President Trump’s reelection campaign manager, Brad Parscale, corrected the false notion that Gov. Matt Bevin’s defeat to Democratic Attorney General Andy Beshear on Tuesday was somehow a referendum on President Trump.
“President Trump’s rally helped five of six Kentucky Republicans win clear statewide victories, including Attorney General-elect Daniel Cameron, who will be the first black A.G. in Kentucky history and the first Republican to hold the office since 1948,” read a Trump campaign statement. “The President just about dragged Gov. Matt Bevin across the finish line, helping him run stronger than expected in what turned into a very close race at the end. A final outcome remains to be seen.”
Here's Trump Campaign statement via @parscale on #KentuckyElections.
— Richard Baris (@Peoples_Pundit) November 6, 2019
"The President just about dragged Gov. Matt Bevin across the finish line, helping him run stronger than expected in what turned into a very close race at the end."
It's true he was down folks, significantly. pic.twitter.com/TDW971vrDF
On Twitter, Parscale reiterated that Bevin's loss (though he has not conceded), has nothing to do with Trump.
"The networks are already full of crap with Kentucky, be honest!" he said. "The Democrats nominated a moderate, who’s dad was a moderate, who didn’t talk about impeachment or Trump, and who acts like a Republican. Talk about Kentucky when an actual Democrat runs. #FakeNews"
The networks are already full of crap with Kentucky, be honest!
— Brad Parscale (@parscale) November 6, 2019
The Democrats nominated a moderate, who’s dad was a moderate, who didn’t talk about impeachment or Trump, and who acts like a Republican.
Talk about Kentucky when an actual Democrat runs. #FakeNews
Others agreed, cautioning against drawing a connection between Bevin and Trump.
I'd caution against extrapolating too much from the statewide results. Bevin was uniquely unpopular, even within his own party. Barely won majority in primary. Lowest approval of any governor in America.
— Josh Kraushaar (@HotlineJosh) November 6, 2019
Rest of the GOP ticket doing fine in Kentucky.
If a Republican wins a state AG race for the first time in 70 years and a Republican also loses a Governors race in KY maybe it’s about the candidates and not a referendum on the President. It’s embarrassing I have to remind people of this.
— Chris Barron (@ChrisRBarron) November 6, 2019
No one energizes our base like @realDonaldTrump.
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) November 6, 2019
In Kentucky, the governor was down 17 points.
President Trump helped lift the entire ticket, winning 5 of 6 statewide races so far!
Our big Kentucky Rally on Monday night had a massive impact on all of the races. The increase in Governors race was at least 15 points, and maybe 20! Will be in Louisiana for @EddieRispone on Wednesday night. Big Rally!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2019
Bevin was one of the least popular governors in America, according to a recent Morning Consult survey.
Bevin's unpopularity dropped from 56 percent to 53 percent in Morning Consult's 2019 Q3 survey. His approval increased from 32 percent to 34 percent, which still remains the lowest approval rating in the country. He remains the most unpopular Republican governor, and he is the only Republican governor who has at least a 50 percent unpopular rating. 13 percent of people surveyed said they don't know. (WKYT)