| Carroll Hubbard’s Comeback |
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 Hubbard poses with supporters
Hubbard has been to community events in all seven counties. He has also been busy raising money. According to most recent Registry filings, he has raised over $21,000.
In the Saturday, October 6th edition of the Paducah Sun, a story on Hubbard’s fund raising wound up on the front page of the paper. Political writer Bill Bartleman wrote “Winters has not filed the paperwork with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance required to accept donations according to a check of the agency’s website.” Bartleman went on to describe Hubbard’s fundraising event to be held later in the day-including the address and time. The tone and omission of Hubbard’s colorful past came as a surprise to Hubbard and supporters.
Hubbard’s reception was an important step in demonstrating that he is a serious candidate. He knows how to raise money and build a political network. Several at his reception remembered when he was first elected to Congress, he sent all graduating high school seniors congratulation cards. Many retirees in their sixties have preserved their cards. This race allows Hubbard to pull from this well of nostalgia to regain a seat he held back in the 1960s.
It is interesting to note the reaction of those outside the region when Hubbard’s name comes up. Perceptions of him are not so kind as they are in the Purchase where he knows everyone and everyone knows him. Hubbard is a walking encyclopedia of faces and names. The only other person who ever came close was Julian Carroll, another West Kentuckian. All politics is local for career politicians like Hubbard. While the media is fixated on the governor’s race (as it should be), by ten o’clock on election night, sides will be drawn up and strategies decided in a Winters vs. Hubbard race.
If Fletcher wins, Hubbard will have to raise between $300,000 and $400,000 to fight for the seat. If Beshear wins, Ken Winters will have to raise that kind of money to beat back Hubbard. Unless he has GOP backing, Winters will face a harder re-election campaign than most incumbents. Frankfort insiders are already saying that Beshear has targeted this Senate seat to take back for the Democrats.
Whatever happens, Carroll Hubbard will run hard. He wakes up in the morning thinking about campaigning and goes to bed at night thinking about campaigning. Each night between 8 and 10, he personally addresses 100 campaign cards and letters asking for support.
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