Conway raises $1.3 million for U.S. Senate race
FRANKFORT — Democratic Attorney General Jack Conway has raised $1.3 million in the first 80 days of his campaign for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Jim Bunning, Conway’s campaign announced Wednesday.
Attorney General Jack Conway
The Conway campaign called the fund-raising effort record-breaking, saying that no other Kentucky Democratic U.S. Senate candidate has raised that much money in one quarter.
Conway will face Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo and Darlene Fitzgerald Price, a former U.S. Customs agent, in the May primary for the Democratic nomination. Fitzgerald Price has said she has raised about $15,000 so far.
Mongiardo hasn’t yet said how much he raised during the second quarter of the year. In the first quarter, he raised $429,552 between Feb. 17 and the end of March.
Kim Geveden, a spokesman for Mongiardo, declined to say when Mongiardo would release his second-quarter fund-raising numbers.
Geveden said that although Conway may be able to raise money in Louisville, New York, Los Angeles and Washington D.C., Mongiardo has strong grass-roots backers across Kentucky, Geveden said.
“The lieutenant governor has out-raised Jack Conway state-wide,” Geveden said. “Conway’s report begs the question — does Jack Conway really have statewide appeal in Kentucky or is he just a regional, one town candidate who can raise money in New York and Los Angeles,” asked Geveden.
Mark Riddle, Conway’s chief strategist, said the $1.325 million was raised by more than 1,600 contributors. In Central Kentucky, Conway raised $190,000, thanks in part to fund raisers held by State Auditor Crit Luallen, House Speaker Greg Stumbo and other prominent Democrats.
“We have really unified the Democratic party in the first couple months of this campaign,” Riddle said.
Bunning’s seat is considered one of the most vulnerable in the U.S. Senate.
Stuart Rothenberg of the Rothenberg Political Report, a Washington D.C.-based political journal, said it’s too early to say how Conway’s fund raising efforts compare to other Senate candidates across the country.
“He had a big quarter,” Rothenberg said. “But I’m quite confident that both Conway and Mongiardo are going to have enough money to run their campaigns.”
Stephen Voss, an associate professor of political science at the University of Kentucky, said a strong fund-raising effort in the first quarter shows that Conway is a serious contender.
“Early money is critical money,” Voss said. “Certainly, Mongiardo should be worried that it’s going to be a bloody fight with a guy who has the money to pay for all the weapons. But money does not buy votes. What it allows a candidate to do is to get a message out.”
Also Wednesday, Dr. Rand Paul, a Bowling Green ophthalmologist and son of presidential candidate Ron Paul, said he would decide by next month whether he will officially challenge Bunning for the Republican nomination. Bunning, who has been a senator since 1999, said Tuesday that he still plans to run for re-election. Paul said Wednesday that Bunning’s presence in the race will not have any bearing on whether he runs.
Paul has already raised $100,000.
Paul said he will likely make a final decision before Aug. 20, the date of a major fund raiser. “The Republican Party is shrinking,” Paul said. “The party needs a new direction.”
Earlier this week, Republican Secretary of State Trey Grayson announced that he raised $600,000 in this quarter. Grayson has formed an exploratory committee to run for Bunning’s seat, but has hedged on whether he will enter the race. Bunning has not yet released how much money he has raised but has only said that he believed that he would have more cash on hand than other Republican candidates. Other possible contenders for the Republican bid for Senate include Bill Johnson, a Todd County Navy veteran and businessman and Cathy Bailey, a former ambassador to Latvia and a Louisville philanthropist.
Conway’s camp noted in a press release that of the $1.325 million raised so far, $125,000 came from Northern Kentucky, where both Bunning and Grayson are from.
The report covers fund raising efforts from April to June 30. The official Federal Election Commission report has not yet been filed. Candidates have until July 15 to file the report.
– Beth Musgrave
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K Stagg | Jul 8, 2009 | Reply
Nice cash haul, Jackie. Many of us are still waiting to find out your position on even one issue. Remember, you can’t spell Duke without uk.
Steve | Jul 8, 2009 | Reply
He has no position on anything except to try and fly below the radar and run for higher office. All this corruption going on involving taxpayer dollars (KaCo, KLC, BG Airport) and not one word from Little Jack. I thought he was supposed to be protecting us? Electing him would be a gift to Obama and Pelosi. No thanks!
