GOP advisor reveals cynical gamble that fueled Kentucky’s Tea Party governor’s win

Many political observers were shocked that Republican Matt Bevin won the race for Kentucky governor despite vowing to roll back the Medicaid expansion that benefited up to 400,000 residents.

But one defeated Democratic candidate said he saw the cynical seeds of Bevin's surprising victory during a recent meeting with Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, where someone asked a longtime advisor to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) about Bevin's promise, reported Insider Louisville.

“I remember being in the room when (the McConnell advisor, Scott) Jennings was asked whether or not Republicans were afraid of the electoral consequences of displacing 400-500,000 people who have insurance,” said Adam Edelen, who lost his re-election campaign for state auditor.

"He simply said, ‘People on Medicaid don’t vote,’" Edelen continued. "Well, ultimately he was right, and that turned out to be the case."

He said, in hindsight, Democratic Attorney General Jack Conway didn't attack Bevin's policies enough but instead focused on the Republican's tax issues.

“It seemed to me that they could punch that bruise, but also bring up just how radical their policy agenda is -- with everything from vouchers to right to work,” Edelen said. “They have a policy agenda that really, in my view, threatens the social construct that has served the state pretty well for a long time. So there was the opportunity to run on those issues.”

He said Republicans benefitted by rural white voters' antipathy toward President Barack Obama -- which he said had depleted the Democratic Party's bench in Kentucky and other states.

“What I would say to those who are in leadership of the Democratic Party is that we’ve got to move to a post-Obama approach,” Edelen said. “Love him or hate him, he has all but wiped out the bench in middle America and the South of the Democratic Party. That’s just a fact."

Edelen, who had hoped to challenge Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), is among those candidates' whose futures were clouded by losses.

“I think you could make a strong case that Rand has badly neglected the needs of Kentuckians to serve his own political ambitions," Edelen said. "I think that’s a compelling case to be made. But it’s not just about candidates, it’s about ideas and vision, and I think that’s where the (Democratic) Party needs to get right now. Because just criticizing the opposition without offering something to follow is not going to work, especially for Democrats.”

However, he said a lot can change in politics.

"I thought Rand Paul was a gadfly six years ago, a weird guy in mock turtlenecks with a famous (father) who happened to be a fringe celebrity, and then the next thing you know he’s in the U.S. Senate," Edelen said. "So I think I would encourage someone looking at any race to just get at it and make your mark, and the public itself will determine how credible they’ll be. I don’t think Rand Paul’s going to beat anybody 60-to-40 next year -- I don’t see that happening.”

Watch Bevin's appearance on Fox News after he won election: