By Mark R. Chellgren
The Associated Press

FRANKFORT - So-called midterm elections don't seem to attract the attention of Kentucky voters and Secretary of State John Y. Brown III thinks Tuesday's will be no different.

Even when there is a U.S. Senate seat to be decided, as this year with incumbent Republican Mitch McConnell seeking a historic fourth term against Democrat Lois Combs Weinberg, less than half the electorate turns out to vote.

Mr. Brown estimated turnout Tuesday could be around 40 percent of the nearly 2.65 million registered voters. Polls are open at 3,476 precincts from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.. Similar circumstances in 1998 saw turnout of 47.8 percent, though the Senate race between Jim Bunning and Scotty Baesler was more closely contested. With no Senate seat on the ballot in 1994, turnout fell to 38.8 percent.

The only statewide race fizzled almost from the moment it started. Ms. Weinberg's campaign got the air taken out of it when she barely squeaked by primary opponent Tom Barlow.

The lack of a serious threat did not keep Mr. McConnell from mounting his usual array of attacks. His commercials compared Ms. Weinberg, the daughter of former Gov. Bert Combs making her first political campaign, to hot-button liberals like Hillary Clinton, called her a millionaire corporate executive and made fun of her claims to represent ordinary families.

But it earned the endorsement of the Courier-Journal, the first time in his political career his hometown newspaper recommended the former Jefferson County judge.

Ms. Weinberg, desperate for an issue, has dredged up Mr. McConnell's opposition to a constitutional amendment to prohibit flag burning and even challenged him to a trapshooting contest.

A McConnell protege, 3rd District Rep. Anne Northup, is struggling to win a fourth term against Democrat Jack Conway, a former Gov. Paul Patton administration official who is making his first race. Party heavyweights have joined the fray, including two visits from President Bush for Ms. Northup that Democrats say is proof she is in trouble.

Up the Ohio River, the lone Democrat in Kentucky's congressional delegation, Ken Lucas, is battling history to win a third term. Mr. Lucas is the first Democrat to represent the 4th District in a generation and is being challenged by Geoff Davis, a Hebron businessman and political newcomer.

Some local matters could bump up turnout. Mr. Brown said races for the new metro council in Jefferson County and a contentious Lexington mayoral race, along with a bevy of local races across the state may draw voters.