DENVER – State Auditor Crit Luallen (D-Frankfort) was one of several Kentucky Democrats who considered a U.S. Senate run this year against incumbent Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville). She ultimately did not jump into the Democratic primary, which was eventually won by Louisville businessman Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville).

Lunsford is now considered some of the toughest competition McConnell has faced in his career, as he has the ability to self-fund his race.
Recent polls show Lunsford trailing McConnell by double digits, but Luallen says the race is a prominent point of discussion among those in the Kentucky delegation and delegates from other states.

“This race is one of the high profile races in the country because of Mitch McConnell and the image he has built as the chief obstructionist in the U.S. Senate,” said Luallen. “He has been in lockstep with George Bush. He has blocked the efforts on the part of the Democratic leadership in the Senate to put forward progressive policy changes.”

“So this race has a tremendous amount of attention and people have been asking us about it and talking about it everywhere we go,” added Luallen.
Among Kentuckians, Luallen said there was “incredible enthusiasm” about Lunsford’s chances.

“We know it’s a difficult race – Sen. McConnell has one of the largest warchests in the country,” said Luallen. “It’s an uphill battle for any Democrat to take him on.”

“On the other hand, voters in Kentucky recognize what Republican policies have done to this economy and to our standing in the world,” added Luallen.“That gives us an opportunity to put forward a strong Democratic candidate in Bruce Lunsford who can speak to those issues and to what the difference will be if Democratic leadership were there.”

When asked if her own ambitions extended to future Senate runs – specifically the 2010 contest against incumbent Jim Bunning (R-Southgate) – Luallen said it was possible.

“It’s certainly a possibility. I think what is important is that we have a strong Democrat in that race. We have a real opportunity there to pick up that seat.” said Luallen. “It’s early. No one has made any decisions yet. It’s certainly something I have been encouraged to look at.”

Luallen noted she had been asked at the convention about her future as a candidate.

“I think people recognize that I’m the only woman elected to statewide office in Kentucky. I’ve had a high profile position here as state auditor, and I was re-elected last year by 60 percent of the vote,” said Luallen. “There is speculation as to what I might look at next. So, I am getting a lot of questions about that and encouragement to seek higher office.”