Republican gubernatorial candidate Kelly Craft said internal polling shows her tied with Attorney General Daniel Cameron in the race to win the party’s nomination.
But, two public polls released in recent months — Mason-Dixon and Fox 56/Emerson College — show Cameron in the lead.
In the Mason-Dixon poll, Cameron led Craft 41 to 13%. In the Fox 56/Emerson College poll, Craft gained significant ground on Cameron, with the former United Nations Ambassador polling at 24% to Cameron’s 30%, with Ryan Quarles polling at 15%.
Speaking at a campaign event Friday morning, Craft told supporters that polling in September of 2022 showed her 40 points behind Cameron, then in January, 26 points behind, and now even with Cameron.
“I was 40 down September the 13th, 26 [points] down in January. Now, we’re dead tied,” Craft said.
When requested to share that internal polling, Craft said there are multiple sources, but her campaign keeps that internal polling information private.
“Unlike Daniel, I don’t put out internal polling,” Craft said, “because I want Kentuckians to invite me to meet them at their moment.”
Cameron released an internal poll in January showing he led Craft 30 to 8%.
Craft’s campaign is busy traveling the state throughout the weekend leading up to the election on May 16.
Craft has called on powerful allies in recent days. She is appearing with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in Louisville and Richmond on May 13 for GOTV rallies.
“Kelly Craft is the candidate that Kentuckians need as their governor to usher in a new generation of leadership,” Cruz said in a statement. “I’ve seen firsthand how hard Kelly has worked to stand up to the Chinese Communist Party and negotiate the largest trade deal in American history.”
She is also holding a Get Out the Vote Rally with presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy in Florence Monday, a day before the May 16 primary.
Ramaswamy is a Cincinnati native and 2024 presidential hopeful. He will appear with Craft at 1 p.m. on May 15 at the Florence Nature Park Event Center.
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Ramaswamy endorsed Craft for governor on Thursday.
Craft reported loaning her campaign another $2,250,000, according to the 15-day pre-primary report filed to the Kentucky Registry for Election Finance.
The latest loan brings Craft’s total to just under $9.3 million after her campaign reported a $7 million loan in its 30-day pre-primary report.
Her campaign has raised just under $11 million overall. They’ve spent $9.6 million overall, with the vast majority of that going toward TV ads. They have $1.2 million on hand heading into the final days before the May 16 primary but can raise or loan the campaign additional funds.