2010 Senate hopefuls pitch policies, fundraising clout

By Ronnie Ellis

The two biggest Republican names weren’t there. The two best known Democrats were but barely acknowledged the other.

And three other candidates who are seeking to raise their visibility and name recognition got to share a stage with the Democratic heavy weights campaigning for the 2010 U.S. Senate race.

Democrats Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo, Attorney General Jack Conway and Darlene Fitzgerald Price, and Republicans Rand Paul and Bill Johnson all want incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning’s job. Mongiardo and Conway are considered favorites for the Democratic nomination.

Paul is “an outsider,” a libertarian Republican and the son of one-time presidential candidate Ron Paul. So is Elton businessman and veteran Bill Johnson.

Price, a Democrat, is a former U.S. Customs Agent. She said her campaign will be staffed entirely by volunteers and told a gathering here of county officials Thursday the country’s political system is corrupted by “crony campaign financing — lobbyists, lobbyists, lobbyists.”

Missing were Republican Secretary of State Trey Grayson is attending a national association of state secretaries of state where he will become the group’s president this week – and Bunning who is in Washington in the Senate.

Bunning announced Tuesday his fundraising for the second quarter - $302,467. That’s less than Grayson’s $600,000 for the same quarter and far less than Conway’s $1.32 million. But Bunning has raised $1,071,499 in all and has $595,000 cash on hand compared to Grayson’s $572,000.

Mongiardo raised $302,000 in the second quarter and $732,546 in all. Paul has raised $100,000 and Price about $15,000.

Mongiardo told the crowd of county officials he’ll stand up for Kentucky in the Senate against energy legislation, often referred to as cap and trade. That would limit carbon emissions and allow industries which emit fewer emissions than the limit to sell or trade credits to those which exceed the limits.

Because Kentucky relies so heavily on coal and coal produces so much carbon, Mongiardo said the bill would be devastating to Kentucky’s economy because it would likely increase the cost of electricity produced by burning coal – 90 percent of Kentucky’s electricity production relies on coal. Mongiardo has previously criticized Conway for not taking a stronger stand against the legislation supported by most Democrats in Congress.

Conway told the group he “understands the potential threats of cap and trade” to Kentucky.

“I’m not going to do anything that’s going to hurt Kentucky coal,” Conway said. He went on to list what he believes are his accomplishments as Attorney General and emphasized the rural and blue-collar backgrounds of his parents. His father grew up in Union County but became a successful Louisville attorney and thoroughbred owner.

Paul criticized both Republican and Democratic Congressional spending and said he’s running as an “outsider.” He said federal deficit spending will produce unsustainable debt levels and runaway inflation and said he won’t vote for deficit budgets.

Johnson told the group he’s not a typical politician and it’s time for new leadership in Washington. Johnson, from Todd County, touted his background as a veteran and businessman.

RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com.

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