KY's Lunsford Lets The Dogs Loose on McConnell

Democratic candidate Bruce Lunsford sets the hounds after Mitch McConnell in the Bluegrass State's US Senate race:

Lunsford Crushes McConnell in KY Senate Debate

Democratic Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford routed incumbent Republican Senator Mitch McConnell in a debate that was televised statewide this evening. The Senate Minority Leader and twenty-four year veteran of the US Senate was repeatedly left speechless under relentless questioning by the Bluegrass Democrat.

McConnell was unable to answer questions about his refusal to call the current economic crisis anything more than a "slowdown". He could not explain his vote for the $700 billion bailout of Wall Street, nor was the Republican able muster a defense of his votes to spend $600 billion in Iraq while at the same giving tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans.

Lunsford hammered McConnell for leading a record number of filibusters in the current Congress. Mitch was unable to justify his obstructionist record in the Senate as America veered towards its worst economic crisis in nearly eighty years.

"Once again, the great and powerful Mitch McConnell loses his voice when it's time to defend the atrocious record he's piled up after 24 years in the Senate and 40 years on the public payroll," Lunsford spokesman Cary Stemle said. "Kentucky voters deserve to know, and yet McConnell has nothing to offer."

Breaking News: Bill Clinton to Campaign for Lunsford in KY

In a press release issued just minutes ago, the US Senate campaign of Bruce Lunsford announced that former President Bill Clinton will be stumping for the Bluegrass Democrat this Friday, October 24th. Lunsford is in a tight race to unseat incumbent Republican Senator Mitch McConnell who is also the Senate Minority Leader.

Current plans are for the former President to make campaign appearances with Lunsford at two western Kentucky rallies, one in Paducah and another in Bowling Green. Additional details about the Clinton-Lunsford campaign events are expected later today.

Last month, Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) also campaigned for Lunsford, holding rallies in Lexington and Pikeville.

Jon Kyle: New GOP Senate Leader?

Republicans are getting nervous about McConnell's chances now that polls show Lunsford tying up the race.

Roll Call this morning looks into the possibility of McConnell getting beat and his possible replacement. Arizona Senator, Jon Kyle, has worked his way up the ladder and is being called a top contender for the job. He's currently serves as minority whip.

Schumer's all over it. The DSCC will begin running ads today on Lunsford's behalf.

Who said Democrats can't win in the south? Hagan is likely to beat Dole in North Carolina. Lunsford has McConnell on the ropes in Kentucky. And Martin is Chambliss' worst nightmare in Georgia. Magic 60 is looking better every day.

KY's Lunsford Slams McConnell on Wall Street Ties

Here's the latest television ad from Bruce Lunsford, Democratic candidate for the US Senate from Kentucky. Lunsford has pulled even with incumbent Republican Mitch McConnell in recent polls and is now given an excellent chance of retiring the Senate Minority Leader. This ad gives you a good idea of the spirited campaign Lunsford is waging. Go, Bruce, go!

Another Poll Finds KY's Mitch McConnell in Deep Trouble

For the second time in less than a week, a survey of Kentucky voters finds Democrat Bruce Lunsford has pulled even with Republican incumbent Mitch McConnell in the race for the US Senate. The latest poll, released just hours ago, was conducted for The Louisville Courier-Journal by the Mason-Dixon Polling and Research organization. Lunsford has been waging a vigorous fight to unseat McConnell who is a twenty-four year Senate veteran and, as Minority Leader, the most powerful Republican in the Senate.

The Mason-Dixon poll shows the race knotted up at 41%-41%. Until recently, Lunsford had trailed McConnell by double digits in most polls. The Bluegrass Democrat has closed the gap with a hard-hitting campaign focusing on economic issues, McConnell's ties to Big Oil and McConnell's accumulation of great personal wealth while in the Congress. A SurveyUSA poll released just four days ago also found the raced statistically tied.

