Grayson says Bunning told him to explore Senate race
By Halimah Abdullah – habdullah@mcclatchydc.com
Secretary of State Trey Grayson
WASHINGTON — Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson’s decision to explore a possible run for U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning’s seat on Thursday came after a multi-week series of conversations between the state’s junior senator and his protégé.
“Jim Bunning suggested I form an exploratory committee several weeks ago,” Grayson said Friday. “I met with him on Wednesday and told him I was ready to move forward and he still supported the idea.”
With Bunning’s apparent blessing in hand, Grayson said he moved forward and told several key Republicans, including potential donors and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, that he would explore a run.
However, when Grayson publicly announced his exploratory committee on Thursday, Bunning’s spokesman continued to say that the Hall of Fame pitcher “has every intention of running.” On Friday, Bunning did not respond to requests for comment.
Bunning’s declaration on Thursday that he “has every intention of running” confused state politicos, who thought Grayson’s exploratory committee signaled that the senator was ready to end his 2010 bid.
“Anything can happen. The critical point will be when someone has to make a decision to put their name on the ballot, but I think we’ll know what’s going on a long time before that,” said Marc Wilson, a lobbyist and political advisor from northern Kentucky. “Sen. Bunning isn’t going to leave Trey out there and Trey will defer to Sen. Bunning. He’ll give Trey plenty of notice.”
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.
Bunning is widely considered the most vulnerable incumbent in the 2010 cycle, and has faced increasing pressure from within the party to not seek re-election. He has publicly sparred with party leaders, including McConnell and National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman John Cornyn, R-Texas, over the race.
Bunning told reporters during a Tuesday telephone press conference that his second-quarter fund-raising is going well.
He 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.
About the Author: John Stamper is the accountability editor for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Monticello, Ky., he has been with the Herald-Leader in a variety of roles since graduating from Western Kentucky University in 2000. Reach him at jstamper@herald-leader.com
Liberty4all | May 2, 2009 | Reply
McConnell is the one that needs to retire not Bunning. McConnell is so far out of touch with the voters it is pathetic. He has out served his usefullness. He should retire or be recalled. Mr. Bunning though a second term Senator, and I dont support more then one term in any offce, is far more respondent to the voters!
Covington Captain | May 4, 2009 | Reply
Problem for republicans in kentucky is no real leadership. Whoever is leading the party is weak, not dynamic at all and simply pandering/playing to the same old crowd. Richie Farmer is an idiot with little brain power who has surrounded himself by corrupt democrats (guys who worked for Wilkinson and were fired from farm jobs in Mercer County as well as Democrats hacks who have maxed out to Crit Luallen, etc. and have big salaried jobs to drive him around). Trey Grayson is an elitist who cares about the well-heeled money crowd and of course the diaper wearing cadre of kids who surround him daily. Pitiful…I along with many peers in northern Kentucky and central Kentucky are looking for a candidate who values the opinions and hard work of those in the trenches and doesn’t throw them aside the day after an election. Can we get some real and decent people to run as Republican candidates?
Ho hum | May 5, 2009 | Reply
So Covington Captain, didn’t pull any punches did you. So your saying Kentucky’s elected officials, once elected, forget who helped them get into office.
You’re saying Repubs have forgotten their repub friends and DONORs or volunteer campaign workers and instead hired democrats who did nothing financially or volunteer wise.
You sure you’re not talking about Democrats too?
Has Richie, the darling of the Republican voters but not the Republican party, Farmer hired a bunch of Democrats in non merit positions to work for him. He did hire “Kentucky Joe” you know. Don’t know what for but he is still there.
Can you tell me why we have an entire department of over 300 employees and what they do? Does he do anything news worthy?
Where is the Agriculture Dept and Richie Farmer in this Green economy the rest of the USA is experiencing? Never read a press release where they are trying to bring green economy jobs to Kentucky. Has he even heard of Biodiesel, Ethanol, Corn, or soybeans? Actually I’ve never read a press release from the Agriculture Department.
I think you’ve summed up Trey Grayson and his cadre of Dems working for him. When is the Republican party of Kentucky going to realize we don’t need to recruit Dems to our side here in Kentucky, they are
already here. This state is full of DINO’s. Our election results prove it every election cycle.
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