Dan's the Man! | Jul 8, 2009 | Reply
Dan Mongiardo is the only candidate brave enough to take on the Homosexuals.
Dan is the only candidate with a record of real legislation that bans “civil rights.”
Dan doesn’t toe the line of the Democrat Party. He’s practically a Republican. And that’s what Kentucky needs.
Dan is the man!
Jim Anderson Stivers | Jul 8, 2009 | Reply
All this corruption going on involving taxpayer dollars (KaCo, KLC, BG Airport) and not one word from Little Jack.
YOu see Steve, both organizations are connected to city and count employees. These county and city offices have a following and to attempt to clear the air would put Jack Conway in a position of having to go against the political stream when he is running for US Senator. Don’t expect ANYTHING from the AG’s office.
And your right he is attempting to fly under the radar and not media sources have asked the tough questions of the AG.
With three previous AG opinions on Gambling that say the addition of slots would be illegal did not bother Jack Conway. He is an administration team player. What ever hole the Governor digs . . . Jack will jump in with him,.
Conway interpreted the previous amendment to satisfy the Administration. And, that is all it was . . . Shame on you Jack Conway, is your political career more important that the rule of THE REAL LAW?
Cletus Toadwad | Jul 8, 2009 | Reply
Dan’s the Man is right on! Jack Conway supports gay marriage. Conway would end mountain top removal. Conway supports the earth saving Cap and trade legislation which will help greatly Kentucky’s coal industry and only slightly increase Kentucky utility bills. Conway supports hate crimes legislation and national health care for everyone. Conway is a true Progressive Democrat and will make all of us hillbillies proud. He’s also cuter than a Kennedy holding a puppy in a milk bath.
Rodney | Jul 8, 2009 | Reply
Lord help us if we get “two” senators from the Louisville area. The rural areas won’t get squat.
Kaylee | Jul 8, 2009 | Reply
Every time McConnell ran for election or reelection, the dems moaned and groaned – A senator from Louisville. He does not represent the rest of KY. With little Jackie boy as a senator we will two (2), that is two, senators from Louisville. And Jackie doesn’t represent anything now but himself, so who will he represent if gets elected. Jack, just sit down and play with your dolls. Leave the art of government to those that care about something other than themselves. Go Trey
Shelby Countian | Jul 8, 2009 | Reply
Congratulations Conway! This is a very impressive fundraising report. It\’s time we elect a true progressive candidate to help bring Kentucky back into the forefront on issues like health care, education, and the environment. We need a good Democrat to stand up to the Senate Republicans and balance the \”say-no-to-everything\” rhetoric of our other Senator, Mitch McConnell.
IMHO | Jul 8, 2009 | Reply
Consider the millstone of Stumbo, et al, I’m not sure that $1.3 million is nearly enough. Couple that with the KLC and KACo crap going on, Conway is toast.
Timm Dunn | Jul 8, 2009 | Reply
Yeppers, Shelby Countian, we need Conway to stand up to those 40 Republicans before they screw up everything and further impede the Chicago Messiah. Cletus, can I have some of what you’re smoking? LOL
Skidtrek | Jul 8, 2009 | Reply
Conway is a cool dude. Hope he whips the mentally ill Bunning!
Ima Hogg | Jul 8, 2009 | Reply
Both them dimmocrat boys sure nuff got purty mouths. Grayson’s got him a turkey neck like some 90 year old man and Bunning looks meaner than than a stepped on copperhead. Can Wendell run again, or is he now with Elvis?
Timm Dunn | Jul 8, 2009 | Reply
Ima, Wendell’s still alive and kicking down in Owensboro. He still chases them around the desk, but he just can’t catch them anymore. Elvis works at a Winn Dixie in Charlotte.
Taser Hasbro | Jul 9, 2009 | Reply
Has anyone told Barbie that Ken is a mmmm politician?
Jim Anderson Stivers | Jul 11, 2009 | Reply
Jack Conway hits record high, Water customers- in Western Kentucky- reach record high water bills and no complaints from the Attorney General.
This is from Mary Potters\’s WEST KENTUCKY BLOG.
http://host1.bondware.com/~WestkyPolitics/
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