Good work, Mr.Lunsford!  Keep it up!

Breaking News:Latest Poll Shows Lunsford Surge in KY Senate Race

According to Lexington (KY) television station Lex18, Democrat Bruce Lunsford, has moved into a statistical tie with incumbent Republican Mitch McConnell in his race for the US Senate. The poll, conducted by SurveyUSA, was released earlier this morning and shows McConnell with a 49%-46% lead, well within the poll's 3.9% margin of error. The survey was taken Sept. 21-22.

These results represent a major gain for the Bluegrass Democrat. In a poll by the same organization taken just six weeks ago, McConnell led 52% to Lunsford's 40%. Internals of the current poll suggest strongly that economic concerns have fueled Lunsford's dramatic closing of the gap with McConnell. Some 60% of Kentucky voters now cite the economy as the number one issue. Among those listing the economy as most important to them, McConnell has plummeted from a six-point advantage six weeks ago to a nine-point deficit today. 

Women are another major factor in Lunsford's leap. Six weeks ago, McConnell held an eleven point lead among female voters, but Lunsford has now pulled even with him among women. Lunsford's gain was also registered in every geographic section of Kentucky. This poll has got to be putting smiles on lots of Democratic faces in Kentucky and at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee today.

Democratic Senate Campaign Committee Gives KY's Lunsford A Big Boost

CQ Politics is reporting today that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) has given the largest share of its state party outlays for the month of August to the Kentucky Democratic Party. Democrat Bruce Lunsford is mounting a fierce campaign to unseat incumbent Republican Senator Mitch McConnell in the Bluegrass State. CQ says:

"The DSCC’s big August outlays also included $3.1 million in transfer payments to state Democratic Party committees to help them build their get-out-the-vote efforts ahead of the Nov. 4 elections. The largest chunk of these funds ($1 million) went to the Kentucky Democratic Party, which is helping Democratic businessman Bruce Lunsford... in his campaign against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell." 

This infusion of cash into the Kentucky race by the national Democratic Party's most important funding organization for Senate campaigns suggests that the contest may be closer than widely thought. Are there new internal polls? Is there more fall-out to come from McConnell's ties to Big Oil and corporate lobbyists? Whatever the answer, you can bet the DSCC isn't investing that kind of money unless it has good reason to believe that Lunsford can upset McConnell and add yet another seat to its majority in the next Senate.

Clinton to Campaign for Lunsford in KY

Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) will campaign for Kentucky Democrat Bruce Lunsford in the Bluegrass State on September 20th, according to a press release issued by the Lunsford camp this morning. Lunsford is challenging incumbent Republican Senator Mitch McConnell.

Lunsford, a successful Louisville businessman, is waging a vigorous fight against the scandal-ridden Republican McConnell, who has close ties to Big Oil and other corporate lobbyists. Just this week, McConnell was named as one of the twenty most corrupt politicians in Washington by the non-partisan group, Citizens for Reform and Ethics in Washington.

The Lunsford press release regarding Clinton's campaign swing in Kentucky reads, in part:

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton will visit Kentucky on September 20th on behalf of Democratic Senate nominee Bruce Lunsford.  This will be Clinton's first trip to Kentucky since she won the Kentucky Democratic presidential primary on May 20th.  Senator Clinton will campaign for Lunsford in Pikeville and Lexington.

"I'm honored to have Kentucky's adopted daughter come back to Kentucky and campaign with me," said Bruce Lunsford. "Senator Clinton has a long history with Kentuckians and I anticipate her visit will go a long way to energize voters who want change."

Mitch McConnell: One of Washington's 20 Most Corrupt Politicians

The non-partisan watchdog group, Citizens for Reform and Ethics in Washington (CREW), has named Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky as one of the twenty most corrupt politicians in the current Congress.  Republican McConnell is one of only three sitting Senators to make CREW's list of shame in 2008. 

