Damn! Bunning is retiring, won't run in 2010.

[jefferson_dem]

Bunning says he won't run in 2010
Posted: Monday, July 27, 2009 4:28 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Republicans, 2010 From NBC's Mark Murray

The news was expected, but it was a wild ride to get there -- vulnerable Kentucky Sen. Jim Bunning (R) won't run for re-election next year, giving Republicans a better chance at holding on to his seat.

The reason he cites for his exit is the same one that Roland Burris did a few weeks ago: a lack of financial resources.

"unning for office is not just about the issues," he said in a statement. "To win a general election, a candidate has to be able to raise millions of dollars to get the message out to voters. Over the past year, some of the leaders of the Republican Party in the Senate have done everything in their power to dry up my fundraising. The simple fact is that I have not raised the funds necessary to run an effective campaign for the U.S. Senate. For this reason, I will not be a candidate for re-election in 2010."

With Bunning's exit, the front-runner for the GOP nomination is Secretary of State Trey Grayson. The top Democrats are state Attorney General Jack Conway and former 2004 Democratic Senate nominee Dan Mongiardo.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/07/27/2011434.aspx

[PretzelWarrior]

1. should be some interesting races. I think Burris' seat is now solidly Dem. and BUnning's

is likely to go Republican. STatus quo on those seats. But we'll see how others shake out in 2010. I'm hoping they can gain a seat or two from the Republicans.

[uponit7771]

2. "a lack of financial resources." = no one wants to support your sorry ass!

[TheKentuckian]

3. and this seat belongs to the Dems!

I think we hate our local Republicans more than the national breed.

[road2000]

6. There are just so damn many of them to hate.

n/t

[LLStarks]

4. Bunning's seat is pretty safe for the GOP. If we can't snatch it, I'd hope that Rand Paul gets it.

[asksam]

5. WOO-HOO!! Another one Gone!!

Hopefully, we can pick up his seat and work on getting that magic number of 67 seats in the Senate.

[NYC Democrat]

7. damn that moves this seat from lean dem to tossup.

[Arkana]

8. Agreed. This actually is bad for us.

Who's running besides Mongiardo (I think that's his name)? Is Lunsford considering taking another crack at it?

[davidpdx]

9. What's the matter Bunning, are you afraid of getting HAMstrung?

Oh I kill myself...haha