Posted on 02/23/2009 3:34:42 AM PST by Impy
KENTUCKY. US Senator Jim Bunning (R) is already expected to face a tough fight for reelection next year, as leading Bluegrass State Democrats are lining up to run. Over the weekend, Bunning helped to contribute to his reputation for making erratic comments. Speaking at a Lincoln Day event over the weekend, Bunning said that US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg will be dead from pancreatic cancer within the next nine months. Bunning also complained the NRSC isn't doing enough financially to help him and other embattled conservative incumbents. In related news, The Hill reports that State Senate President David Williams is considering making a primary challenge to Bunning. Williams was in DC Friday meeting with NRSC officials. Williams, an ally of US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R), has high name recognition in the state. McConnell has openly expressed his hopes that Bunning will retire next year -- after the unexpectedly close call he survived in 2004. Secretary of State Trey Grayson (R) says he would run for the Senate seat if Bunning retires, but will not challenge Bunning in a primary. Bunning insisted again this weekend that he will seek re-election in 2010.
NEW HAMPSHIRE. Well-placed sources close to former US Senator Bob Smith (R) tell Politics1 that Smith has shifted away from his earlier plan to run for US Senate in Florida, where he has lived for the past few years. Instead, Smith -- who has maintained a home in New Hampshire -- now plans to return to the Granite State and run for US Senate in the GOP primary next year if former US Senator John Sununu Jr. runs for Judd Gregg's open seat. One of Smith's consultants, who asked not too be named, said Smith will emphasize his pro-gun rights, pro-life and pro-environment stances against Sununu. Smith lost for renomination to Sununu in the bitter 2002 primary, so part of Smith's motiviation for running against Sununu would be to inflict as much political damage as possible on Sununu.
I heard about it on Rush and read it on Rasmussen’s site. It was referenced here on FR in a posted article. You can always call Rush’s show and ask him about it.
LLS
Bunning is a moron. We have a better shot at keeping this seat if he were to retire.
By the time 2010 comes, no one will care about Bunning, but they will care about Obama...and compare Bunning’s record to Obama’s (along with comparing parties).
Bottom line - Bunning’s a shoe-in, especially in a state like Kentucky.
Disregard my previous post...I wasn’t aware that he was the Senator predicting the demise of Ginsburg...not a good move.
Perhaps there was some truth to the whispering campaign against Bunning being senile back in 2004. Bunning sure can’t take a hint that he is very vulnerable. He’s been hanging with Ted Stevens too long. A pity Ann Northup lost her house seat. She would have been an awesome Senator.
Bob Smith is as nutty as Bob Barr. Smith endorsed Kerry in NH. Bob Smith is going to gather Ron Paul supporters to start trouble.
Bunning, age-wise, is someone that should’ve been in the Senate in the ‘70s and ‘80s. The fact that he is seriously attempting another run to take him until 2017 is unsettling. I worried about senility in ‘04 myself despite his excellent voting record. Even good men go past their prime, and he has. His poor reelection that year against a second-tier opponent in a great GOP year was the warning sign that needed to be heeded. I don’t think a lot of folks know how old he is. He’s the second oldest Republican Senator after Arlen Specter (and Specter is just a year older than he is). He has earned an honorable retirement, not a sad defeat.
David Williams, a McConnell ally.
“Why would Bunning be vulnerable in a primary?”
He’s at risk to lose the general that’s why.
That's one thing you don't have to worry about with Jim Bunning.
I’ve never worried about that with him...but often if you say something (true or not) that you shouldn’t, people punish you regardless - particularly if you’re a Republican.
LLS
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