Trump: It's not my fault Bevin lost in Kentucky. (Says 'Fake News' will blame him anyway)

Darcy Costello | Courier Journal

President Donald Trump's campaign says he "just about dragged" Gov. Matt Bevin across his election's finish line and helped him to "run stronger than expected" in what became a very close race.

In a statement released shortly after Bevin refused to concede, Trump's campaign shifted blame on Bevin for the narrow defeat, noting that the president's efforts helped "five of six Kentucky Republicans win clear statewide victories."

Trump echoed that sentiment in a tweet late Tuesday, saying he "MattBevin picked up at least 15 points in last days, but perhaps not enough (Fake News will blame Trump!)."

Bevin lost by fewer than 5,200 votes to Attorney Gov. Andy Beshear, but refused to concede the race and cited unspecified "irregularities" in the election.

#ElectionNight Won 5 out of 6 elections in Kentucky, including 5 great candidates that I spoke for and introduced last night. @MattBevin picked up at least 15 points in last days, but perhaps not enough (Fake News will blame Trump!). Winning in Mississippi Governor race! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2019

The gubernatorial race has been closely watched by national pundits and political observers, who considered it a litmus test for the 2020 presidential contest. And Bevin's campaign has leaned heavily into cultural issues and attempted to nationalize the off-year contest.

Trump, who appeared in Lexington Monday night to stump for Bevin and the rest of the Republican ticket, alluded to the attention surrounding the race, where he told supporters that if Bevin were to lose, it would be used against him.

"If you lose, it sends a really bad message," Trump told the packed arena. "You can't let that happen to me."

At that event, Trump called Beshear a "major lefty" who's too extreme and too liberal to elect and would "take a giant wrecking ball to the greatest economy" in Kentucky's history.

Beshear, meanwhile, declared victory Tuesday night in the governor's race as he held a razor-thin margin over the incumbent.

But Bevin told Republicans gathered at his election night party that he wanted the election process to be followed and alluded to "irregularities" that were "very well corroborated."

He didn't specify what those issues surrounding the election were.

"This is a close, close race," Bevin said. "We are not conceding this race by any stretch."

The networks are already full of crap with Kentucky, be honest!



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 — Brad Parscale (@parscale) November 6, 2019

Republicans swept every other election on the ballot, seizing control over the attorney general and secretary of state offices.

Darcy Costello: 502-582-4834; dcostello@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @dctello. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/darcyc.