Published: May 06, 2009 07:49 am      

Bunning might reconsider run if fundraising falls short

FRANKFORT — Sen. Jim Bunning suggested Tuesday he may “take another look at the (2010 Senate) race,” if his fundraising doesn’t go well and he criticized Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican Leader, for the declining number of Senate Republicans.

Bunning was peppered with questions on his weekly teleconference about state Secretary of State Trey Grayson’s announcement he had formed an exploratory committee for the 2010 race. Both men are Republicans and long-time friends, and Bunning gave his blessing to Grayson to form the committee.

When asked what he would do if he fails to meet his fundraising goals and concludes it was a mistake to encourage Grayson to form the committee, Bunning responded: “Then we’ll take another look at the race.”

Bunning went on to say he expected to raise at least $1 million before 2010 because, “I know it’s going to cost $7 million, minimum, probably 10, somewhere in that area, to run against the winner of the Democratic primary.” But Bunning, who reported raising only $283,000 in the first quarter, wouldn’t name a goal, saying reporters can learn how well he’s doing when he files his second quarter Federal Election Commission report on July 15.

He said he encouraged Grayson to form the committee so he could travel the state and raise money. He said Grayson could transfer his money to another federal race and that reporters shouldn’t make too much of the committee.

Grayson, through his spokesman, released a very brief statement.

“I will be releasing more news about my exploratory committee over the coming days and weeks,” was all the statement said.

But in a statement last week, when he announced the committee, Grayson said, “I have formed an exploratory committee to allow me to formally raise and spend funds as I seek support for a bid for U.S. Senate.”

Bunning was asked about Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter’s leaving the Republican Party to become a Democrat because — Specter said — he couldn’t be re-elected as a Republican. Bunning said, “Good riddance,” contending Specter never accepted some bedrock Republican principles, but he then veered into criticism of McConnell.

“How about our leadership that was not able to do anything to retain him?” Bunning asked. When asked if he referred specifically to McConnell, Bunning said, “Obviously. Good God, he wants to run everybody.”

McConnell has not publicly questioned Bunning’s ability to win re-election but has not spoken in his support nor has he contributed to Bunning’s re-election fundraising efforts while contributing to other Republican incumbents on next year’s ballot. Bunning has publicly blamed McConnell for undermining Bunning’s fundraising.

Bunning also said McConnell has presided over a declining Republican Senate minority and the number could get smaller after next year’s election.

“Do you realize that under the dynamic leadership of our leader, we’ve gone from 55 (seats) to probably 40 in two election cycles?” asked Bunning. “And if the tea leaves that I read are correct, we will wind up with about 36 after this election cycle," Bunning said. (McConnell did not become Republican Leader until after the 2006 elections which gave Democrats the Senate majority.)

McConnell’s Chief of Staff, Billy Piper, declined to comment on Bunning’s comments in the Tuesday teleconference.

But Frank Donatelli, Chairman of GOPAC, a major Republican Political Action Committee, said it’s unfair to blame McConnell for Senate losses in 2006 and 2008.

“That was a party failure rather than a failure of any one individual,” Donatelli said by phone from his Washington office. And he said it’s clear Specter left the party, “because he had a better chance to be elected as a Democrat than as a Republican.”

“Mitch McConnell is a very, very good leader,” Donatelli said.

Bunning, McConnell and Grayson are scheduled to appear together Saturday night at the state Lincoln Day Dinner in Louisville. Grayson is master of ceremonies and Bunning and McConnell are scheduled to speak.

Besides Grayson, Bowling Green eye surgeon Rand Paul has indicated he will enter the Republican primary if Bunning should drop out. State Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, and Cathy Bailey, of Louisville, a prodigious fundraiser and the former ambassador to Latvia, have also been mentioned as potential candidates.

On the Democratic side, Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo —who narrowly lost to Bunning in 2004, Attorney General Jack Conway and Darlene Fitzgerald Price, a former U.S. Customs agent who lives in McCreary County, are running.

Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. He may be reached by e-mail at rellis@cnhi.com. The Richmond Register is a CNHI newspaper.