Richard Tafoya
Feb 28th, 2009, 12:18 AM
Louisville Courier-Journal:
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090227/NEWS01/90227025
Already in conflict with his party’s leaders, Sen. Jim Bunning has reportedly said privately that if he is hindered in raising money for his re-election campaign he is ready with a response that would be politically devastating for Senate Republicans: his resignation.
The Kentucky Republican suggested that possible scenario at a campaign fundraiser for him on Capitol Hill earlier this week, according to three sources who asked not to be identified because of the politically sensitive nature of Bunning’s remarks.
The implication, they said, was that Bunning would allow Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, a Democrat, to appoint his replacement — a move that could give Democrats the 60 votes they need to block Republican filibusters in the Senate.
“I would get the last laugh. Don’t forget Kentucky has a Democrat governor,” one of the sources quoted Bunning as saying.
“The only logical extension of that comment is, ‘(Make me mad) … enough and I’ll resign, and then you’ve got 60 Democrats,’ ” said another source who was present at the event.
...
Bunning has been in a bitter battle with McConnell and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, over the 2010 Kentucky Senate race.
Bunning wants to run for a third term, but McConnell and Cornyn have sent clear messages that they want Kentucky’s junior senator to stand aside over concerns that he won’t be re-elected.
McConnell said last month that Bunning’s intentions were not known, drawing a blunt protest from Bunning that McConnell had a “lapse of memory” because he had told his Senate leader he was seeking re-election.
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090227/NEWS01/90227025
Already in conflict with his party’s leaders, Sen. Jim Bunning has reportedly said privately that if he is hindered in raising money for his re-election campaign he is ready with a response that would be politically devastating for Senate Republicans: his resignation.
The Kentucky Republican suggested that possible scenario at a campaign fundraiser for him on Capitol Hill earlier this week, according to three sources who asked not to be identified because of the politically sensitive nature of Bunning’s remarks.
The implication, they said, was that Bunning would allow Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, a Democrat, to appoint his replacement — a move that could give Democrats the 60 votes they need to block Republican filibusters in the Senate.
“I would get the last laugh. Don’t forget Kentucky has a Democrat governor,” one of the sources quoted Bunning as saying.
“The only logical extension of that comment is, ‘(Make me mad) … enough and I’ll resign, and then you’ve got 60 Democrats,’ ” said another source who was present at the event.
...
Bunning has been in a bitter battle with McConnell and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, over the 2010 Kentucky Senate race.
Bunning wants to run for a third term, but McConnell and Cornyn have sent clear messages that they want Kentucky’s junior senator to stand aside over concerns that he won’t be re-elected.
McConnell said last month that Bunning’s intentions were not known, drawing a blunt protest from Bunning that McConnell had a “lapse of memory” because he had told his Senate leader he was seeking re-election.