Scott Wartman

swartman@enquirer.com

Hillary Clinton will find out Tuesday if she's still has many friends in Kentucky.

Kentucky's primary will feature local and federal races, topped by the contest between Clinton and Bernie Sanders for the Democratic presidential nomination.

The Clintons have had success in Kentucky, with Bill Clinton winning the state both times in the 1990s and Hillary winning in the primary in 2008 against Barack Obama.

Sanders and Clinton will split 55 of the state's Democratic delegates based on the proportion of votes they receive. In addition to the 55 delegates, Kentucky Democrats will also send to the national convention five super delegates who aren't committed to a candidate, though two have already pledged support to Clinton, said Dan Lowry, spokesman for the Kentucky Democratic Party.

Republicans won't have a presidential primary, already having voted in a March 5 caucus. Also, Donald Trump has pretty much locked up the GOP nomination.

Here's what to watch:

Clinton's stock dipping?

Bill and Hillary Clinton have many friends in Northern Kentucky. Both made frequent trips to the state in 2014 for their friend, Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, when she ran for U.S. Senate against Mitch McConnell. Grimes' father, Jerry Lundergan, befriended Bill Clinton in the 1980s when Clinton was governor of Arkansas.

Some signs, however, show the Clintons' star in Kentucky might be waning.

Sanders received a warm reception in Kentucky this month. A Sanders rally May 3 in Louisville drew 7,000.

Hillary Clinton and her husband have made several trips to coal country in Kentucky and West Virginia to control the damage from comments she made while campaigning in Ohio. Clinton had said if elected, she will "put a lot of coal companies and coal miners out of business."

If Clinton loses, it will be a black eye for her, said Al Cross, director of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky.

"We've got to give Bill Clinton credit for going to both coal fields," Cross said. "If she lost, it would send a the national message of weakness."

There hasn't been much polling for the Kentucky Democratic primary. The only poll taken in Kentucky came out March 1-2 by Public Policy Polling and showed Clinton leading Sanders 43 to 38.

H. Clinton has many Northern Kentucky friends

Clinton will stop by the house of Fort Mitchell Democrat Nathan Smith on Sunday for a fundraiser. Northern Kentucky is far from the coal fields and is safe ground for her, Smith said. She last visited in 2014 at a rally for Grimes at the Bank of Kentucky Arena at Northern Kentucky University.

He expects to see her win the state and Northern Kentucky by a wide margin.

"Hillary Clinton has come a lot to Northern Kentucky," Smith said. "She's invested time and energy here."

Trump factor

Donald Trump won't be on the ballot but his presence will be felt. Trump supporters helped Sanders win West Virginia, according to exit polls. An NBC exit poll revealed one-third of those who voted for him said they will support Trump in the fall. Like West Virginia, Kentucky has a large number of conservative Democrats who behave like Republicans. Kentucky Democrats outnumber Republicans in registration 1.7 million to 1.3 million. But a Democratic presidential candidate hasn't won the state since Bill Clinton in 1996. The state hasn't had a Democratic senator in Congress since 1999.

Sanders will get a boost from Trump supporters like in West Virginia, Cross said.

"He will not be on the ballot, but he'll certainly have an effect," Cross said.

Oh, and there's a Senate race

The Democrats will pick their candidate to run against U.S. Sen. Rand Paul. Lexington Mayor Jim Gray is the favorite, but the Democrats also have Ron Leach, Tom Rectenwald, Grant T. Short, Sellus Wilder, Rory Houlihan and Jeff Kender.

With it being a six-person race, it might be closer than many think, said Paul Whalen, chairman of the Campbell County Democrats.

"I think Ron Leach and Sellus Wilder have impressed a lot of folks," Whalen said. "That's the word on the street. Sellus has come out and endorsed Sanders. The Sanders people know that. That will make it really close."

Paul faces nominal challenges from James Gould and Stephen Slaughter.

Local races in the mix

The most contested state House race in Northern Kentucky is the open seat vacated by retiring state House Rep.Tom Kerr, R-Taylor Mill. This district covers part Tuesday's primary will whittle the field down to two. Republicans have Sean P. FitzGerald and Kimberly Poore Moser while Democrats have Lucas Deaton and Larry Varney.

Empty polls

Don't expect long lines. With the Republicans not having a presidential primary, it could be a low turnout. Secretary of State Grimes predicts 20 percent turnout statewide.

Election day basics

When: Tuesday, polls open from 6 a.m. - 6 p.m.

What: Some primaries for local city and General Assembly races as well as Kentucky Senate and Democratic presidential primary.

Where: People may check their party registration and precinct location at govoteky.com.