Donald Trump may end up winning the yard sign war in the Jackson Purchase, which he swept in 2016 and 2020.
Even devout Democrats concede, at least privately, that it will almost certainly be a threepeat for Trump in the state’s westernmost region and statewide in November.
No matter – Democrats in the eight-county Purchase are taking up former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Democratic National Convention challenge to “do something.”
They’re flooding the Purchase with Harris-Walz yard signs. So far, at least 550 have been handed out, are ready for distribution, or are on order from various sources. More are expected.
“Signs don’t vote,” is an oft-cited political truism. But they can be a good gauge of enthusiasm for parties and candidates.
Trump signs way outnumbered Clinton-Kaine signs eight years ago and Biden-Harris signs in 2020. But this time, it looks like Democratic signs will sprout on lawns in significant numbers in the Purchase, whose former fealty to the party earned the region the handle “Gibraltar of Democracy.”
While the Purchase has become one of the reddest corners of Republican Red Kentucky, Democrats are feeling their oats again.
The faithful are fired up statewide, according to Jonathan Levin, communications director for the state Democratic Party. KPD headquarters in Frankfort is getting calls for signs, too.
Harris-Walz yard signs, bumper stickers, and other merchandise can be purchased on the KDP website, Levin said.
“Riding off the high of a historic convention, Kentucky Democrats are now turning the unprecedented energy behind Vice President Harris and Governor Walz into action,” he said. “We’re ready to send this winning ticket to the White House in November.”
Jennifer Smith, a longtime Paducah Democratic activist, is handing out 150 of the yard signs. “Every one of them is spoken for,” said Smith, who was a first-time delegate to the Democratic National Convention. She has a waiting list of 70, and it’s growing.
Also, the Calloway County Democratic Committee is expecting a delivery of 200 Harris-Walz signs to Murray, the county seat.
The McCracken County Democratic Committee has passed out 200 of the union-made, bright blue “KENTUCKIANS FOR HARRIS WALZ” signs in Paducah, the county seat. “We will have more signs in the near future,” said Kiesha Curry, committee chair.
Curry said the demand for signs reflected the “hope and energy” she saw during TV broadcasts of the DNC.
Smith, a former McCracken committee chair, felt the hope and energy first hand in Chicago. The optimism “was contagious,” she said. “‘I say to Joe Biden, ‘thank you, thank you, thank you.’ But honestly he did the right thing. Vice President Harris was the only one we could unify behind.”
A long parade of speakers, including Harris, Walz, Biden, Gov. Andy Beshear, and the Obamas, addressed the delegate throng inside the cavernous United Center, home of the NBA Bulls and the Blackhawks of the NHL.
Smith rated Michelle Obama’s speech the best one, even better than her husband’s. “They were all wonderful, but I don’t know how you could top hers. She absolutely nailed it.”
Smith said the former first lady’s words particularly resonated with younger delegates. “They were standing; their eyes were welling up with tears, men and women.”
Echoing other convention-goers and some pundits, Smith said the Democrats successfully wrested patriotism as an issue from the Republicans: “Trump hugging the flag and waving the Bible. We gave them something to think about.”
But Smith cautioned that the solidarity and euphoria will go for naught unless Democrats get to work for the ticket – all the way down to state and local races. She plans to knock doors for Frederick Fountain and Carrie Singler, Democratic state House candidates who aim to unseat a pair of Republicans whose districts included McCracken County.
She may also travel to swing states Georgia and Pennsylvania to volunteer for the Harris-Walz ticket.
“We need to stay absolutely focused on the mission because this isn’t going to be an easy race, and Trump has the Supreme Court in his pocket. If he doesn’t win, you know darn well that he’s going to use every avenue he can to challenge the results.”
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