KY-Sen: Who Might Enter the Race

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The Courier-Journal's Joe Gerth offers a column on who he expects will enter Kentucky's 2010 Senate race.

For the Republicans, he expects that Jim Bunning will make good on his threat promise to run for re-election; but, if Bunning doesn't, expect Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson to carry the banner for the GOP.

For the Democrats, he offers that a trio of statewide officeholders (Lieutenant Governor Dan Mongiardo, Auditor Crit Luallen, and Attorney General Jack Conway) are the likeliest entrants. Mongiardo was Bunning's opponent in 2004, losing only narrowly and outperforming Presidential nominee John Kerry in the state by nine points. Gerth suggests that the odds are against Congressman Ben Chandler entering the race given the clout Chandler has in the House by sitting on the Appropriations Committee. Gerth also notes that Attorney General Conway would only run if Auditor Luallen and Congressman Chandler took a pass. Luallen briefly considered a challenge to Mitch McConnell this past cycle, but opted against it.

Let's hope that Bunning does run for re-election, as he has lousy approval ratings. Bunning has not exceeded a 49% approval rating among Kentuckians as long as Survey USA has polled it. Further, Bunning's disapproval has not dipped below 40% since February 2006.

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