Embattled U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning has announced that he will not seek re-election to a third term in 2010.
His decision ends months of speculation that he would drop out of the Senate race because of his inability to raise money, poor poll numbers and lack of support from top Republican officials.
Needless to say, this race just got a whole lot tougher — and less fun. However, Democrats will still have a solid shot at this seat as long as the primary between Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo and state AG Jack Conway doesn’t get too bitter. (Mongiardo hasn’t been playing too nicely so far, but it’s still early.)
UPDATE: Straight from the horse’s mouth:
“To win a general election, a candidate has to be able to raise millions of dollars to get the message out to voters,” Bunning said in a statement. “Over the past year, some of the leaders of the Republican Party in the Senate have done everything in their power to dry up my fundraising. The simple fact is that I have not raised the funds necessary to run an effective campaign for the U.S. Senate. For this reason, I will not be a candidate for re-election in 2010.”
Shorter Bunning: I let McConnell roll me, because I’m a sadsack.
LATER UPDATE: In the comments, trowaman has a pretty good suggestion for Bunning; he should make good on his earlier threat to resign and let Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear select his replacement! What better revenge could there possibly be against McConnell and the NRSC?
RaceTracker Wiki: KY-Sen
but still, this sucks
Now resign to stand up for yourself! Proove you are not a sad sack Sen. Bunning!
Coward!
Neener-neener-neener!
Ben Chandler or Jack Conway could probably beat Trey Grayson. In addition, Jack Conway raised 1.8 million in just the second quarter. I wish that Mongiardo would drop out of the primary.
McConnell rolled Bunning. I bet he was sayin, ‘your ass is grass and I just smoked it!’
Perhaps there is another story within this story. Perhaps this will set a precedent of the GOP establishment (notably the GOP Sen. Campaign Committee) doing literally all they can, financially, to get a Republican senator to step down. And if Bunning, perhaps the most stubborn man in the Senate GOP caucus, is willing to eventually raise his arms and give up…then perhaps anyone would. Ironically their next target might very well be…ex-NRSC Chair John Ensign!
Conway can beat Grayson. Mongiardo has one more shot at a decent fundraising quarter or else he should get out. Same with Brunner in Ohio.
Well, so much for a sure thing…
Has anyone seen any polling for this race?
Please, please, please let him jump in and let all of Ron Paul’s 2008 followers pour their resources into helping him win the primary. Don’t rest until there’s a R[EVOL]ULTION 2.0 blimp floating over Churchill Downs!
The Lexington Herald-Leader (kentucky.com) quotes a Larry Forgy as saying, “McConnell treats his friends like some people treat Pampers – disposable.”
Bunning is publicly pissed at Grayson. The bad vibes on this are not over by a long shot. Meanwhile, Rand Paul is praising Bunning to the skies and claiming to be the only real conservative in the race.
DSCC redesigned their site, check it out, especially their 2010 senate map.
I guess now this race goes back to being Lean R.
this is just the latest of good news the GOP has been getting on the Senate race front in the last couple months FINALLY.
I am pretty confident in his ability to fundraise and his 60-40 victory in 2007 gives me the belief he can do it regardless of the GOP opponent. I don’t really think Mongardio will catch on with the Democratic primary voters to be much of a threat.
I know a senate seat is more important but don’t scoff at KY SOS, if we get that then we will have every (maybe) statewide office. That should help us hold the governor’s mansion when Beshear is term limitted. If Grayson wins we get his seat so maybe this is better. Either way we get something out of this instead of all or nothing.
They did a job on Bunning, cutting off his funds. I almost feel sorry for the old coot. Almost.