Well, well. Suh-PRIZE, suh-PRIZE, suh-PRIZE. It looks like someone finally got through to the brain of Senator Jim Bunning, who released a statement this afternoon, (via the Lexington Herald-Leader) that he was ending his re-election bid:
saying he has not raised the necessary funds to run an effective campaign.
Maybe someone talked straight to him this weekend in Cooperstown. (As a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, I assume he visited there this weekend since it was Induction Weekend)
So where does this leave the folks in Kentucky? Well, for one, it will be the first open Senate seat for the state since Bunning replaced the retiring Wendell Ford in 1998.
The front runner for the Republicans is probably the current Kentucky Secretary of State, Trey Grayson. Grayson has been considered a strong candidate, even before Bunning’s withdrawal, although he always claimed that if Bunning did go ahead and run, he would bow out.
A Republican ‘dark-horse’ for this seat is a fellow by the name of Rand Paul. If that name is at all familiar, it may be because Rand is the son of Rep. Ron Paul.
Now for the Democrats, there are two leading candidates. The current Lt Governor, Daniel Mongiardo, who lost the 2004 Senate race to Bunning. There was speculation on Mongiardo’s sexual preference during that race which has seemed to lead Mongiardo to fully embrace homophobia and work against LGBT rights for the citizens of the Commonwealth.
The other major candidate for the Democrats is the current state Attorney General, Jack Conway. In fund raising for the 2010 Senate Race, Conway has far out-raised Mongiardo in the second quarter of 2009.
I’m going to go out on a limb here, and predict that progressives will most likely find Conway a voice of reason.
Let the speeches begin.
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If anyone knows Kentucky politics around here it’s dakine.
Fancy Farm should be interesting next week
And for those who are not Kentucky natives, Fancy Farm is the home of a long standing political meeting.
Thanks, dakine. That’s good news even if another R wins. Bunning is 77 and is clearly on another planet most of the time. I think, not sure, that we are better off with a coherent R than one who is out to lunch.
So where are the progressives in Kentucky? Are there any? There Howie who can help raise cash for a progressive candidate and Obama should have some influence. No?
Mitch McConnell must be very happy today.
There are many progressives in Kentucky but it is extremely difficult for a progressive to win a statewide race.
Which leaves Jack Conway types as the most likely Dem candidates. Most of these are fairly typical moderates (Rep Ben Chandler claims Blue Dog status but is not a knee jerk anti-progressive, having been the first major Dem in Kentucky to endorse Obama). Others in this grouping can include Rep John Yarmouth and Governor Steve Beshear. Note that Yarmouth represents Louisville and Chandler represents Lexington.
Poor Senator Bunning, he’s tired of tiny green doctors pounding at his back.
Sayanora.
-G
If Dr. Grady Stumbo isn’t too old he’d be a promising candidate.
I think Stumbo has probably lost too many statewide runs to be considered particularly viable.
Conway is most likely the leading candidate for now, as the incumbent AG and forty years old
IMO,if Mongiardo wins the primary, the race is over. I know Beshears has to back him, but Chandler and Yarmuth and more importantly, Crit Luallen are backing Conway.
He was, if not exactly “smooth” at least very fired up at Fancy Farms before, so he and Greyson will be interesting to see squared off. They both have less skeletons in the closet than most KY politicians, so at least it won’t be like the Lunsford debacle.
Why can’t a progressive win statewide? What are the issues which they espouse which are not popular?
Kentucky is a wingnut state, big time.
The thing that has bothered me the most about Mongiardo is his flaming homophobia, especially since the ‘04 election.
And I agree with you, that Grayson, would most likely walk all over Mongiardo. (I assume that was what you meant by it being over if Mongiardo wins the primary)
Edit: to Mary @ #10
Dang — I was hoping Bunning would continue to pretend to run for a few more months, then suddenly drop out to accept a position with the Obama Administration, such as Baseball Ambassador to Cuba or something like that.
It will be interesting to see if the KY right embraces or shuns Rand Paul. The RNC blackballed his dad during the presidential election for, you know…being totally different and stuff.
Either Dem candidate will have their hands full regardless. KY is pretty backwards…and I’m from Georgia!
Rand Paul? Rand?
As in Ayn Rand?
I knew Ron Paul was a nutjob!
wikipedia says Randal “Rand” Paul.
Mongiardo is leading in the polls (May) against Conway but I don’t think he can win the general. Greyson is a formidable candidate. I’m hoping Conway gets out there and pulls out the primary so we’ll have a chance at this seat.