Back-and-forth on energy policy for McConnell and Lunsford

The U.S. Senate race predicted to be "a war" by the Democrat and "the most negative campaign Kentuckians have ever seen" by the Republican is thus far looking more like a civil tennis match, as the campaigns again participated in another roundabout serve-and-volley exchange early this week.

This time the issue was climate change, with four-term Republican incumbent Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) lobbing a policy question at his Democratic opponent and Louisville businessman Bruce Lunsford.

"Where does Lunsford stand on climate change?" was the question asked by the latest release from the McConnell campaign.

"Bruce Lunsford wants to join the ranks of Senate Democrats, and their latest proposal is Barbara Boxer's climate change legislation that has drawn bi-partisan support. Where does Bruce Lunsford stand? Would he vote for or against this plan supported by his Democratic leadership?," read the release.

"If Bruce is not too busy jetting to Dubai this week or to his Chicago or Arizona residences, maybe he can do Kentuckians the courtesy of taking a position on this critical issue facing the country," said McConnell's campaign manager Justin Brasell, in the statement.

This tactic of issue-stance solicitation was earlier utilized by McConnell's campaign shortly after Lunsford claimed the Democratic nomination, when McConnell asked for Lunsford's position on three policies.

Lunsford responded to two of McConnell's questions, but has thus far declined to react to the Senator's request that he give a position on the current budget before the U.S. Senate.

In McConnell's release, his campaign also touts the Senator's energy plan, which centers around expanded oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - a plan Lunsford earlier said he opposed.

Today, in lieu of directly returning serve into McConnell's court on the climate change inquisition, Lunsford took aim at the increase in gas prices during McConnell's last term in office.

“Mitch McConnell continues to play politics and pretend he’s on our side when the truth is he’s doing the bidding of the big oil companies. In 2002, when Senator McConnell was last elected, gas prices were at $1.45 a gallon. After six more years of failed Bush-McConnell policies like billions of dollars in tax breaks for oil companies making record profits, gas prices are approaching $4 a gallon and rising," said Lunsford today. "These record high prices are creating chaos in every level of the economy. The American people need immediate and sustained relief and McConnell has provided neither.”

Lunsford's hit on McConnell resembles an earlier effort by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee to target McConnell on gas prices. The DSCC is a formidable ally of Lunsford, having encouraged him to run in the Democratic Senate primary shortly before the deadline to enter.

In an interview conducted during the Democratic primary, Lunsford was asked by the the Louisville Courier-Journal if he would support a law "requiring reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions to slow global warming."

"We should aggressively pursue policies to protect Kentucky's environment and develop strategies to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions," responded Lunsford in reply transcribed by the paper. "But we must act now. Some alternative and energy saving programs I support include: Increasing investment in clean energy to develop the next generation of alternative fuels. Offer tax credits for companies who develop renewable fuel technology. Investing in job training programs that allow workers and industries to make a smooth transition to cleaner-fuel technology. Increase fuel efficiency standards in a timely, but realistic manner and offer tax credits to U.S. auto manufacturers to transition their factories to meet these standards."