FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- Democratic Attorney General Jack Conway said Thursday he will run for the U.S. Senate seat now held by two-term Republican Jim Bunning.
"As I see the challenges facing our commonwealth, I believe now is the time for Kentucky to have a new generation of leadership," he said in a written statement. "Now is the time for bold ideas, a new vision and a belief that a brighter tomorrow is just over the horizon."
Conway is the second major Democrat to enter the race. Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo announced in February and has already raised more than $420,000 for his campaign.
"I welcome Jack into the race," Mongiardo said. "I think that this will give Kentuckians a clear choice on who has, as the governor says, the values and the priorities that reflect Kentuckians. I think it's going to be a clear choice."
A lesser-known Democrat, former U.S. Customs special agent Darlene Price of Whitley City, was the first to get in the race, announcing last year that she would run.
Mongiardo came close to unseating Bunning in 2004, but ended up losing to the 77-year-old Baseball Hall of Famer, 51 percent to 49 percent. Some 27,000 votes separated the two.
That close call with Mongiardo, who was a little-known state senator from Hazard at the time, is largely the reason Bunning is considered one of the most vulnerable incumbent senators facing re-election next year.
Bunning has had more recent difficulties, issuing two apologies for objectional comments, including once for saying U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg could die of pancreatic cancer within a year.
Gov. Steve Beshear endorsed Mongiardo for a rematch last month, saying he believes his second in command would be a strong voice for Kentucky in Washington.
House Speaker Greg Stumbo on Thursday endorsed Conway.
Mongiardo and Conway are among a handful of Democrats considering running against Bunning. U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler of Lexington has expressed interest in the race as has state Auditor Crit Luallen.
Bunning, who has had lackluster campaign funding thus far, could also face opposition in the Republican primary. State Senate President David Williams has been pondering a run and two other Republicans, Secretary of State Trey Grayson and Bowling Green eye surgeon Rand Paul, have said they would be interested if Bunning were to drop out.
Bunning's bare-bones campaign finance reports have fueled speculation that he may not be approaching the race seriously. His last report listed $27,357 in financial contributions -- short of the $10 million he's said it would take to win re-election.
Bunning hasn't yet filed a report detailing his first quarter contributions, but he said his fundraising has been "lousy" so far.
Bunning said last month that he's found it more difficult to raise money for his campaign because, he claimed, GOP leaders had been working against him.
Even so, Bunning said he will not withdraw as a candidate.
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Associated Press Writer Joe Biesk contributed to this report.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
