Lunsford hits the polls

Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville) meets with the media before voting today: Politicker photo

LOUISVILLE -- Democratic Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford hit the polls in Louisville this morning, voting around 8am at the Louisville Covenant Church on Bardstown Road. Earlier in the morning, Lunsford visited several local breakfast spots in the Highlands neighborhood of Louisville.

His principal opponent in the Democratic primary, Greg Fischer, voted at 7am this morning in Louisville, according to his campaign.

This morning, Lunsford said he was encouraged going into election day by the latest poll numbers showing him up 21 over Fischer.

 "The recent numbers look good, but we're not stopping," said Lunsford. "If things go the way we believe they will, we'll go on to November."

The primary battle with Fischer - a first time candidate - has been contentious at times, with the campaigns of both men leveling accusations at each other of business impropriety and hypocrisy, among other things. Today, Lunsford indicated he thought his campaign went negative as a reaction to Fischer's earlier attacks.

"At times this campaign unfortunately has been pulled in other directions, not by our doing but by others, and I hope we can avoid that at least for the next week or two," said Lunsford.

He also indicated that he expected more attacks, should he make the general election.

" I am sure that we will be in the same spot with Senator McConnell," said Lunsford, referencing the Republican incumbent the winner of today's primary will face in November.

Lunsford said he had politically "matured" since the combative 2003 Democratic gubernatorial primary campaign in which he challenged Ben Chandler. Chandler's campaign leveled many of the same charges at Lunsford then that Fischer did this year, including references to allegations of patient abuse and overbilling at the Vencor chain of nursing homes founded by Lunsford.

In that campaign, Lunsford dropped out of the primary race shortly before election day. He later endorsed Republican candidate Ernie Fletcher in the 2003 general.

Lunsford also ran a more positive 2007 bid for the Democratic Gubernatorial nomination, but he lost to current Governor Steve Beshear (D-Lexington).

Now, Lunsford says he would support Fischer, should that opponent secure the nomination, tying this decision to a political "maturity" he said he has developed.

" When I first got in politics, it was a little hard for me to grasp all the negativity, but I've gotten a little bit of maturity about me in the last few years," said Lunsford.  I may have been a mature indvidual when I ran in 2003 in terms of my business career, but I was still a rookie in politics. After the last couple of governor's races, I think I understand it a lot better."