Nov. 7, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
By Hanna Hall, student news writer
Campbellsville University’s Kentucky Heartland Institute on Public Policy gathered on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 5 p.m. in the Banquet Hall of the Badgett Academic Support System Center to discuss the 2014-2015 elections, including the U.S. senate race between Sen. Mitch McConnell and Alison Lundergan Grimes.
Dr. Shawn Williams, assistant professor of political science, welcomed Trey Grayson, president and chief executive officer of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce; Al Cross, director of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, based at the University of Kentucky; and Ronnie Ellis, state reporter for CNHI Newspapers in Kentucky.
Dr. John Chowning, vice president for church and external relations and executive assistant to the president of Campbellsville University, addressed the speakers about their thoughts over the 2014-2015 elections from a national, state, and local level.
Grayson discussed his interest in how much national attention was paid on the senator race between McConnell and Grimes since early 2013. “Kentucky has been the epicenter of the most interesting political race in the country,” Grayson said.
He believes that Kentucky will be continue to be in the nations eyes for the next few years. “There has not been a better time for Kentucky politics since 1860 when two Kentucky residents running for the President of the United States.”
Ellis covered the election from a state perspective. “Everybody looked at this race with great anticipation and excitement,” he said.
Even though the polls were close throughout the election, Ellis expected McConnell would win over Grimes but would not be shocked if the election would have turned out the other way. He described this race as the most disabled and unenjoyably campaign that he has ever covered.
Cross discussed his local perspective on the first senate race that he has ever covered. “I believe this was the most intense election ever held in Kentucky,” he said.
He reviewed the effects of the large amount of advertising that was used throughout this race that he described as a “Hurricane of advertising.” Cross labeled McConnell as a “Great retail politician” and how “this is one thing that will help him win this election.”
Chowning continued with several other questions pertaining to the election. The event came to an end as the attention was then turned to the crowd where they were free to address the speakers with any further questions they had.
Max Wise, assistant professor of political science, welcomed CU students and community members to KHIPP’s program.
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master’s degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsvillee.edu.