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Conway Narrowly Defeats Mongiardo For Democratic Senate Nomination

Jack Conway
Associated Press
Jack Conway

By Kristin Espeland Gourlay, Tony McVeigh

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wuky/local-wuky-902748.mp3

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- – Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway is the winner of the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat up for grabs in November's general election.

Conway won with less than a one-point lead against opponent Lieutenant Governor Daniel Mongiardo in a race that was too close to call until late Tuesday night.

In his acceptance speech, Conway addressed all the national attention on the state's Republican primary, in which Tea Party-backed Rand Paul was the victor.

"It's my understanding that the eyes of the national media have descended on our beloved Commonwealth of Kentucky tonight. I've got news for them: both Jack Conway and Dan Mongiardo got more votes than Rand Paul tonight."

It's back to the drawing board for Mongiardo. With baby daughter Kathryn cradled in his arms, and wife Allison looking on, Mongiardo fielded reporters' questions after his concession speech.

"I've been on the road for the past five, six, seven days and gotten less than three hours of sleep a night. And I'm gonna take a nap tonight and get up tomorrow, split a cord of wood, milk the cow and then make some coffee and figure what's next."

Asked several times if he will campaign for Jack Conway, Mongiardo ducked the question. It was Mongiardo's second setback in a U-S Senate campaign. Six years ago he lost the general election race to Republican Sen. Jim Bunning.