Candidates focus on Iraq, gas tax holiday

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Democratic Senate rivals Bruce Lunsford and Greg Fischer were equally critical of U.S. strategy in war-torn Iraq but differed on a possible gas-tax holiday during a debate Monday night coming just over a week before Kentucky’s primary election.

The two wealthy Louisville businessmen were joined by the other five Democratic Senate candidates in a 90-minute debate aired on Kentucky Educational Television. They are running for the seat held by four-term Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who is seeking re-election.

Lunsford and Fischer took plenty of swipes at McConnell, but in their most pointed comments at each other, the two rivals sparred over which one has been the most loyal Democrat.

Lunsford said he had contributed more than $120,000 to other Democratic candidates in the past and belittled Fischer for donating a few thousand dollars to fellow Democrats.

Fischer responded that his rival understated his contributions to Democrats. He then lambasted Lunsford for getting out of the 2003 governor’s race a few days before the primary election and then crossing party lines to endorse Republican Ernie Fletcher in the general election.

“There’s a lot of tough issues that are facing our country right now,” Fischer said. “They require tenacity and persistence, and the best predictor of the future is the past. You’re not going to have to worry about me flipping on Democratic principles.”