Grayson forms exploratory committee for possible Senate bid
Secretary of State Trey Grayson
Secretary of State Trey Grayson has formed an exploratory committee for a possible run in 2010 for the U.S. Senate seat now held by fellow Republican Jim Bunning, adding a new wrinkle to the closely-watched race and fueling speculation about Bunning’s future.
In a statement, Grayson said he had formed the exploratory committee “to allow me to formally raise and spend funds as I seek support for a bid for U.S. Senate.”
Grayson, considered a protege of Bunning’s, has said in the past that he wouldn’t consider running against Bunning unless the senator gave his blessing.
Grayson’s announcement led some Washington-based political Web sites, including Politico and Roll Call, to report that Bunning, 77, appeared headed toward retirement.
But a spokesman said Bunning has not changed his plans.
“Senator Bunning has every intention of running,” Bunning spokesman Mike Reynard said Thursday.
Grayson met with Bunning and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., on Wednesday and called members of the state’s congressional delegation before publicly announcing the exploratory committee, said Billy Piper, McConnell’s chief of staff.
“He wished him luck,” Piper said.
Bunning is widely considered the most vulnerable incumbent in the 2010 cycle, and has faced increasing pressure from within the party over his pursuit of another term.
He has publicly sparred with party leaders, including McConnell.
He even accused the National Republican Senatorial Committee of trying to court primary challengers when members of that group met with state Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, in February. NRSC chairman John Cornyn, R-Texas, said the meeting was a “courtesy visit” and that the party would back Bunning in a contested primary.
In his announcement, Grayson stopped just short of declaring a run.
“I have no plans to run against Senator Bunning,” he said. “This exploratory committee will allow me to travel the Commonwealth, meet with potential supporters and lay the foundation for a campaign.”
Grayson has hired Voter Consumer Research of The Woodlands, Texas, to be his pollster, said Les Fugate, Grayson’s spokesman. It is the same public opinion research company used by McConnell.
Jan van Lohuizen, president of Voter Consumer Research, was not immediately available for comment.
Bunning recently said he has not spoken with Cornyn for months and only exchanged a brief greeting with McConnell during a recent political dinner.
During a Tuesday press conference with reporters, Bunning scoffed at the consternation his continued presence in the 2010 race might cause for Republican leaders who want him to step aside in favor of what they perceive as stronger candidates.
Cornyn “threw McConnell under the bus and said ‘We’re supporting Sen. Bunning,’” Bunning said during the Tuesday telephone press conference. “He had to eat crow.”
Despite the back and forth, “Senator Cornyn would support Senator Bunning in whatever he decides to do,” NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh said Thursday.
Bunning also told reporters during the Tuesday telephone press conference that his second-quarter fund-raising is going well. The Hall of Fame pitcher started the 2010 campaign cycle with a financial handicap after raising less money in the first quarter of the year than a key Democratic challenger.
Bunning pulled in $262,843, bringing his total fund-raising for the campaign to $786,850 and had $375,747 on hand at the end of March. Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo, one of two major Democratic contenders for Bunning’s seat, has raised $429,552 since he started collecting money Feb. 17.
A Public Policy Polling survey released in April showed Attorney General Jack Conway, who is seeking the Democratic nomination, edging out Grayson 37 to 33 percent. But the same poll showed Grayson edging out Mongiardo. The firm polled 610 Kentucky voters on April 2 and 3. The poll showed Grayson with 40 percent of the vote and Mongiardo at 36 percent.
– Halimah Abdullah, Jack Brammer, Beth Musgrave
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KYJurisDoctor | Apr 30, 2009 | Reply
I wonder if that means Jim Bunning is pulling out of the race, or Trey has changed his mind and will challenge him NOW!
Ima Roid | Apr 30, 2009 | Reply
Turkeyneck gonna fly now. Jowls, chilluns.
Brent Spence | Apr 30, 2009 | Reply
It is inappropriate for Grayson’s Secretary of State Office to issue a release about the Senate race and just as inappropriate for this Fugate kid to make statements about the Senate race. Using the office and an employee for anything other than Secretary of State business is an abuse of state resources.
Lisa Graas | Apr 30, 2009 | Reply
Jim Bunning is not retiring, therefore I am supporting Jim Bunning. He is no sell-out to convservatives. He\’s the real deal on spending and on life issues. He even opposed that awful national service bill. I am hopeful that the anti-incumbent people will take a good hard look at Jim Bunning\’s record. I have and I can see that it would be a mistake for conservatives not to support him. He\’s not abandoned us. We need him in the U.S. Senate.
mathew | Apr 30, 2009 | Reply
Why can’t politicians focus on the jobs they HAVE and not the jobs they WANT? This is getting ridiculous.
voter | Apr 30, 2009 | Reply
Trey Grayson will not run against Jim Bunning. It takes a spine and a set of testicles to run against Bunning and Trey lacks both. The only way Trey runs is if Bunning and McConnell hand it to him on a silver platter like they have handed everything else in his political career to him.
TJ | Apr 30, 2009 | Reply
Is Turkey Neck really gonna get his chance?
Farmer | Apr 30, 2009 | Reply
i’m secretary of state. now, I’m going to run for governor maybe (ok, mitch I did what you said) no, going to run again for secretary of state. going to run for senate. no only going to run for senate if bunning doesn’t run. ok, going to go ahead and explore running for senate (ok, mitch I did what you said)…get the picture? we need leaders not followers!!!
so much for loyalty | May 1, 2009 | Reply
you hear that? that’s the sound of trey grayson twisting the knife in bunning’s back.
what loyalty? | May 1, 2009 | Reply
Grayson? Loyalty? Ha! He won on Ernie Fletcher’s coattails and then showed no loyalty to Fletcher, just like his mentors McConnell and Bunning. Still, it’d be better to have Grayson in the Senate than in the Governor’s Mansion. He can do less damage to DC.
newferry | May 1, 2009 | Reply
We really need Senator Bunning to keep his Senate seat. Grayson will roll over and do anything to satisfy his ambitious appetite for public office. Trey Grayson is not a conservative folks. Please call Senator Bunning and encourage him to run. We need Senator Bunning in Washington.
Jim Anderson Stivers | May 1, 2009 | Reply
T. Grayson is TROLLING. The last time he put his troll (in the water) he found out it would not be a good idea to challenge Ernie Fletcher. Remember the annoucement at Fancy Farm last year. Well that didn’t work out so well, due to the prospect the GOP was pretty certain to be defeated next time. Witnessed by the fact that a previous candidate, who had retired from politics, wanted the Governor’s job.
After all the plan was . . . CASINOS . . .
Then I can do anything I want. Plenty of PORK in CASINOS.
If there is any chance for the GOP to gain ground it will be in the next Governors race. HEY, maybe TG wants that job, too.
Seems, TG has trouble deciding what he wants to be in politics. He is decided on a party, but that is temporary until a strong D or R challenges him.
He may put out some lines, but they will not catch what he is looking for.
MONEY!
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