This is the primary election Kentuckians have longed to see – one in which the voices of Kentucky voters might matter in selecting the next president of the United States.

But there’s a problem. It may be over by May 20. On the Republican side, it already is. Arizona Sen. John McCain has had the Republican nomination wrapped up for two months. And after last week’s big loss to Barack Obama in North Carolina and closer-than-expected win in Indiana, some prominent Democrats are suggesting Sen. Hillary Clinton should get out of the Democratic race.

Secretary of State Trey Grayson said turnout in the presidential primary four years ago was only 15 percent and while he hasn’t calculated a prediction for this year, he said this week he expects turnout to be up.

That might affect some down ticket races. Heading those is the Democratic primary to choose a nominee to take on Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell who faces token opposition from Daniel Essek, a truck driver from Whitley County. On the Democratic side are seven active candidates and one, Andrew Horne, whose name will appear on the ballot but who has withdrawn. Votes for him will not be counted.

U.S. Senate:

Two wealthy Louisville businessmen, Bruce Lunsford and Greg Fischer, are focusing on each other. Fischer attacked Lunsford in television ads about Lunsford’s past businesses, including a company which owned nursing homes and was cited by Medicaid and Medicare for over billing.

Former Kentucky Democratic Party Chairman and political consultant Danny Briscoe, who is not working for either, said Fischer’s advertising isn’t effective. Briscoe said no one knows Fischer while Lunsford has wide name recognition.

“Fischer’s commercials have been so bad, he ought to sue his people for making them,” Briscoe said.