Republican McConnell, who is also Senate Minority Leader, is being challenged by Democrat Bruce Lunsford in this year's KY Senate race. ElectBlue strongly supports Lunsford. We urge our readers to help Lunsford win this important Senate seat for the people of Kentucky. 

In releasing its report, CREW spokesperson Melanie Sloan issued the following statement:

With soaring gas prices, a housing market in crisis, rising unemployment, and a nation at war, elected officials should be prioritizing their constituents’ needs over their own self-interests. Unfortunately, the members of Congress listed in CREW’s Most Corrupt report have decided that their personal needs are paramount to those they represent. This report holds them accountable for those choices.

New Polls: Support for Key GOP Senators Collapsing

There is a new - and potentially dramatic - finding in three separate US Senate races. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) has posted this report on its website:

With the Republican convention in full swing in St. Paul, three new polls from Survey USA show approval ratings for Republican Senators Norm Coleman, Gordon Smith and Mitch McConnell collapsing. In Minnesota, Norm Coleman’s approval has dropped to 44%, with 51% disapproving – an all-time high. In Oregon, Gordon Smith’s job approval has dropped to 38%, with 56% disapproving – his approval rating is at an all time low and has dropped 7 points since last surveyed in May. In Kentucky, Mitch McConnell’s approval has dropped to 44%, with 47% disapproving – his approval rating is down 13 points since SUSA last polled in May.

Historically, approval ratings below 50% have spelled disaster for incumbent candidates. That's gotta be good news for Al Franken in MN, Jeff Merkley in OR and Bruce Lunsford in KY. 

McConnell's 2008 Blue Fate

"I’d love to tell you I’d be majority leader next year, but there is virtually no chance we will get Senate back." - Mitch McConnell, September 2, 2008

Translation:   "I won't be majority leader next year because Lunsford is a tough opponent who is more than capable of crushing me."

I've heard of lowering expectations before, but this takes the cake.  It's at least fair to say McConnell is suffering from a contagious case of severe political inadequacy.

Lunsford Comes On Strong in KY Senate Race against McConnell

Democratic candidate for the US Senate from Kentucky, Bruce Lunsford, is hitting incumbent Republican Senator (and Senate Minority Leader) Mitch McConnell on McConnell's close ties to big oil companies. Here's a sample from a recent Lunsford ad:

Mitch McConnell’s buddies in Big Oil just recorded the biggest profits in history,” Lunsford says,“How are you doing? On average, Big Oil CEOs got paid $15 million last year. How about you? And after 24 years in the Senate, Mitch McConnell has become a multi-millionaire. Guess who paid for that? You did. I’m Bruce Lunsford and I approve this message, because when your Senator and his special interest pals are doing so much better than you, it’s time for a change.

...and again in a recent statement from the Lunsford campaign:  

While Mitch McConnell’s buddies at Big Oil have seen record profits this year, and earned an average of $15 million in pay last year, Mitch McConnell has become a multi-millionaire on the taxpayer dime. Mitch McConnell has forgotten where he comes from and is not on our side.  He is no longer the Senator from the great Commonwealth of Kentucky; he is now the Senator from Big Oil. It is time for a change.

Lunsford, a Louisville businessman, has kept this race close not only with hard-hitting ads about McConnell's links to big oil, but also by accusing the Senator of having a record of little or no accomplishments that benefit the people of Kentucky.

On the campaign trail, Lunsford repeatedly draws a sharp contrast between McConnell's personal financial position and that of most Kentuckians. Although there are no polls more recent than early August, it seems pretty clear that Lunsford's aggressive campaign has given the Bluegrass Democrat a real shot at upsetting Mr. McConnell.

ElectBlue urges our readers to help Lunsford win this seat for the Democrats. It's a rare opportunity to knock off the top Republican in the Senate. You can visit the official Lunsford campaign website by clicking on the hyperlink or you can click the Lunsford campaign logo on the left side of our home page.