Chandler backs former foe Lunsford in Senate race

By BRUCE SCHREINER

Published August 26, 2008 at 2:56 p.m.

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) _ Five years ago they were bitter rivals, but on Tuesday U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler and his one-time arch nemesis finally hugged and made up.

Chandler endorsed fellow Democrat Bruce Lunsford, who is challenging four-term Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell. Chandler threw the weight of his famous political name behind Lunsford at a gathering of Kentucky's delegation at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

"If Bruce and I, after going through the kind of bruising primary that we went through in 2003, could get past that, surely the Clinton supporters here could support Obama," Chandler said in a phone interview.

By endorsing the man who left him politically battered after the 2003 Democratic gubernatorial primary, Chandler said he wanted to promote party cohesion to supporters of Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton. Clinton easily won Kentucky's presidential primary but ultimately lost the nomination fight to Obama.

Lunsford poured his own money into a hard-hitting campaign against Chandler in the 2003 Democratic primary. His attacks portrayed Chandler as a political insider who would be beholden to his financial backers.

Chandler hit back with an ad that talked about alleged abuse of patients in nursing homes operated by a company Lunsford once ran. Lunsford abruptly dropped out of the 2003 race just days before the Democratic primary and threw his support to another Chandler rival in the race. In the fall campaign, Lunsford endorsed Chandler's Republican opponent, Ernie Fletcher, who went on to win the governorship.

But Chandler said Tuesday it wasn't difficult for him to endorse someone he once battled with.

"I've had plenty of time to get over it," Chandler said.

McConnell's campaign noted Chandler's praise of the Republican senator recently when the two worked together to pass legislation securing federal funding for Kentucky State University. In a joint press release nearly a month ago, Chandler said McConnell's leadership in obtaining the funding was "essential."

McConnell campaign manager Justin Brasell said the praise "showed particularly good judgment."

"Sen. McConnell has enjoyed working with Congressman Chandler on key issues and looks forward to continuing that bipartisan relationship over the next six years," Brasell said Tuesday.

McConnell and Chandler also made a joint appearance recently after touring a facility being constructed near Richmond to destroy Kentucky's stockpile of Cold War-era chemical weapons.

Chandler said Tuesday he appreciated McConnell's help on such issues.

"Destroying those chemical weapons that are a hazard to our people is far too important to let any kind of partisan politics get in the way of it," the congressman said.

But Chandler's endorsement had partisan Democrats thinking about unseating McConnell in November.

Nathan Smith, vice chairman of the state Democratic Party, said Chandler's endorsement brought an enthusiastic response from the crowd.

"It was a special moment for all of us," he said.

Gov. Steve Beshear, a Democrat, said Chandler's endorsement would build momentum for Lunsford.

"That will energize Bruce's campaign even more than it is already," Beshear said.

Lunsford said he was grateful to have the support of Chandler, who represents a central Kentucky congressional district and is the grandson of former Kentucky Gov. A.B. "Happy" Chandler.

"Ben and I are united in the fight to put an end to the Bush-McConnell policies that have damaged Kentucky and the nation this decade," Lunsford said in a statement.

Chandler said he would do "whatever I can" to help Lunsford, but added that he has to focus on his own race. Chandler is being challenged this fall by Republican Jon Larson.

Chandler declined to speculate on Lunsford's chances against McConnell, but predicted the senator's close ties to President Bush will be an advantage for the challenger, a wealthy Louisville businessman.

"People that I talk to are very tired of George Bush," Chandler said.

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Associated Press writer Joe Biesk in Frankfort, Ky., contributed to this report.

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