With the republican Senate leadership blocking expanded gambling legislation, this Senate race has become the front lines in the battle over slot machines at racetracks.
And in a wide-ranging interview Monday at the state capitol, Governor Steve Beshear insisted that his role in creating the senate vacancy was not driven by partisan politics.
A democratic win would whittle the republican Senate majority to just one seat.
That's after democratic Governor Steve Beshear created vacancies by appointing two republican senators to other positions, Dan Kelly to a judgeship and Charlie Borders to the Public Service Commission.
“I looked at all the candidates and he was in my mind the best candidate. So I appointed him, that created the need for a special election, and we had one. The democrats happened to win that one.
The next election that's coming up tomorrow,” said Beshear.
Because of a change in state pension law 4 years ago, both Kelly and Borders stand to double their pensions, thanks to Beshear's moves.
Amid the recession, WHAS11’s Joe Arnold asked Beshear if these kinds of lucrative deals are appropriate.
“It's interesting that the republican lawmakers who led the charge to pass that legislation are now the ones grumbling about it because they all at once think that I am taking advantage of it in one way or the other.”
The election could help tip the scales on expanded gambling, Beshear's top campaign pitch he acknowledges he has not been able to deliver.
But the governor says he has succeeded on getting state government "out of an ethical sinkhole" and partisan gridlock, has made government more efficient, spurred economic development and preserved the safety net for Kentuckians in crisis.
“Other states right now are closing schools, laying off teachers, laying off firefighters and police officers. And so far we've been able to avoid that.”
Beshear again declined to reveal any details of his private conversations with Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo after tapes surfaced of Mongiardo badmouthing him.
So what's next for state government?
The governor is telling state agencies to plan for a 6% cut in their budgets.
