Lunsford hits McConnell on gas prices in front of Metro Dems

LOUISVILLE -- Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville) kept the focus of Kentucky's U.S. Senate race on energy policy during his remarks before members and guests at last night's meeting of the Metro Democratic Club in Louisville.

Lunsford targeted his opponent, four-term incumbent Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville), for voting against cloture on legislation that would have imposed a "windfall profits tax" on oil companies.

Of McConnell, Lunsford argued "Rather than debate on the issues, he personally stood in the way of the windfall profits tax with companies that have taken out over half a trillion dollars in profits during the bush administration. That's what he's doing to the country."

McConnell voted against the motion to end debate on the legislation yesterday along with 43 fellow Republicans. All 50 voting Democrats supported the motion for cloture, though sixty votes are required to end debate in the Senate.

In a statement released after that vote, McConnell denounced the legislation as "a gimmick."

"The biggest hit wouldn't be to the energy companies. It would be the American consumer, who now dreads pulling his or her car into the gas station. Hitting the gas companies might make for good campaign literature or evening news clips, but it won't address the problem," said McConnell in the statement.

In his role as Senate Minority Leader, McConnell often spearheads efforts to block Democratic policy initiatives with the threat of the filibuster. This was a history Lunsford referenced during his remarks Wednesday night.

"I do think I am taking on someone who has been the biggest thorn in Democrat's side not only in KY but across the United States," said Lunsford.

"We're extremely focused on what he's doing. I think everybody in this state, if they really got to witness this, would be ashamed of what happens," he added.

Of Republicans in Washington, Lunsford had few kind words, saying he would contrast himself from others in the Senate if elected.

"They've left burnt grass everywhere they've gone - it's time for a change," said the Louisville businessman. "I want to be a part of that change, and I want to scrap and fight, because I am not looking to be Strom Thurmond in the senate. I want to give everything I can while I'm up there until I can give no longer."

Thurmond was the South Carolina Republican who served 47 years in the U.S. Senate.

Looking around the state

A representative from the campaign of 1st Congressional District candidate Heather Ryan (D-Paducah) was also present at the Wednesday evening event.

Ryan garnered attention in January when she claimed she was fired from her job in Paducah for personally confronting McConnell with questions about the war in Iraq.

Shortly after that incident, Ryan filed for the 1st District Race and began heavily campaigning, discussing the confrontation with McConnell extensively.

Lunsford praised Ryan's candidacy in the district described earlier in the night as "Mitch's stronghold." The Senate candidate also said he was looking forward to Ryan's appearance at the Fancy Farm picnic in western Kentucky - where speaking is generally considered a rite-of-passage for Kentucky's politicians. Lunsford hinted Ryan may target McConnell in her speech.

"I've become a major fan of Heather's...I just hope she keeps it up all the way through," said Lunsford. "I can't wait to see her at Fancy Farm. It's going to be a field day."

Ryan faces incumbent U.S. Rep Ed Whitfield (R-Hopkinsville) in November.

Lunsford also acknowledged Kentucky's existing Democratic members of Congress, Ben Chandler (D-Versailles) and John Yarmuth (D-Louisville). Each represent areas Lunsford needs to run well in to top McConnell statewide.

Of the race in Kentucky's 6th Congressional district, Lunsford called Chandler "as close to a juggernaut as we have in the state of Kentucky today."

Chandler - who sunk his 2006 competition by over 70 points -faces attorney Jon Larson (R-Lexington) in the general election.

Lunsford also stressed the importance of a big win for Yarmuth in the 3rd Congressional District.

"From everybody's standpoint, the bigger the margin, the better the margin," said Lunsford with regard to U.S. Rep John Yarmuth (D-Louisville), of the state's 3rd Congressional District.

Yarmuth was recently shown up by seventeen points in a SurveyUSA poll of his race against former U.S. Rep Anne Northup (R-Louisville). 

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