Bunning raises less than half of Grayson’s haul
U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Southgate
Washington — Over the past three months, Kentucky Sen. Jim Bunning raised $302,466.96 for his re-election campaign, about half the amount that political protégé and potential Republican challenger Trey Grayson raised in the same time period.
Of the four top contenders for Bunning’s seat, the incumbent raised the least during the second quarter of the year. Democratic Attorney General Jack Conway says he pulled in $1.32 million, compared to $602,699 for Grayson, $302,993 for Democratic Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo and $302,466 for Bunning
The Hall of Fame pitcher’s weak numbers fuel continued speculation within the GOP about the junior senator’s political viability in his bid for a third term.
“Bunning could have made this all better by going out there and having a good fund raising quarter and yet he didn’t,” said Jennifer Duffy a senior editor with the Cook Political Report. “At this point strategists and leadership are out of patience. If he’s not going to do anything to help himself then why should they?”
Bunning declined to comment Thursday on his campaign finance numbers.
Last week, Bunning blamed his fund-raising woes on his Senate duties, telling reporters that “this job keeps me a little busy.”
Other incumbents, including Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Penn., who recently switched from the Republican Party, raised more than $1 million in the second quarter.
However, Bunning, who as a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies famously ignored catchers’ pitch signs when they came from the team manager, has vowed to stay in the race.
For months, Bunning has bemoaned the state of his war chest and blamed fellow Kentuckian Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman John Cornyn of Texas for casting doubt about whether Bunning would stay in the race.
McConnell has publicly questioned “who the players are going to be in Kentucky” and, according to Bunning, told the 77-year-old senator he was “too old” to run for re-election.
Earlier this year Bunning told reporters “I’m not going to walk into 2010 with less than $1 million when I know it will take $7 million to run against the winner of Democratic primary.”
So far, Bunning has raised a total of $1,071,499.60 for his re-election campaign. He has $595,571.18 in cash on hand, compared to $572,103 for Grayson, who is Kentucky’s Secretary of State.
Grayson has said he has no plans at this time to run if Bunning is in the race.
With only two quarters left before the January 2010 filing deadline, Grayson may find himself in the awkward position of usurping his mentor, Duffy said.
“At some point the party will go to him and say your country needs you,” she said. “Before they put (Grayson) in that position they have to make sure everybody else is out.”
Grayson’s decision to explore a possible run for the seat Bunning currently holds came after a multi-week series of conversations between the state’s junior senator and his protégé. With Bunning’s apparent blessing in hand, Grayson, 37, said he moved forward and told several key Republicans, including potential donors and McConnell, that he would explore a run.
However, even after Grayson publicly announced his exploratory committee, Bunning stressed that he was running for re-election. The move confused state politicos, who thought Grayson’s exploratory committee signaled that the senator was ready to end his 2010 bid.
“Republicans are in terrible shape for 2010,” said Larry Sabato, a political expert with the University of Virginia. “The last thing they need is to lose a seat that would probably fall into their column were Bunning not the nominee.”
- Halimah Abdullah
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
hailiebug | Jul 16, 2009 | Reply
Money talks. Will Bunning listen? I hope not. Run Jim, Run. We need you to run.
LexNative | Jul 16, 2009 | Reply
Jim Bunning would have raised a lot more if those in his party should some loyalty!
He is working hard in the US Senate while others in his own party are trying to beat him to every dollar of campaign contribution.
bigkat | Jul 16, 2009 | Reply
RUNRANDRUN.COM
This piece is left out another possible runner… Rand Paul is the best choice for this seat… Please go to randpaul2010.com to see what a true patriot and america looks like!!!
True Conservative | Jul 16, 2009 | Reply
While Jim Bunning has been conservative on some issues, like voting no on the Stimulas package, he has not been so conservative on other issues, like voting for the creation of the DHS thus further expanding big government, and big government spending. John Stamper has carelessly failed to recognize Dr Rand Paul’s having raised 117,000.00 with no formal attempts at fundraising from special interest groups. Dr. Paul’s true conservative positions on economic freedom and individual freedom appeals to true conservatives, independants, and conservative democrats. The Republican party has lost it’s believability, while the Democratic party is plunging us into socialism and government takeover of industry and healthcare. Independant voter registration is now out pacing both parties registrations and base. Kentucky’s true conservatives, Independents, and conservative democrats have found a candidate they can believe, trust, and know, that he will represent their interests, protect their individual freedoms. That Candidate is Dr. Rand Paul. An eye surgeon from Bowling Green, Ky.
http://www.randpaul2010.com
Constitution Lady | Jul 16, 2009 | Reply
Let’s not fail to pay attention to the best thing going for us in Kentucky! Dr. Rand Paul’s positions on a variety of issues can be seen at http://www.randpaul2010.com. Kentuckians deserve to see ALL the choices. Party, Party, Party. Parties are a shell game. This is not about party….it’s about what’s right. Why would a person blindly vote for whatever candidate the party told them to without thinking for themselves “What does this person really stand for?” If Jim Bunning were really concerned about our country, why has he not signed on to the bill for auditing the Federal Reserve? Isn’t it time to vote neither for the lesser of two evils, nor between two parties that are really the same–both working hard to turn this country into a socialist state, but for a candidate that is actually a GOOD choice? Let’s do something for our state and our country! Support Rand Paul.
Jim Anderson Stivers | Jul 16, 2009 | Reply
Constitution Lady.
I believe we still call that SOLIDARITY.
Solidarity and blind loyality aren’t they different?
Frank Haris | Jul 19, 2009 | Reply
The Republican Party would love to anoint Trey Greyson as Jim Bunning’s successor. But, as more and more people hear the words of Dr. Rand Paul, I believe that they will become inspired for the type of change that Dr. Paul represents. His words ring true, and he asks for the Republican party to examine the things about the party which have NOT been good, and to try to bring back the core beliefs and values of less spending and smaller government.
We all know that you cannot spend your way out of debt, nor can you spend your way to prosperity. Listen to Rand Paul and tell me that you don’t agree with what he says.
MILLHOUSE | Jul 27, 2009 | Reply
Former Republican here who is going to re-register in order to vote for Rand Paul. He is what a “Republican” should be!!