2010 United States Senate election in Kentucky explained

Election Name:2010 United States Senate election in Kentucky
Country:Kentucky
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2004 United States Senate election in Kentucky
Previous Year:2004
Next Election:2016 United States Senate election in Kentucky
Next Year:2016
Election Date:November 2, 2010
Image1:Rand Paul official portrait with flag edit.jpg
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Nominee1:Rand Paul
Popular Vote1:755,706
Percentage1:55.73%
Nominee2:Jack Conway
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:600,052
Percentage2:44.25%
Map Size:300px
U.S. Senator
Before Election:Jim Bunning
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:Rand Paul
After Party:Republican Party (United States)

The 2010 United States Senate election in Kentucky took place on November 2, 2010, alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Primaries for each respective party were held on May 18, 2010.[1] Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Jim Bunning decided to retire instead of seeking a third term. Republican nominee Rand Paul, an ophthalmologist and son of Congressman Ron Paul, won the open seat against Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway.[2]

Background

In early 2009, incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Jim Bunning, who won reelection by a surprisingly narrow margin in 2004, said he would need to raise $10 million for his re-election campaign.[3] However, NRSC chairman John Cornyn pressured Bunning to retire due to concerns that he could lose a reelection bid.[4] In July 2009, Bunning announced he would not run for re-election.[5]

In February 2009, Senator Bunning stated that another justice could soon be appointed to the United States Supreme Court because Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, would be dead within nine months,[6] creating a significant amount of controversy, which resulted in an apology from Bunning.[7] Ginsburg would not die until 2020—outliving Bunning, who would die in 2017.

In late May 2009, Bunning called fellow Kentucky Senator and Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell a "control freak" and suggested that he did not need McConnell's endorsement.[8] He also challenged Lexington Herald-Leader editor John Stamper to an arm wrestling match after Stamper questioned whether Bunning was "fit to serve."[8]

Additionally, Bunning created further controversy in February 2010 when he objected to a proposal of unanimous consent for an extension of unemployment insurance, COBRA, and other federal programs, citing that this extension was not pay-as-you-go. He proposed an amendment which sought to find the funds to pay for the bill from the Stimulus Bill of 2009, and declared that he supported the unemployed, but that a bill such as this only added to the growing deficit and that it should be paid for immediately.[9] Senator Bob Corker joined Bunning, while other senators worked to cease his objections. When Senator Jeff Merkley urged him to drop his objections to vote on a 30-day extension of benefits, Bunning responded "tough shit."[10] [11] Bunning finally agreed to end his objection to the bill in exchange for a vote on his amendment to pay for the package. It failed 53–43 on a procedural vote.[12] The extension of unemployment benefits then passed by a vote of 78–19.[13]

Republican primary

Candidates

Campaign

On August 20, 2009, a grassroots-planned moneybomb raised $433,509 for Rand Paul's campaign in a 24-hour period.[14] According to Paul,[15] this set a new record in Kentucky's political fundraising history (for a 24-hour period). Republican Liberty Caucus endorsed Paul in November 2009.[16] On December 22, 2009, Rand Paul picked up the endorsement of Concerned Women for America.[17] Paul embraced the Tea Party movement, and promoted "small government principles" one day after he officially entered the race for Kentucky's open seat.[18] Paul ran a strong anti-Washington message. One commercial tied Grayson as part of the problem, noting that Grayson raised money with AIG executives in Washington. In another advertisement, Paul had also attacked Grayson as a career politician and a liar.[19]

Grayson created a new website that attacked Paul for his "strange ideas," such as his opposition of the PATRIOT Act, and what Grayson alleged to be his support of closing down Guantanamo Bay and saying that Iran was not a threat. He also attacked Paul for being a Duke University fan.[20] He sent out another TV ad and web video that stirred controversy by making the case that Paul believes that foreign policy decisions made prior to September 11, 2001, are partially to blame for the attacks.[21] Paul immediately responded by launching a statewide television ad in which he expresses his "outrage at terrorists who killed 3,000 innocents" before accusing Grayson of a "lie" and a "shameful" tactic.[22] Grayson accused the Fox News Channel of favoring Paul over him.[23]

On May 18, 2010, Paul won the Republican nomination.[2] After conceding the election to Paul, Grayson said, "It's time to put all differences aside, unite behind Dr. Paul, he needs our help and I for one stand ready to serve".[24]

