(WHAS11) From Jack Conway’s tough S-O-B comment at Fancy Farm, to colorful criticism of the Governor attributed to Daniel Mongiardo in audiotapes posted on YouTube, the tone of this campaign has been set.
We haven’t even reached the January filing deadline, and one candidate says we’ve already heard the seven words you can’t say on TV.
Rand Paul, U.S. Senate candidate, said on Thursday, “He’s deceased now, but I think George Carlin would probably be smiling if he’s been watching the Democrat primary, because I think they’ve used all 7 words.”
There were no profanities on Thursday, but plenty of mud. Daniel Mongiardo criticizes Jack Conway’s sizeable investment in a Texas natural gas company, that Mongiardo says will profit at the expense of Kentucky coal.
Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo, U.S. Senate candidate, “What kind of United States senator would invest in a company against the interests of the people of the state of Kentucky?”
Attorney General Jack Conway, U.S. Senate candidate, “What he conveniently fails to tell you is he’s invested in a company called Oneac, that’s a natural gas company that creates no Kentucky jobs, and has a similar position on natural gas. I guess when it comes to this issue, the people of Kentucky can’t trust Dan Mongiardo’s word any more than Steve Beshear can.”
Conway suggests Mongiardo is either hiding his income, cheating on his taxes, overbilling the Kentucky Medicaid program, or lying on his federal and state disclosures.
Mongiardo said, “He’s pointing out the billing from my office that includes three providers, a family nurse practitioner, an audiologist and myself, and reimbursement is much less than the billings.”
One long-shot candidate says the sniping makes people uncomfortable, “Even though it benefits me, I think it hurts our party and I hope it stops.”
Conway said, “If I’m attacked, and if I’m attacked with allegations that are untrue, I’m going to stand up and defend myself.”
WHAS11’s Joe Arnold asked Mongiardo, “Isn’t it unusual that this early in the campaign it’s this nasty?”
Mongiardo answered, “Well it’s—this is politics. And the future of our country and our state are at stake. They don’t give senate seats away Joe. They don’t give them away. …tells me he increased his investment in Kinder-Morgan energy because the stock pays dividends and he took a pay cut when he was became Attorney General.”
Mongiardo said he and the governor trust each other.
