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Al Cross on Rand Paul's Presidential Run and the Ky Governor's Race

LRC Public Information

The Director of Kentucky’s Institute for Rural Journalism says reports of Senator Rand Paul declaring his presidential run next month in Louisville aren’t surprising. 

Al Cross says Paul is among a handful of Republicans who’ve been waging Presidential campaigns unofficially for months.

“I think he’s been running for president for more than a year, really, and this is just the acknowledgment that he really is and can start raising money for that pursuit," said Cross.

“His appeal is not regional, it’s ideological, he’s trying to cross ideological boundaries and expand the base of the party," said Cross. "He’s given himself a very difficult assignment. But those of us who didn’t think he had a chance of being elected senator know now not to write him off.”

Cross says the Senator’s softened some of his more hard line stances over the past several months and become more practical to make him more agreeable to a cross section of voters, especially regarding the use of American military force overseas.

Cross says he’s like a lot of people who are surprised the race for Kentucky governor has been so slow to get going.  The latest Bluegrass poll showed former Louisville metro council member Hal Heiner with an eight point lead over agriculture commissioner James Comer and businessman Matt Bevin.  Cross chalks that up to name recognition thanks to Heiner spending over $4 million so far for advertising.

“It’s not surprising that Heiner has jumped out to a lead, because he’s been running in the clear," said Cross. "I think Comer is going to get on TV in a meaningful way now and he’ll probably tighten it up.”

Retired Kentucky Supreme Court justice Will T. Scott is also running. 

The gubernatorial primary is May 19th.

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