Endorsements

Polling

Poll sourceTrey
Grayson		Rand
Paul		OtherUndecided
Survey USA (report)August 15–17, 2009516± 4.4%37%26%13%17%
Research 2000 (report) (archive)August 31 – September 2, 2009600± 4.0%40%25%18%17%
Survey USA (report)October 30 – November 2, 2009448± 4.7%32%35% 10%18%
Public Policy Polling (report)December 18–21, 2009478± 4.5%25%44% —32%
Magellan Strategies (report)February 18, 2010560± 4.1%23%44%—33%
Survey USA (report)March 1–3, 2010454± 4.7%27%42% 11%19%
Research 2000 (report) (archive)March 15–17, 2010600± 5.0%28%40% 14%18%
Survey USA (report)April 9–11, 2010446± 4.7%30%45%5%19%
Public Policy Polling (report)May 1–2, 2010363± 5.1%28%46%4%21%
Research 2000 (report)May 2–4, 2010500± 4.5%32%44%7%17%
Magellan Strategies (report) (archive)May 4, 2010611± 3.9%28%43%8%21%
Survey USA (report)May 9–11, 2010440± 4.8%33%49%7%11%
Research 2000 (report) (archive)May 10–12, 2010600± 4.0%35%45%7%13%
Public Policy Polling (report)May 15–16, 20101,065± 3.0%34%52%7%7%
Magellan Strategies (report) (archive)May 16, 2010809± 3.4%30%55%8%7%

