Chandler, Lunsford Lash out in Kentucky Democrat Gubernatorial TV Spots

Lexington, KY, Herald-Leader ^ | 04-27-03 | Staff Report

[Theodore R.]

Posted on Sun, Apr. 27, 2003

CAMPAIGN 2003

2 gubernatorial hopefuls lash out in TV spots HERALD-LEADER STAFF REPORT

In what has become the liveliest exchange of Kentucky's gubernatorial primaries, state Attorney General Ben Chandler and Louisville millionaire Bruce Lunsford have been hurling charges, counter-charges and insults at each other.

Lunsford's $6 million, self-funded campaign began by attacking Chandler's fund-raising. The ads claimed "Politician Ben" was beholden to the special interests who have donated to his $2.3 million war chest.

Chandler responded with an ad attacking Luns-ford's nursing home company, which has paid the federal government more than $100 million to settle claims that it neglected and malnourished senior citizens, and that it defrauded health benefit programs, including Medicare, the program for senior citizens.

The other Democratic candidates, state House Speaker Jody Richards and Otis Hensley, Jr., have stayed out of the scrap. Richards says he plans no negative ads. Hensley has no money to buy them.

The flurry of attack ads may subside now that Chandler says he intends to suspend his and will end them entirely if Lunsford follows suit. But voters are still left to wonder -- who's right about whom?

[ThreePuttinDude]

HA HA HA, you have to love watching these idiots shoot themselves in the foot....its great

[JohnnyZ]

Excellent, Smithers!

[RonPaulLives]

In a rather bizarre development, I am being told that Democrat Bruce Lunsford of Louisville, who has funded his own campaign for Governor to the tune of 7 or 8 million dollars DROPPED OUT of the race today. Word is that he will now endorse Jody Richards, who was expected to be running third in this race.