(LEX 18) — Gov. Matt Bevin and AG Andy Beshear have two different approaches in their campaigns as gubernatorial candidates.
Last week, Bevin stood side-by-side with President Donald Trump in Louisville. As the president spoke to veterans, Bevin and Sen. Mitch McConnell both received shout outs.
"I'll be here campaigning for Mitch. I'll be campaigning for Matt and we're going to get them both back in. I just had to say it because Mitch has been someone very special, and Matt does that as well," said Trump.
This approach is different compared to the Democrats because when Bernie Sanders visited Louisville over the weekend, Beshear was not there.
During the rally, Congressman John Yarmuth mentioned Kentucky's Gubernatorial Race but Beshear's name was not brought up.
"And while we know the future of our country and our democracy is at stake in 2020, the future of the state of Kentucky is at stake in 2019," said Yarmuth.
University of Kentucky Political Science Professor Dr. Michael Zilis said there is a reason for the difference. Trump is popular in Kentucky, while some national Democrats are not.
"They're happy to take some of that Trump popularity and attempt to bask themselves in it. So this is very much a strategic approach from the Bevin campaign. And similarly for the Beshear campaign, they don't want to make this about national Democrats versus Republicans because they know it's going to be a very difficult task for them to win if they frame their race in that way," said Zilis.
