Businessmen Looking for Chance to Unseat McConnell

Sunday, May 18, 2008 2:00 PM

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- When some prominent Democratic officeholders backed off from challenging Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, two businessmen stepped up for a crack at Kentucky's political kingpin.

Having put part of their fortunes into their campaigns, entrepreneurs Bruce Lunsford and Greg Fischer will find out Tuesday if the investments will yield a primary election victory and a fall matchup with McConnell.

McConnell, a politically savvy four-term incumbent with a big campaign bankroll and a penchant for bare-knuckled tactics, drew one opponent in the GOP primary, little-known truck driver Daniel Essek.

"It's McConnell's race to lose," Northern Kentucky University political scientist Michael Baranowski said about the November general election.

Elsewhere, Republican Anne Northup is seeking a rematch against Democratic Rep. John Yarmuth, who ousted the former five-term congresswoman two years ago in the Louisville-area 3rd District. Northup faces three opponents in the GOP primary while Yarmuth is unopposed.

In a more conservative region of Kentucky, two Democrats are in a primary for an open seat in the 2nd District, a national bellwether 14 years ago when little-known Republican Ron Lewis won a special election months before the GOP takeover of the House. Lewis decided not to seek another term this year.

In the Democratic primary, longtime state Sen. David Boswell and Daviess County Judge-Executive Reid Haire are competing to face GOP state Sen. Brett Guthrie.

In the Senate race, seven Democrats in all are competing for the party's nomination, though Lunsford and Fischer far outdistanced the others in fundraising and exposure.

Not to be outdone, McConnell started running TV ads last November, touting his Senate leadership post and ability to deliver assistance for medical research, tobacco farmers and sick nuclear plant workers.

McConnell's fundraising machine kicked into overdrive, netting him over $12 million in campaign cash through March.

Lunsford staked out a double-digit lead in a statewide poll last week, and sounded undaunted at the prospect of taking on McConnell.

"People ask me, `Are you ready for McConnell?'" Lunsford said recently. "My question is, is he ready for me? Because he hasn't had much in the way of tough races, and this is going to be a race where he's going to be held accountable."

Lunsford and Fischer entered the campaign after State Auditor Crit Luallen and now-former Attorney General Greg Stumbo weighed Senate bids but decided against entering the race.

Lunsford touted his humble roots growing up on a Kentucky tobacco farm and working on a road crew to help put him through college.

But the millionaire also has a jet-set lifestyle as a partner in a movie production company, and owns a thoroughbred. In March, Lunsford missed a key Democratic event because he was at the Dubai World Cup horse race in the Middle East.

Fischer, a political newcomer, made a fortune partly by co-inventing an ice/beverage dispenser now commonplace in restaurants. He is also chief executive of a company that makes spectator seating for sports venues.

Lunsford has run twice for governor but never got out of the Democratic primary. In 2003, he dropped out days before the primary, then later endorsed Republican Ernie Fletcher. Lunsford now apologizes to Democrats, calling it a mistake.

Fischer has tried to exploit Lunsford's party crossover by running a TV ad showing Lunsford's endorsement. Several labor unions forgave Lunsford and endorsed him.

Fischer also ran commercials reviving memories of Lunsford's management of Vencor Inc., a nursing home and hospital company that soared to Fortune 500 status before plunging into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company reorganized and emerged from bankruptcy with the new name Kindred Healthcare.

Lunsford blamed Vencor's bankruptcy filing on government cuts in medical reimbursement rates, and his campaign accused Fischer of resorting to McConnell-style attacks.

"We're not attacking Bruce," Fischer said. "We're not impugning his character. We're addressing his record We certainly know that Mitch McConnell will be taking a hard look at everybody's records as well. It's best that it be done in the primary."

http://www.newsmax.com/politics/kentuck ... 97027.html