Results

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Your 2010 Election Calendar . January 25, 2010 . March 20, 2010 . . Ken . Rudin . Ken Rudin.
  2. News: Paul wins Kentucky GOP Senate nomination, to face Conway . Brammer . Jack . May 18, 2010 . McClatchy Newspapers . May 20, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100522125333/http://www.kentucky.com/2010/05/19/1270661/paul-wins-kentucky-gop-senate.html . May 22, 2010.
  3. http://www.wdrb.com/Global/story.asp?S=9319316 "U.S. Senator Jim Bunning to run in 2010, needs $10 million"
  4. News: Kraushaar . Josh . Raju, Manu . GOP pressures Bunning to quit . The Politico . January 22, 2009 . February 5, 2009.
  5. http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090727/NEWS0106/907270346/Sen.+Bunning+says+he+will+retire++won+t+seek+third+term
  6. News: GOP Senator Jim Bunning: Justice Ginsburg Will Be Dead In Nine Months . Huffington Post . February 22, 2009 . Marcus . Baram.
  7. News: Bunning apologizes for Ginsburg comments . James R. Carroll . . February 23, 2009.
  8. Web site: Bunning calls McConnell a control freak . Politico . July 7, 2012.
  9. Web site: Bunning Floor Statement On Pay-For Agreement . Bunning . Jim . March 2, 2010 . United States Senate . March 9, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100307104134/http://bunning.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=NewsCenter.NewsReleases&ContentRecord_id=21648539-d0e8-4c3b-6078-362af45228d7 . March 7, 2010.
  10. Politico, Jim Bunning repeatedly block unemployment extension, February 25, 2010, http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0210/33566.html
  11. Web site: Bunning holds floor: 'Tough s--t' . February 25, 2010 . Politico . September 27, 2016.
  12. Web site: U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote . Senate.gov . June 14, 2010.
  13. News: Bunning Drops Objection To Senate Bill . Howlett . Rick . March 2, 2010 . WFPL News . June 14, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110719151115/http://www.wfpl.org/2010/03/02/bunning-drops-objection-to-senate-bill . July 19, 2011.
  14. http://i25.tinypic.com/2h54fh2.png "RandPaulGraphs.com – Donation meter for August 20, 2009"
  15. Web site: Rand Bomb Breaks Record . Randpaul2010.com . August 22, 2009 . June 14, 2010.
  16. Republican Liberty Caucus. Republican Liberty Caucus Endorses Rand Paul, Peter Schiff... November 10, 2009
  17. http://www.randpaul2010.com/2009/12/women-4-rand "Women 4 Rand"
  18. Web site: Rand Paul Has Praise for Tea Party Movement . Kucinich . Jackie . December 31, 2009 . CQ Politics . June 14, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100106030639/http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2009/12/rand-paul-has-praise-for-tea-p.html . January 6, 2010.
  19. News: Cillizza . Chris . Rand Paul and the Washington "machine" . Voices.washingtonpost.com . June 14, 2010.
  20. Web site: Taylor . Jessica . 15 March 2010 . March Madness in Ky. Senate race . 4 June 2024 . Politico.
  21. Web site: Friends of Trey Grayson :: Media Gallery :: Videos . https://web.archive.org/web/20100501202553/http://www.treygrayson.com/media-gallery/videos . May 1, 2010.
  22. News: Cillizza . Chris . Trey Grayson, Rand Paul and the politics of September 11, 2001 . Voices.washingtonpost.com . June 14, 2010.
  23. Web site: Freddoso. David. Somebody call the waaaahmbulance for Trey Grayson. The Washington Examiner. May 17, 2010. May 17, 2010 .
  24. Cate Slattery. (May 18, 2010) "Grayson Concedes Early" WTVQ News. Retrieved May 19, 2010.
  25. "Bunning endorses Paul in U.S. Senate race ", April 14, 2010.
  26. News: DeMint endorses Paul in US Senate race in Ky. . Associated Press . May 5, 2010 . July 7, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100508063335/http://www.kentucky.com/2010/05/05/1252828/demint-endorses-paul-in-us-senate.html . May 8, 2010.
  27. "Sarah Palin endorses Rand Paul ", February 1, 2010.
  28. Web site: Mike Huckabee radio ad for Rand Paul . YouTube. October 20, 2010 .
  29. "Steve Forbes endorses Rand Paul ", January 7, 2010.
  30. http://www.randpaul2010.com/2010/02/dan-seum-endorses-rand "Dan Seum endorses Rand"
  31. "Erick Erickson on Twitter", December 14, 2009.
  32. Web site: Dr. James Dobson Endorses Rand Paul for Senate . Business Wire . May 3, 2010 . June 14, 2010.
  33. "Cathy Bailey backing Rand Paul in primary ", May 12, 2010.
  34. Web site: Wicker endorses Paul . WHAS11 . April 21, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110927085418/http://www.whas11.com/community/blogs/political-blog/Wicker-endorses-Paul--91706544.html . 2011-09-27 . dead .
  35. Web site: James Edwards endorses Rand Paul . Edwards . James . May 21, 2010 . The Political Cesspool . May 23, 2010 . January 26, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160126040648/http://www.thepoliticalcesspool.org/jamesedwards/is-rand-paul-a-racist/ . dead .
  36. "Rand Paul & DownsizeDC.org", December 7, 2009.
  37. "A Tea-Party Target List? FreedomWorks Releases Its Races For 2010", January 25, 2010.
  38. "Gun Owners of America endorse ", January 6, 2010
  39. "RLC Endorsements for 2010 ", April 18, 2010.
  40. "Major pro-life endorsement for Rand Paul ", April 18, 2010.
  41. "FoxNews.com "Tea Party Express Endorsements", April 15, 2010
  42. Web site: REAGAN PAC endorses Dr. Rand Paul for United States Senate . REAGAN PAC . February 12, 2010 . June 14, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101002010259/http://www.reaganpac.com/candidates/paul.htm . October 2, 2010.
  43. "Why The Choice Must Be Rand Paul", May 9, 2010.
  44. Web site: 700,000 more Rand fans . Rand Paul for U.S. Senate . April 21, 2010.
  45. Web site: Rand Paul best choice to put Republican Party on new path – Editorial . Kentucky.com . May 9, 2010 . June 14, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100512165242/http://www.kentucky.com/2010/05/09/1257670/rand-paul-best-choice-to-put-republican.html . May 12, 2010 . dead .
  46. Web site: Rand Paul . Clubforgrowth.org . July 30, 2010 . August 21, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101120221524/http://clubforgrowth.org/endorsedcandidates/?id=752 . 2010-11-20 . dead .
  47. "McConnell Endorses Trey Grayson over Rand Paul", May 4, 2010.
  48. Web site: Friends of Trey Grayson :: Endorsements . https://web.archive.org/web/20100425024331/http://www.treygrayson.com/page/endorsements . April 25, 2010.
  49. Web site: ALEXANDER BURNS . Rudy goes with Grayson – David Catanese . Politico.Com . June 14, 2010 . April 13, 2010 .
  50. Web site: The Kentucky Enquirer. May 15, 2010. Enquirer endorses Trey Grayson. May 21, 2010 .

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