By Rick Howlett
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wuky/local-wuky-835587.mp3
Louisville, KY – SEN. JIM BUNNING HAS BEEN AT ODDS LATELY WITH MCCONNELL,
WHO HASN'T ENDORSED HIM FOR RE-ELECTION NEXT YEAR.
REPUBLICAN LEADERS HAVE BEEN SENDING NOT-SO-SUBTLE MESSAGES
THAT BUNNING SHOULD RETIRE RATHER THAN FACE A STRONG DEMOCRATIC
CHALLENGE.
BUNNING SAID TUESDAY HE'LL RECONSIDER IF HE DOESN'T MEET HIS
FUNDRAISING GOALS, BUT HE ALSO BLAMED MCCONNELL FOR REPUBLICAN
LOSSES IN THE SENATE.
(do you realize that under the dynamic leadership of our leader, we have gone from
55 and probably to 40 in two election cycles, and if the tea leaves i read are correct,
we will end up with about 36 after this election cycle?).
MCCONNELL HAS DECLINED TO RESPOND PUBLICLY TO BUNNING'S
CRITICISMS.
THE TWO SENATORS ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND SATURDAY'S GOP
LINCOLN DAY DINNER IN LOUISVILLE. MEANWHILE, BUNNING SAYS HE'S STILL IN THE RACE
FOR
RE-ELECTION NEXT YEAR DESPITE HAVING ENCOURAGED SECRETARY OF
STATE TREY GRAYSON TO FORM AN EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER
A RUN.
BUNNING TOLD REPORTERS ON TUESDAY THAT CREATING THE COMMITTEE
ALLOWS GRAYSON TO RAISE MONEY TO PAY FOR HIS TRAVEL AS HE
PREPARES FOR A FUTURE POLITICAL RACE.
(sometime you take the commitee down and you run for a different office.
even though you have exposed yourself to many different areas. filing an
exploratory committee means he could be running for the us senate in 2010
or some larger race in 2011).
GRAYSON HAS INSISTED HE WON'T RUN FOR SENATE UNLESS BUNNING
DECIDES TO ABANDON HIS RE-ELECTION BID.
REPUBLICAN LEADERS HAVE BEEN SENDING NOT-SO-SUBTLE MESSAGES
THAT BUNNING SHOULD RETIRE RATHER THAN FACE WHAT IS EXPECTED TO
BE A STRONG DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGE.