How is it that Bunning won?
The senator gave critics plenty of fodder with his own actions.
Bunning once compared Mongiardo's appearance to one of Saddam Hussein's sons and made an unsubstantiated claim that his wife wound up "black and blue" after an alleged encounter with his rival's staffers at a political picnic.
The senator also admitted he was unaware that a group of Army reservists had refused a convoy mission in Iraq and said he hadn't read a newspaper in weeks and relied on Fox News for information.
Shannon Sisk, 23, of Louisville, said she couldn't pronounce Mongiardo's name but voted for him. She said Bunning seemed out of touch.
"It's like Jim Bunning seems like he's confused," she said. "He's not really sure what's going on around him. If he doesn't know what's happening around him, how can he be my voice in Washington."
In his only "debate" with Mongiardo, Bunning participated from the Republican National Committee offices in Washington, and the Republican's campaign later acknowledged he used a TelePrompTer for some remarks.
The personal attacks reached a flash point in the final week when two Bunning surrogates, both state senators, made comments during a Bunning bus tour that seemed to suggest that Mongiardo is gay. Bunning was present for the remarks and refused to disavow them.
Mongiardo, a 44-year-old bachelor, said he is not gay, and accused Bunning of violating some of the Ten Commandments with his campaign attacks.
Bunning, 73, accused Mongiardo of spreading untrue rumors that the Republican wasn't mentally fit to keep his job, and the incumbent released letters from two doctors vouching for his health. Mongiardo dismissed Bunning's accusation as "another absurd comment."
Brian Rosenberg, 20, of Shelby County, said he was a first-time voter and was almost turned off by Bunning's campaign tactics. He said he still voted for Bunning because he was a Republican.
"Some things he said were just totally off-key, things you don't bring to an election," he said. "Don't say things personally about Mongiardo."
On the stump, Mongiardo accused Bunning of being out of touch with families strapped by rising costs for prescription drugs, gas and college tuition. Mongiardo turned health care into his main theme, arguing the current system is too expensive and inefficient and covers too few.
Bunning stressed his support of tax cuts, the tobacco quota buyout, a Medicare drug benefit and Bush's handling of the war against terrorists. The senator noted his assignment on the Senate Finance Committee, which shapes the nation's tax policy.
Meanwhile, Mongiardo said he will carry on his message - though the stage will be in Frankfort, not in Washington as he had hoped. |
