Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) announced today that he will support tea party favorite Rand Paul in the Republican primary for the retiring Bunning’s Senate seat.
Bunning described Paul as the kind of traditional conservative Kentucky needs:
Kentucky needs a conservative who will say no to bailouts, stop the government takeover of our economy, end wasteful spending, and bring down our national debt. And Kentucky’s families need a conservative who believes in traditional values and the rights of the unborn. In 2010, there is only one such conservative running for the United States Senate — Dr. Rand Paul.
The endorsement comes as another potential blow to Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) choice in the race — Secretary of State Trey Grayson — who’s trailing Paul in the polls with the May 18 primary approaching.
It should be noted that Bunning frequently criticized McConnell last year, accusing McConnell and the rest of the GOP leadership of undermining his fundraising efforts and pushing him into retirement. Bunning eventually did announce his retirement, and Grayson got into the race with the support of the GOP establishment. But now Bunning has come out for Rand Paul.
The TPM Poll Average shows Paul leading Grayson 42.3% to 25.3%.
