 (witness Bevins telling Kentuckians after his victory that Kentucky had a chance to drive the national narrative in 2016--with all due respect to Kentuckians, an insignificant state like Kentucky will
never have the chance to drive the national narrative). Democrats are still the overwhelming favorites to retain the White House, have a better than 50/50 chance to take back the Senate, and though it won't be enough, will also help us to improve down ballot.
In the end, it's all much ado about nothing.
Peace,
emaycee
