Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo announces his candidacy for US Senate effective today. We need to get behind Daniel Mongiardo as the consensus Democratic candidate and avoid a divisive and expensive Democratic primary. Daniel Mongiardo is a torch carrier for health care reform, education and most of all he will carry the torch for all Kentuckians.
NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT: Kim Geveden 502.682.2010
Mongiardo Announces Bid for U.S. Senate:
FRANKFORT– Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo announced today that he will challenge U.S. Senator Jim Bunning in 2010. Mongiardo, a practicing surgeon, was a two-term State Senator when he first challenged Bunning in 2004. Despite being largely unknown and significantly outspent, Mongiardo lost by a razor-thin 1.4% vote margin, receiving more votes than any other Democrat in Kentucky history. Mongiardo ran with Beshear as a Gubernatorial Slate in 2007, handily defeating Republican incumbent Governor Ernie Fletcher and his running mate Robbie Rudolph.
Mongiardo Statement:
I first ran for public office because of my passion to improve health care for all Kentuckians. It is this ongoing
passion that has led to my decision to continue working to help solve our health care crisis by filing the necessary papers, later this week, to run for the United States Senate. The people of Kentucky deserve a Senator that has the vision, energy and record to help improve our state and country. After the current legislative session, I will launch a vigorous campaign to replace Senator Jim Bunning.As a practicing surgeon, State Senator and now Lt. Governor, and most importantly, having lost a brother due to lack of adequate health care, I have made fixing our broken health care system my life’s mission. I understand and see every day how the cost of health care is burdening families and damaging the ability of businesses to compete, to grow, and to create jobs. To have a strong economy we must have an equally strong health care system that works for all Americans. That is what I will fight for in the United States Senate.
With our nation facing enormous challenges, families and small businesses mired in a deep economic recession, rising health care costs and declining incomes, we have a senator who is simply not getting the job done. Jim Bunning is absent at this critical time. He offers no ideas, no action and no solutions. I believe today, as I did in 2004, that Jim Bunning continues to fail the people of our Commonwealth. Kentucky’s families deserve better.
Working together over these past 14 months, Governor Beshear and I have expanded access to health care for Kentucky’s children and laid the foundation to transform our health care system into a model for the nation, opening the opportunity to attract millions of dollars in new investment and to create thousands of high-paying jobs. However, the decisions made in Washington in the coming years will have a major impact on the effectiveness of the reform strategy we have so carefully crafted and nurtured for Kentucky. I believe it is critical to our success as a Commonwealth to have a Senator who understands what is at stake for Kentucky and will fight for quality, affordable health care for every American.
I supported President Obama in both the primary and general election in part because we both share the same vision and commitment to reforming health care. I am confident that I can be more productive and make a greater contribution as a United States Senator to help improve health care and improve the lives of all Kentuckians than I can as Lt. Governor.
During my remaining term as Lt. Governor I will continue to work with the Governor as he continues moving Kentucky forward in the right direction.
Statement from Governor Beshear
“Daniel Mongiardo has been an invaluable member of this administration and would make an outstanding U.S. Senator for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Daniel has been my administration’s point person on two critical issues – advancing our economy through the transformation of our tourism industry with adventure tourism and dramatically improving health care by pushing Kentucky to be a national leader in e-health. Daniel’s passion for – and commitment to – these issues and others make him an important voice for Kentucky’s future. In particular, I understand his desire to be part of the national debate on how best to create a more affordable and accessible health-care system for all Americans. I wish him and Allison all the best as they embark on this new and challenging adventure together.”
who is fitzgerald?
Posted by: kentuckyguy | January 26, 2009 at 09:41 AM
There's no way a lot of Democrats won't jump in here. The Republicans have squat.
Posted by: Tom Tate | January 26, 2009 at 03:33 PM
And if Conway runs he should follow his own advice.
Posted by: Tom Tate | January 26, 2009 at 05:31 PM
I would not read much into that at all. Jake spinning the wheel a little.
Posted by: Shack | January 26, 2009 at 06:53 PM
If you think Dr Dan is the consensus candidate then you also must have thought that Greg Fisher was. WHEN Conway gets in i expect a whipping similar to the one that Lunsford gave the last US Senate candidate (greg Fisher) with KG running his race. If you do not realize the fact that Dr Dan has a inflated ego then we will be stuck with 2 GOP Senators in the State. And if Dr Dan doesn't win you need to get FIRMLY behind who ever the winner is because KENTUCKY failed to Ditch Mitch because of peoples small mindedness!
Posted by: Dr Dan is going down | January 27, 2009 at 04:19 PM
you may need to take your meds.
Posted by: anon | January 27, 2009 at 05:07 PM
Either Mongiardo or Conway would do well in DC. I just hope the primary doesn't get too ugle. But who knows, I have heard that Greg, aka mudman, Fischer is thinking about getting in.
Posted by: TAD | January 27, 2009 at 07:49 PM
What has Conway ever done?
Pose for GQ?
Look the other way when he sees a Democrat doing something wrong?
Be best buddies with the flamer at Pageonekentucky.com
Lose to Ann Northrup then scared to run against her again.
Get by on his good looks? He is a handsome devil!
But it boils down to this - what has he done?
Mongiardo is a Doctor, was a state Senator, and now a Lt Governor.
Oh, Conway beat a Stan Lee -- Who?
Posted by: Payne in the Arse | January 27, 2009 at 08:01 PM
Thats what I say
Posted by: anon | January 27, 2009 at 08:37 PM