Ken Shapero

Senate candidate Greg Fischer (D-Louisville): Politicker Photo

The campaign of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Greg Fischer (D-Louisville) responded this evening to the latest ad from their primary opponent and frontrunner, Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville).

"This is obviously a desperate attempt," said Fischer's campaign spokesman, Ken Shapero. "Greg welcomes the ad because it absolutely illustrates the differences between the two candidates."

"These charges are baseless, groundless, and spurious," said Shapero. "The fact is, Greg and his wife have never given a dime to George Bush or Mitch McConnell ever. Between them, they have given $850 over their lifetimes to Republicans."

The list released yesterday of current and former elected officials endorsing Louisville businessman Greg Fischer's candidacy for the U.S. Senate includes one official receiving a stipend from Fischer's campaign.

Campbell County Democratic Party chairman Ken Mullikin was included in the campaign's list of endorsers yesterday. During April, Mullikin also received over $3,600 from the Fischer campaign.

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 Democratic Senate candidate Greg Fischer has again made some staff changes.

Nicole Candler, who was working as a spokesperson for the campaign, has left to work for the Presidential campaign of Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York). Candler joined the campaign in mid-March amid earlier changes in the Fischer camp, and left late last week.

Ken Shapero has assumed the role of Communications Director for the campaign, having been in that position for two weeks.

Greg Fischer's campaign responded to the newest salvo fired in the Democratic Senate primary this afternoon.

Earlier today, Fischer was accused of "hypocrisy" for his investments in mutual funds with holdings including the successor companies of the nursing home chain Vencor. Vencor was founded by Fischer's opponent, Louisville businessman Bruce Lunsford, and allegations of impropriety there have been highlighted by Fischer in advertising campaigns against Lunsford.

"Bruce Lunsford is showing exactly what kind of Senator he would be in the United States Senate," said Fischer spokesperson, Ken Shapero. "This has the smell of Mitch McConnell all over it. This is exactly what kind of campaign Mitch McConnell would run."

"This is clearly designed to cloud the issue. He is attacking a straw dog. It's the same thing he tried to do to Ben Chandler," continued Shapero, referencing the 2003 gubernatorial primary campaign Lunsford quit amid a heated battle with Chandler.