Bunning Theatens to Quit ... Then Denies

In the on-going saga that is Kentucky Senator Jim Bunning, we get another story today. Apparently while speaking before a fundraiser crowd in Washington, Bunning floated the possibility of just getting up and quitting before his term expires in January 2011 if the national GOP did not give him adequate support. According to a report in the Louisville Courier-Journal, Bunning wryly noted that if he did this, he would get the "last laugh" on national Republicans as the governor of Kentucky is currently a Democrat and he would presumably appoint a fellow Dem to fill out Bunning's term. Today, Bunning angrily denied that he ever said anything to that effect, denouncing his homestate paper in the process.

As evidenced by his continued angry comments directed towards the NRSC and its chair Senator John Cornyn, Bunning is harboring a lot of resentment for Cornyn's and others' attempts to ease the junior bluegrass Senator into retirement. Recently, he threatened to sue the NRSC unless it backed him. He genuinely seems primed to run again despite his age and other issues. As we have discussed in the past, this is great news for Democrats.

At this point, anything can happen in this contest. Bunning is committed to running again, but a primary challenge from somewhere seems more and more likely as Bunning seems more and more out of it. The relative strength and credibility of a potential primary foe would determine if Bunning could be toppled before November 2010. Should Bunning hang on for the general, he would be in big trouble, especially as his erratic behavior and outbursts continue. At this point, the best the NRSC can hope for is that a good primary challenge will be able to win without national backing. The NRSC might be forced to publicly back Bunning -- despite trying to recruit a different candidate already, drawing Bunning's ire -- but that does not mean that GOP power-players won't work behind the scenes to bolster a primary foe who would not be a sure-loser in a general.

We'll continue to follow this one closely, if for no other reason than its inherent comic value.