Ensign defends McConnell’s ad, says incumbent ‘is going to win very comfortably’

U.S. Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.): Getty Images PhotoNational Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee chairman and Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) today defended Sen. Mitch McConnell's (R-Louisville) controversial attack ad on his opponent, Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville), arguing it shows a contrast in approaches to the energy between the two candidates.

"Lunsford believes part of the solution is raising taxes," said Ensign during a morning conference call with reporters. "The solution is finding more supplies of energy."

McConnell's ad - the first of the general election campaign - allocates some responsibility for Kentucky's gas tax system to Lunsford, given his work as a legislative liaison in 1980, when the current structure was implemented. That structure ties the Commonwealth's gas tax rate to the wholesale price of gasoline rather than setting a flat rate, with revenue going to road projects.

The ad charges the tax changes have cost Kentucky residents "hundreds of millions."

The ad drew flack from two high-profile newspaper editorials in the state's largest papers, one of which tagged the spot as "dishonest" for its portrayal of Lunsford's role in the implementation of the tax structure.

These editorials were featured in a response ad from the Lunsford campaign released last Friday that rebuts the original allegations.

Ensign said McConnell's ad is "not blaming the whole increase in price just on Lunsford," but said its message is "obvious" in presenting a contrast between proposed solutions to the energy crunch.

The difference between Democrats and Republicans on the energy issue, Ensign said, is Republican support for expanded domestic drilling, which Democrats continue to oppose.

"The energy issue is having a dramatic draw down on our economy," said Ensign. "Republicans are on the right side of this issue."

McConnell's campaign has spent considerable time hammering Lunsford for not supporting expanded drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge or the outer continental shelf. McConnell himself brought the energy question to the forefront of the race the day after Lunsford secured the Democratic Senate nomination.

Since the launch of McConnell's ad, Lunsford released an eight-point energy plan, which includes pushes for more investment in alternative energy, a gas tax holiday, more restrictions on energy market speculation, and the increased use of clean coal and oil shale as fuels.

McConnell's ad - and Lunsford's response - pushed the campaigns into a higher gear, though the general election is still four months away. With McConnell currently holds a significant fundraising advantage, Lunsford - a multi-millionaire businessman - is capable of extensive self-financing.

With this consideration, noted political analyst Charlie Cook changed his projection for the race from "solid Republican" to "likely Republican."

Enisgn, however, remained confident that McConnell could defend the seat for Republicans and secure a fifth term in the U.S. Senate.

"I think that Mitch McConnell, in the end, is going to win very comfortably," said Ensign.

Updated - 2:38pm ET: This afternoon the Lunsford campaign fired off a quick statement in response to Ensign's comments about their candidate, particularly the assertion that Lunsford favors raising taxes as part of a solution to high gas prices.

Typical McConnell political smokescreen," said spokesman Cary Stemle. "Bruce supports a federal gas tax holiday that will provide immediate relief and save Kentuckians more than 18 cents per gallon.  Mitch McConnell doesn't support this, instead choosing to side with his friends at Big Oil - who have given him more than $3 million in political contributions over the years."