Matt Markgraf

By Chad Lampe

Murray, KY – The Democratic National Convention's first night was a memorable one for Graves County, Kentucky native Micah Spicer.

Spicer, who is Kentucky's youngest delegate at 19 years old, says although the convention's opening ceremony revolved around unifying the party, there were obvious divisions surrounding Senators Obama and Clinton.

By Lisa Autry, WKYU

Bowling Green, KY – The Democratic and Republican conventions mark the real beginning of the general election race for president, according to Western Kentucky University Political Science Professor Dr. Scott Lasley.

"It signals a start to the general election," Lasley said.

"For a lot of people, this is their signal to start clueing in," he added.

By Alan Lytle, WUKY

Lexington, KY – Democratic challenger Bruce Lunsford must excite grassroots Democrats in Kentucky to beat incumbent U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, according to Al Cross, director of the University of Kentucky Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues.

"If [Lunsford] can energize grassroots Democrats to be for him, then he does have a chance to beat Mitch McConnell, because we've got a very bad national mood, and a bad imcumbent mood," Cross said.

By Tony McVeigh, Kentucky Public Radio

Frankfort, KY – Kentucky voter turnout may reach a record high in November, based on promising turnout from the May Kentucky presidential primary, according to Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson.

In the May election, 32 percent of voters cast a ballot, compared to 14 percent in 2004. Franklin County had the highest voter turnout at nearly 55 percent.

Statewide, 43 percent of Democrats, almost 20 percent of Republicans, and 4 percent of independents turned out to vote in May.

By Alan Lytle, WUKY

Lexington, KY – Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama has a number of potential VP picks, including some female candidates that may appeal to the women's vote, according to Al Cross, Director of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky, speaking on WUKY radio on Wednesday.

By Dan Modlin, WKYU

Bowling Green, KY – A recent poll released by Rasmussen Reports says that just 17 percent of people polled nationwide believe that reporters try to give unbiased coverage of election campaigns. The statistics raise a number of questions about the quality and fairness of reporting in covering this year's presidential campaign.

By Lisa Autry

Lexington, KY – Party faithfuls and newcomers are expected in large numbers this weekend as the Republican and Democratic parties each hold their state conventions.

Democrats will be in Lexington Saturday as the GOP meets in Bowling Green. Topping the agenda for Republicans is selecting delegates for the national convention this fall.

As Lisa Autry reports, the GOP system for selecting delegates is very different from the system of the Democratic party.

By Al Cross, Director, Institute for Rural Journalism and Community IssuesWEKU

Lexington, KY – How to sort out conflicting polls from Rasmussen Reports and Sen. Mitch McConnell's campaign? Remember error margin and methodology.

Rasmussen's result was Lunsford 49, McConnell 44. Applying the 4.5-point error margin, Lunsford's number could be as low as 44.5 and McConnell's could be as high as 48.5.

By Alan Lytle, WUKY

Lexington, KY – Following Tuesday night's presidential primary in Kentucky, bluegrass state democrats have stated loudly and clearly their support for Hillary Clinton. Barack Obama's Tuesday night victory across the country in Oregon, however, has put the Illinois senator in the driver's seat in the final weeks of the primary season.

"He's obviously the odds-on favorite, but there are more primaries," said WUKY political reporter Ken Kurtz.

By Chad Lampe

Murray, KY – Senator Hillary Clinton and her family are campaigning hard across western Kentucky, building up to what many political pundits label a make-or-break primary for the New York senator.

Clinton has been asked to call it quits by many in the political arena, but she continues to move forward. Nationally, she trails Senator Barack Obama in pledged delegates, superdelegates, and in the popular vote. However, Clinton has a commanding lead in Kentucky.