Alison Lundergan Grimes’ Campaign Needs A “Major Reset”
People Close To The Grimes Campaign Suggest It Might Be Time For A “Major Reset”. “But some who watch campaigns closely say the bulk of polling suggests it may be time for a major reset in the Grimes camp if she wants to restore the momentum she appeared to have last winter.” (Joe Gerth, “Grimes might need campaign reset, observers say,” Courier-Journal, 9/14/14)
Alison Grimes Spent Last Week Trying To “Tamp Down Speculation” That “Her Campaign Was Withering”. “Alison Lundergan Grimes sent her pollster out last week to tamp down speculation that her campaign was withering at the hands of an opponent that has killed off every challenger who ever faced him.” (Joe Gerth, “Grimes might need campaign reset, observers say,” Courier-Journal, 9/14/14)
Stuart Rothenberg On The Grimes Campaign: “her fortunes appear to be sagging”. (Joe Gerth, “Grimes might need campaign reset, observers say,” Courier-Journal, 9/14/14)
Danny Briscoe: “”Something’s got to be done a lot different because what’s happening isn’t working,” he said.” (Joe Gerth, “Grimes might need campaign reset, observers say,” Courier-Journal, 9/14/14)
Jennifer Duffy: Voters Don’t Believe Grimes Won’t Vote With Obama And Reid. “The problem is that I don’t know if voters are believing that she’s not going to be, you know, a Democrat voting with Barack Obama and (Senate Majority Leader) Harry Reid,” Duffy said.” (Joe Gerth, “Grimes might need campaign reset, observers say,” Courier-Journal, 9/14/14)
Grimes’ Campaign Strategy Is Already Being Questioned
Grimes Supporters Are Already Second Guessing Her Campaign Strategy. “But there’s danger for Grimes in another set of numbers: a plurality of respondents said they don’t know enough about her to form an opinion – providing McConnell with the opportunity to define her as “Obama’s candidate.” That’s because of a strategic decision last spring by Grimes’ campaign. Some Grimes supporters argued back then that she should take advantage of McConnell’s preoccupation with the primary challenge of Matt Bevin and run positive biographical ads to introduce herself to voters before McConnell could define her. Instead she decided (reasonably perhaps, given McConnell’s cash advantage) to hoard her money and raise more so she could go toe-to-toe on the airwaves with McConnell in the fall.” (Ronnie Ellis, “Is Grimes more than just not-McConnell?,” Richmond Register, 9/13/14)
Grimes “Might’ve Been Wise” To Spend Money Earlier. “The wisdom of that decision won’t be fully determined until Election Day. But poll numbers hint that Grimes might’ve been wise to spend some advertising money earlier.” (Ronnie Ellis, “Is Grimes more than just not-McConnell?,” Richmond Register, 9/13/14)
Kentucky Democrat: Grimes Needs To Alter Her Messaging. “Democratic consultant Danny Briscoe who isn’t involved in the campaign but supports Grimes and is friends with her father, Jerry Lundergan, suggests another explanation: Grimes may need to alter her message a bit…“She hasn’t given them a reason to like her while at the same time McConnell keeps giving them more reasons to dislike her because of Obama.” (Ronnie Ellis, “Is Grimes more than just not-McConnell?,” Richmond Register, 9/13/14)
Jennifer Duffy: Grimes Has Not Defined Herself. “Jennifer Duffy, senior editor for the non-partisan Cook Political Report, agreed that Grimes hasn’t been able to define herself while McConnell has created an image of her that has driven up her unfavorable ratings. Nor has she been able to earn voters’ trust, Duffy said.” (Joe Gerth, “Grimes might need campaign reset, observers say,” Courier-Journal, 9/14/14)
Grimes Ads With Real People “Didn’t Work”. “And Duffy said a series of three ads in which Grimes talked to supporters about McConnell’s record — giving her the opportunity to talk about her positions — didn’t work.” (Joe Gerth, “Grimes might need campaign reset, observers say,” Courier-Journal, 9/14/14)
Down In The Polls, Reduced To Campaigning On Obamacare?
Now That Grimes Has Fallen Behind, Democrats Wonder If She Will Campaign On Obamacare. “Even before that, Democrats wondered if and how they might use the issue against him. And now that their Senate nominee, Alison Lundergan Grimes, has fallen behind McConnell in polls, more are wondering about it.” (Al Cross, “Al Cross | Why isn’t health big Grimes issue?,” Courier-Journal, 9/14/14)
Al Cross: What Grimes Is Doing Isn’t Working, So She Should Run On Obamacare. “But the percentage chance that Grimes will oust the Senate Republican leader, which would be a historic upset, is declining. Last weekend The New York Times gave McConnell a 93 percent chance of winning. What Grimes has been doing isn’t working, and to win, she needs to do something different.” (Al Cross, “Al Cross | Why isn’t health big Grimes issue?,” Courier-Journal, 9/14/14)
Kentucky Democrat: Grimes Should Embrace Obamacare To Turn Around Her Campaign. “Briscoe said she should also consider doing what the Democratic incumbent in Arkansas and a candidate in West Virginia have done; gone on television to endorse the more popular parts of the Affordable Care Act, including a provision that requires health insurers to cover pre-existing conditions.” (Joe Gerth, “Grimes might need campaign reset, observers say,” Courier-Journal, 9/14/14)
