Republicans blast Dems at convention and assert their readiness for general

“If you read the New York Times today or just watched what was going on television, you would think that this election is over with and Barack Obama has already been coronated,” said Republican National Committee Chair Mike Duncan at Saturday’s Kentucky Republican convention in Bowling Green. “But let me tell you, that is not the case…we are ready for this election.”

As national polls and speculation abound predicting a tough 2008 for Republicans across the country, top Kentucky Republicans sought to combat that trend in thinking by presenting their party as prepared for the general election while ripping into their Democratic opponents throughout their state convention this weekend.

Duncan – a native of the eastern Kentucky town of Inez – said the RNC was well-funded for November’s battles, even in comparison with their Democratic counterparts.

“Currently, we have raised over $80 million this year…We have $53 million cash-on-hand compared to 4 million for [Democratic National Committee Chairman] Howard Dean’s organization,” said Duncan. “We are ready for this election - you are not going to hear that on the national television.”

The particular races in play in Kentucky were all highlighted from the convention podium, as top Republicans lavished praise on their party’s candidates while slamming Democratic opposition.

McConnell v. Lunsford

Calls for support of incumbent U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) in his race against Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville) – a campaign U.S. Rep Geoff Davis (R-Hebron) called “the biggest race in Kentucky of all” - were predominant on Saturday. McConnell faces a well-funded opponent in Lunsford, who has outpolled the Republican in at least one early measurement.

“[McConnell’s] position in the United States Senate is crucial to not only our state and our country, but to the world,” said state Senate President David Williams (R-Burkesville). “It’s crucial that we not take the United States senate Seat for granted and let the carpetbagger buy this election with his millions of dollars, with the 527s that will come into this state to disparage him, because we know what Mitch McConnell has meant to our party, and to this state, and this nation.”

Kentucky’s junior Senator announced his own plans to slam Lunsford’s past at “Fancy Farm” – the traditional western Kentucky picnic in August attended by a who’s-who of the state’s politicians.

“I am going to show up at Fancy Farm and tell you just why Bruce Lunsford is not qualified to be a U.S. Senator,” said Senator Jim Bunning (R-Southgate), who refrained from attacks on Lunsford at the convention, but sounded assured of McConnell’s future.

“Mark it down – he is going to get re-elected,” said Bunning.

Obama v. McCain

Bunning seemed to root his confidence in McConnell at least in part on the notion that presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Senator John McCain (R-Ariz)., looks to have an early poll advantage in Kentucky over his Democratic counterpart, Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.)

“McCain’s likely triumph over Obama in the Commonwealth means Kentucky is going to be fertile ground once again for the Republican candidates,” said Bunning.

Still, it was Obama who was the target of much contempt from the speakers at Saturday’s convention, including Bunning.

“Democrats have nominated the most unqualified nominee for president in my lifetime,” said Bunning.

Bunning targeted the Democratic nominee’s plans for the Iraq War in his remarks as well, associating Obama with a former Democratic President.

“Obama doesn’t understand that the best way to prevent future wars is to win the wars we are now fighting,” said Bunning. “Republicans and Democrats in the mold of Regan, FDR, and JFK understood this, but not Barack Obama. He does not because he comes from the Jimmy Carter wing of the Democratic Party.”

Chairman Duncan also got in a few digs at Obama in his own right, touching on the message national Republicans may use to counter the Democrats efforts. Duncan specifically referenced the recent criminal conviction of Obama’s former Chicago associate, Tony Rezko.

“This election is going to be about the judgement of Barack Obama,” said Duncan. “The judgement he has with his personal associations is in question. Just this week in Chicago, the person who helped him finance his million dollar home, the person who helped him buy the lot next door to him, the person who helped finance him as a young candidate running for the state legislature in Illinois – Rezko – was convicted of 18 felonies.”

Duncan also echoed an earlier McCain talking point, by claiming Obama wants to “meet unconditionally – unilaterally - with leaders of terrorist countries.”

If the hits weren’t enough, Senate President David Williams even had his own rhyming jab at Obama.

“We have to work together to keep this country from suffering from taxation, regulation, litigation, and his vacillations,” said Williams. “We can’t afford to have this country become an Obami-nation.”

Williams also took vocal exception to the now-infamous “bitter” comments made by Obama, wherein the U.S. Senator said many rural voters “cling to guns and religion” amid economic turmoil.

“The founders of our United States were a religious and faithful people who fought and died to keep the right to be religious, and separation of church and state, to keep people from being ridiculed by people like Barack Obama,” said Williams.

Republicans sounded as if they believed McCain would appeal to many Kentucky Democrats, among whom Obama may have an uphill struggle for votes.

The Illinois Senator lost by 35 points in the May 20 primary here to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.).

“We have a man in John McCain who has looked the enemy in the eye - who was tortured for his beliefs - and he never changed course,” said Williams.

“Many of those Democrats that rejected Obama’s views are our friends and neighbors that will vote for John McCain this fall,” said Senator Bunning.

Chairman Duncan closed his remarks by saying Republicans would try to appeal to the electorate by reverting to traditional “principles” in their general election message.

“This is a very stark, very, very important election for us,” said Duncan. “On the Republican side, we are going back to our basics. We are talking about the principles of the Republican party – lower taxes and less government, individual responsibility and a strong national defense.