Allison Haley

Few things are sacred in Kentucky politics. A man's horse is evidently not among them.

In a novel turn of events today in the continuing back-and-forth over energy policy between incumbent U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) and Democratic Senate nominee Bruce Lunsford, of Louisville, the McConnell camp has cited Lunsford's race horse named "Drilling for Oil" in the latest hit on their opponent.

"It's funny that a guy who owns a race horse called ‘Drilling for Oil' supports policies that in fact would decrease domestic energy production and increase the pain Kentuckians feel at the pump," said McConnell's campaign manager, Justin Brasell in a statement released today.

While his horse was being used against him, Lunsford made the third stop of his "On the Job" tour today by working at a gas station in Richmond, hoping to highlight the high gas prices his campaign has been associating with McConnell's terms in office.

The campaign of Democratic Senate candidate Greg Fischer has accused primary opponent Bruce Lunsford of "distorting the truth" during last night's televised debate on KET.

In a release dispatched this afternoon, Fischer's campaign pointed to an exchange between the two top-polling Democratic candidates over their own histories of contributing to Republicans.

During the debate, Lunsford claimed "I haven't given tens of thousands to Republicans and in fact it has been just the opposite."

"I don't enjoy having to point out this discrepancy," said Fischer, in a campaign release today. "But when a candidate for public office stands before a statewide audience on live TV and says something that's blatently false, I think you have to point that out."

U.S. Senate candidate Bruce LunsfordDemocratic U.S. Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford has triggered the second threshold of the so-called "millionaire's amendment," PolitickerKY.com learned over the weekend. His campaign reported on Saturday that Lunsford made a $550,000 contribution toward securing his party's nomination. Lunsford's recent expenditure of his personal funds means his opponents in the Democratic Senate primary will find the contribution limits for individuals donating to their campaign increased to $12,600.

Lunsford, a wealthy Louisville businessman, has now spent more than $1.6 million of his own funds on his bid for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican incumbent Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader. That amount exceeds the second threshold for self-financing candidates incorporated into the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, set at about $1.1 million for candidates in Kentucky.

The Democratic Senate primary has undoubtedly turned negative over the last several weeks. The two candidates atop the field are engaged in a back-and-forth that took another turn today. This morning, the campaign of frontrunning candidate Bruce Lunsford unveiled an online petition calling on primary opponent Greg Fischer to stop his attacks.

In a release announcing the petition, the Lunsford campaign said the attacks are benefitting Republican incumbent Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) - the candidate the winner of the Democratic primary will face.

The petition - available here - had 106 signatures at press time, including representatives from organizations that have endorsed Lunsford, elected officials, Lunsford staffers, and other supporters.

The campaign of Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville) dispatched a press release today accusing primary opponent Greg Fischer (D-Louisville) of "hypocrisy" for his investment in mutual funds with holdings in successor companies to Lunsford's own oft-maligned Vencor nursing home chain.

The jab from the Lunsford camp comes after Fischer announced his record was an "open book" at a Friday press conference. At that same event, he also said he would continue hitting Lunsford on Vencor-related charges.

"The fact that all the while, Fischer has investments in the very companies he claims Bruce ran into the ground makes Fischer's actions the ultimate hypocrisy," said Lunsford spokesperson Allison Haley in a release today.

U.S. Senate candidate Bruce LunsfordCopies of the FEC complaints filed by Republican Party of Kentucky (RPK) Chairman Steve Robertson against Democratic Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford were released today.

The full complaint, with attachments, is viewable here (in .pdf form).

As reported yesterday, the RPK contends Lunsford's April 21 appearance on the CW program "Louisville Live this Morning" violated FEC rules requiring the display of a disclaimer and image of the candidate at the close of the broadcast, as Lunsford paid $200 to the station in conjunction with his appearance.

Members of the Kentucky media received a package from the campaign of Democratic Senate candidate Greg Fischer yesterday. Inside was a small plastic luggage tag adorned with a sticker advertising "The Lunsford Collection."

"The Lunsford Collection offers a well-known brand of baggage. After years of hefty advertising investment, customers have come to know The Lunsford Collection name, but it's time they knew the features," reads the back of the tag. "It's heavy. It's dirty. And, Bruce wants Kentucky Democrats to carry it for him."

The campaign of Democratic Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford responded today to the attack ad released by their primary opponent, Louisville businessman Greg Fischer.

"We are dissappointed not all Democrats are working towards the primary goal of defeating Mitch McConnell," said Allison Haley, spokesperson for Lunsford's campaign.

The Kentucky Democratic Party quickly filled its open position at Communications Director by hiring Thom Karmik for the position just last week.  read more »

Transitioning quickly from work as communications director for the Democratic Party of Kentucky, Allison Haley has signed on with Bruce Lunsford's campaign for the U.S. Senate.

Haley told politickerky.com she started work with the Lunsford camp this week after finishing her tenure with the state party last Friday.