KENTUCKY poll: Romney (+14), (which is below McCain's score of +16)

[TroyD]

Monday, September 17

KENTUCKY (Romney +14)

Courier-Journal/SurveyUSA

Romney - 53

Obama - 39

McCain won this state by 16 points in 2008 and Bush by 20 in 2004. So I'd say Romney is actually underperforming in this poll.

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20120916/NEWS0106/309160046/Romney-has-large-lead-Kentucky-Bluegrass-Poll-shows

[JRLeft]

1. A very poor state.

[TroyD]

2. Bill Clinton won this state Twice

So it could be winnable again for another Democrat down the road. Hillary?

[kickitup]

3. I live in eastern Kentucky

and here are some of my thoughts.

1) Bill Clinton's speech caused some of the good ol' boys to think about what's in their own best interests.
2) Romney's Mormonism is a negative for many voters here. My parents are social conservatives but admit Romney's Mormonism makes them uneasy. My parents are nice, salt of the earth people, and if they are having trouble getting past the Mormon factor, I would hate to think how some of the less educated conservatives are taking it. Some of them really are trying to decide whether it's better to vote for a member of the "ungodly Mormon cult" or a "black communist who may be a Muslim." They don't really believe Mormons are Christians but will say, "all the Mormon's I know are good, honest people." They probably all like Paul Ryan better than Romney. Abortion and gay marriage are BIG DEALS.
3) This state is very poor and I think some may realize just how much this area depends on federal money. I mean, some of our children wouldn't eat if it wasn't for federal dollars pouring into this area.
4) I live next to a college town so maybe my own observations are skewed, but I honestly think the young adults are beginning to reject some of their parents' ideology. I can hope, anyway. I'm really proud of some of these kids because they are managing to embrace the positive aspects of their culture (music, folk art, literature and things like that), while rejecting the attitudes that have helped hold the region back.

I don't post much, but look forward to reading DU everyday! It keeps me somewhat sane during election time when my political beliefs leave me feeling somewhat isolated.

[WCGreen]

4. It's amazing that some of the richest people in the country are the people

who own coal mines in KY and WVA and yet where their mines are located in some of the most poverty stricken areas of the country.

Good observations.