Thursday, 12 July 2007
The Casino War Begins
« Strategic Error By Democrats | Main | Yarmuth Fails to Impress »Today began the battle for legalized gambling the governorship as Beshear and Fletcher squared off in the first debate of the political season. Not surprisingly, most of the debate centered around legalized gambling. As the race begins to take shape, it is becoming apparent that legalized gambling is going to hold center stage for the main event.
Why? Two forces have made gambling the primary issue of the gubernatorial race. The first was Beshear's primary campaign. Everywhere he went he talked about the need for legalized gambling to generate revenue to fund all of his socialist ideas. In responding to any problem or need the state had, Beshear would almost always answer with the need for legalized gambling. On the other side of the fence, Fletcher decided to move his position. While he always opposed gambling personally, he never took a strict stand against it. He has decided to embrace his personal belief and firmly oppose gambling. In the process, he has created stark contrast between the two candidates. One that will be the defining issue of the race.
This is an absolutely brilliant move by Fletcher's team. By embracing Beshear's main selling point and diametrically opposing it, Fletcher has guaranteed legalized gambling will be the main issue of the race. Not only is this a winning issue for Fletcher, but it deflects attention from his "scandals' in office. Beshear on the other hand has backed himself into this corner. He spent his entire primary as a single note candidate. Because the Democratic primary was a mostly congenial affair, Beshear's ideas were never really challenged. Now that we have moved to the general, his central tenet for his entire campaign is being challenged and he is going to have to spend a lot of time and energy defending it. Meanwhile Fletcher can focus on his accomplishments and free market alternatives to "gambling with our future". I know it is still early in the race, but right now Fletcher's team is running circles around Beshear. It will be interesting to see if it continues.
I recommend doing research on gambling in Louisiana. Much research may be done online, but I highly recommend this book!
My advice? Hold the people in power accountable. Hard to do but doable.