Bunning Hangs On... Barely

Be well warned Mr. Bunning, the people of Kentucky are watching you!
You continued bad behaviour, lies and dirty gutter tricks will NOT be tolerated...

--ryan

Bunning Heading Back To US Senate

Reported by: 9News
Web produced by: Liz Foreman
Photographed by: 9News
11/2/2004 10:26:18 PM

Republican Jim Bunning has been reelected to the US Senate for a second term.

"The American dream lives today. As long as we believe in ourselves ... America will only continue to flourish and that's what we really need to do. Protecting and preserving that dream is why I entered public service," Bunning said during his acceptance speech.

Bunning used a strong performance in Northern Kentucky and in rural Republican strongholds to overcome Democratic state Senator Dan Mongarido's lopsided advantage in Louisville and Lexington, the state's largest cities.

He won 51% to 49% with 99 percent of precincts reporting.

Bunning stressed his experience, solid conservatism and support of President Bush -- factors that were too much for Mongiardo to overcome.

National Democrats sensed a chance to pick up a seat that once seemed secure for Republicans.

Bunning gave critics plenty of fodder with his own actions. He once compared Mongiardo's appearance to one of Saddam Hussein's sons, and claimed his wife wound up "black and blue" after an unsubstantiated encounter with Mongiardo's staffers at a political picnic.