It's never too early: Day after primary, McConnell challenges Lunsford

Any post-primary respite for the campaign of Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Bruce Lunsford was abruptly halted this morning when incumbent U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) took aim at his new opponent just hours after the Democrat clinched his nomination.

On a morning conference call with reporters, McConnell -- a four-term incumbent and the Senate's minority leader -- speculated that the Senate race would turn ugly quick by pointing to Lunsford's past history of engaging in contentious battle with his opponents.U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville): Politicker photo

"Judging from the just completed primary, I fully expect Bruce to run the most negative campaign Kentuckians have ever seen," said McConnell. "Bruce will attack for the next six months. This is a well-established pattern that Greg Fischer and my friend Ben Chandler are all too familiar with."

Lunsford defeated Louisville businessman Greg Fischer in Tuesday's primary. In 2003, he was involved in a bitter gubernatorial primary against Chandler.

McConnell's main appeal on the day was to push the media to focus on Lunsford's stance on three particular issues, past and present. First, the senator asked whether Lunsford supported "the budget we will be voting on today or tomorrow in the Senate."

Reviving the often-battered business history of Vencor, the nursing home chain founded by Lunsford, McConnell asked the following:

How would he have voted on the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, which he blames for the colossal failure and bankruptcy of his nursing home business?

Vencor declared bankruptcy in 1999, and in some news coverage of Lunsford's 2007 gubernatorial run and this year's race, he has suggested that legislation contributed to financial struggles due to its alteration Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates.

Democratic Senate nominee Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville)Finally, McConnell asked whether Lunsford supported the proposals in McConnell's own energy amendment, which failed in the Senate in recent weeks. That amendment would open up American oil reserves in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Whether McConnell is trying to push Lunsford into a policy corner or soliciting an issues-oriented discussion obviously remains to be seen, but the brisk challenge to Lunsford ensures the race will be an active one.

McConnell also accused Lunsford of running attacks in "every single ad" he has run in his primary campaign, while McConnell said his campaign ads this year had remained positive.

Asked what the content of future television campaigns against Lunsford may entail, McConnell said he couldn't say for sure.

"That depends entirely on the circumstances," said McConnell. "We are waiting on the first positive ad from my opponent. We will respond accordingly."

Lunsford's past financial support of McConnell's campaigns -- an issue in the primary for Lunsford -- may not be a focus of McConnell's effort against Lunsford.

"I am interested, frankly, in his record," said McConnell. "The fact that he has contributed to me in the past shows that he has occasionally had good judgement."

PolitickerKY.com has contacted the Lunsford campaign and is waiting for a response.

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