The news out of the Kentucky Senate race is thoroughly uninspiring, as it appears businessman Bruce Lunsford, famous for spending vats of his own money to lose two bids for the Kentucky governorship (both times in the primary), has decided to run for Senate, against Minority Leader Mitch McConnell:
Bruce Lunsford, a wealthy Louisville businessman, declared his candidacy for Senate just before Tuesday’s filing deadline, and becomes the frontrunner in the crowded fight for the Democratic nomination.
The winner will face Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a longtime powerhouse in Bluegrass State politics who has raised more money than any Republican Senator up for re-election in 2008.
Lunsford is a two-time loser, who endorsed Republican Ernie Fletcher for Governor in 2003 over Democrat Ben Chandler after losing to Chandler in the primary.
Color me thrilled.
He did endorse Kentucky's Democratic Governor Steve Beshear after losing to Beshear in his second race, which I guess he deserves a medal for or something.
Worse luck, he appears to have the support of the Democratic establishment, both in Kentucky and in DC:
Beshear released a statement yesterday praising Lunsford's decision to run -- something he hadn't done for any other Democrat.
"I felt that he had name recognition, the financial resources and the ability to appeal to a large cross-section of Kentuckians, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike, all of which would make him an exceptionally strong candidate," Beshear's statement said, adding that other contenders "may be able to develop those attributes."
Schumer, chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee known for his dogged recruitment of candidates, and Reid have been pushing him to run, Lunsford said.
"I think they've made it fairly clear that I'm the candidate they want," Lunsford said. "They clearly convinced me with the way they recruited me and how hard they pulled to get me in this race, along with the governor, to make me believe they will be here standing by me."
We have two candidates in the race already: attorney and Iraq War veteran Andrew Horne, who lost in the primary in Kentucky's 3rd District in 2006 to future Rep. John Yarmuth, and businessman Greg Fischer. Lunsford will have to do a whole hell of a lot to convince me that he's worth supporting over either of them.
On the bright side, another Congressional Republican bites the dust: Second District Rep. Ron Lewis has opted against running again, to the surprise of almost everyone. Like the jerk that he is, Lewis delayed his retirement announcement until the last minute, so as to give his chief of staff a clear shot at the Republican nomination:
But perhaps even more surprising was the unexpected candidacy of Lewis’ chief of staff, Daniel London, who filed for the race at about the same time that Lewis’ papers were withdrawn on Tuesday.
London acknowledged in an interview Tuesday evening that he and Lewis timed their announcements for just before the 4 p.m. filing deadline in an attempt to avoid a Republican primary battle.
London said Lewis decided over the weekend not to run, though London spent Sunday and Monday trying to talk Lewis back into it.
Unfortunately for them, it didn't work, as the NRCC, anticipating Lewis' skulduggery, managed to recruit their preferred candidate, State Sen. Brett Guthrie, into the race at the 11th hour. The best-laid plans of mice and Republicans...
Meanwhile, we've got two perfectly decent candidates in the race, State Sen. David Boswell and Daviess County Judge Executive Reid Haire. It's a very Republican district, R+12.9, but one we're seriously contesting, so hope springs eternal...