Bunning to Retire in 2010
Roll Call Staff
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Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) announced Monday he will not run for a third term in 2010, eliminating a political headache for Senate Republicans and bringing closure to a months-long GOP family drama accentuated by public lashings from the irascible Senator directed at the media and his colleagues.
“Over the past year, some of the leaders of the Republican Party in the Senate have done everything in their power to dry up my fundraising,” Bunning said in a statement announcing his decision. “The simple fact is that I have not raised the funds necessary to run an effective campaign for the U.S. Senate. For this reason, I will not be a candidate for re-election in 2010.”
Bunning’s words were a not-so-veiled jab at Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who never publicly endorsed Bunning and who Bunning charged was among those sabotaging his fundraising efforts.
With Bunning out of the race, McConnell will likely throw his support behind Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson as the party’s standard-bearer. Grayson has already begun fundraising for the Senate race even though he maintained he would not challenge Bunning in a primary.
The usually reserved McConnell publicly stayed mum on the race, but he sent clear signals that he would prefer that Bunning step aside so the party could nominate someone it perceives to be a stronger general election candidate.
“For Republicans, this is welcome news,” a GOP aide said of Bunning’s retirement announcement. “With some other Republican on the ballot, we’ve got a 50-50 shot, or even better. I’d go from 0 to 50-50 any day.”
On Monday, McConnell joined other Republicans in offering praise for his retiring colleague, declaring, “Kentucky is a far better place because of his service.”
Grayson praised Bunning and said he will soon convert his exploratory effort to an official campaign committee.
“Senator Bunning has served Kentucky honorably, has always dedicated himself to what’s best for Kentucky and our country, and has been one of the most fiscally responsible elected officials — a rarity in Washington,” Grayson said in a statement.
Bunning, who said he was “confident” his seat would remain in Republican hands, said he has no plans to issue an endorsement in the now-open Senate race.
A two-term Senator and Hall of Fame baseball pitcher, Bunning’s abysmal fundraising numbers so far — in addition to polling that showed him to be an underdog in the 2010 race — raised concern among Kentucky Republicans, who feared losing the seat.
Bunning’s irrational behavior also fueled the perception that the party would be better off if he stepped aside in the Bluegrass State. He skipped the Kentucky Derby in May — a must-attend event for any Kentucky politician — and encouraged Grayson to form a Senate exploratory committee, despite pledging to run for re-election himself.
Grayson raised an impressive $603,000 last quarter for his exploratory committee. Bunning, by contrast, raised just $302,000 during the same period.
Polls have consistently showed Bunning trailing Democrats in the race. But an April poll conducted by a Democratic firm showed Grayson ahead of one Democrat and in a statistical dead heat with another.
State Attorney General Jack Conway and Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo, who are battling for the Democratic Senate nod, both said Monday that Bunning’s withdrawal changes little about their own campaigns.
Conway raised nearly $1.3 million during the second quarter and enjoys the support of most of the state’s Democratic establishment. Mongiardo came close to beating Bunning in a closer-than-expected 2004 contest.
“Our campaign’s never been about Jim Bunning; it’s about fighting for affordable healthcare, affordable energy, and good jobs for Kentucky’s hard-working families. Today’s announcement does not change that,” Mongiardo said in a statement.
McConnell, considered the father of the modern day Kentucky GOP, won a fifth term last year with 53 percent of the vote. The conservative state has grown somewhat more competitive in recent years, although Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) won it by 16 points.
Rand Paul, a physician and the son of Texas Rep. Ron Paul (R), has also been exploring the Senate race, and it was not immediately certain Monday whether he will continue his campaign or whether the party will avoid a contested May 18 primary. Still, there is little doubt that GOP prospects for holding the seat are improved.
“Democrats are facing a divisive primary between candidates who support growing the size of government and increasing spending in Washington,” National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (Texas) said in a statement. “Republicans stand well-positioned to keep this seat in the Republican column.”
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