While Jim Bunning is excoriated by Democrats, he is suddenly relevant in the Democratic Party's primary in the race to succeed Bunning as he retires. As the Democratic frontrunners criticize Bunning, they are also squabbling over who did more to put the heat on Bunning to relent on his objection to unfunded jobless benefits.
Like Jack Conway's first commercial in the Senate race released Wednesday, rival Daniel Mongiardo's first ad of the 2010 campaign also capitalizes on the Bunning firestorm. The biggest difference is that Mongiardo has taken on Bunning before, when the then little known state senator was narrowly defeated in a major upset bid six years ago.
Announcer: In 2004, Daniel Mongiardo took on the failed policies of Bunning/Bush.
So when Jim Bunning blocked unemployment benefits for 120,000 Kentuckians, Daniel took on Bunning again....
As Reid Wilson writes in the National Journal's Hotline on call, neither Democrat is spending much money on these first ads. Wilson reports that Mongiardo is spending less than $4000, while Conway is spending less than $28,000.
National Journal: And like Conway, the ad buy is more about getting headlines than actually reaching voters (Unlike Conway, Mongiardo says he took on Bunning "and Tea Party supporters," the first time we've seen an ad specifically calling out the conservative movement).
Wilson's right. While Republicans have been eager to cater to the Tea Party crowd, Democrats, until Mongiardo, have been reluctant to toy with this emerging, enigmatic force in the 2010 elections. Mongiardo, who has touted being an independent as much as being a Democrat, takes this opportunity to relate to the liberal base of the Democratic Party that villifies the Tea Party movement.
Announcer: (Mongiardo) called Bunning's actions a disgrace, led rallies in Louisville and Lexington. He stood up for Kentucky workers, taking on Bunnings and tea party supporters. Bunning's backed down, now we need Daniel in the Senate fighting for us. I'm Daniel Mongiardo and I approved this message because it's about people not politics.
The primary, however, is not against Bunning or the Tea Party. And Mongiardo spokesman Kim Geveden says the commercial does draw a clear contrast with fellow Democrat Jack Conway.
"After seeing Jack Conway's talking head ad, we thought Daniel's record of strength, leadership and action would make a nice contrast for voters," Geveden said.
The Letter
Meanwhile, the tempest in the teapot between the Mongiardo and Conway camps continues to be whether Conway promised to write a letter to be read at Mongiardo's protests against Bunning. Geveden cites the Courier-Journal's Joe Gerth's account of a Democratic Party dinner in Lexington where Mongiardo pitched the protests.
"I certainly think Sen. Bunning's actions were petty and petulant," Conway said, adding that he'll likely send a letter protesting Bunning's actions.
While Geveden says Conway promised to send a letter, the Conway campaign says Conway merely said he might send a letter or a statement. Conway eventually went his own way, appearing on a radio show, Hardball on MSNBC, and other interviews in Washington, D.C. while on an official state trip as Attorney General. Geveden says the Conway camp did not bow out of the rally until late the prior evening.
Mongiardo billed the Louisville and Lexington protests as apolitical events, yet the podium had a Mongiardo campaign sign, the event was organized by Mongiardo's Senate campaign that handed out faux grassroots anti-Bunning signs and the Mongiardo campaign is now using the apolitical rally as a rallying cry for Mongiardo's Senate run.
"Daniel Mongiardo was proud to have led the rallies and help organize the effort in Kentucky against Jim Bunning on behalf of unemployed workers and their families. Daniel stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Kentucky's workers taking on Jim Bunning and his Tea Party supporters. That's not surprising since Daniel took on Bunning in 2004, while some Democrats sat on the sidelines. Daniel could not sit idly by as the Bunning/Bush economic policies hurt Kentucky families. Daniel stood up for Kentucky families then and he continues to stand up for them now," said Kim Geveden, spokesman for Mongiardo.
"Daniel believes that to lead on behalf of Kentucky families in the U.S. Senate, you have to be willing to listen to them, not the political insiders. Then you actually have to do the hard work it takes on their behalf. You can't lead from Washington. Sometimes, you have to personally join the battle and stand shoulder to shoulder with your fellow Kentuckians to make their voices heard. Once again, Daniel's actions demonstrate that Kentucky families can count on Daniel Mongiardo to fight for them everyday in the Senate. Daniel will put their interests ahead of Washington special interests and political insiders," said Geveden.
