In case you missed it, take a look at the Herald-Leader’s profile of Greg Fischer, candidate for U.S. Senate. Wouldn’t exactly call it a positive profile, but it’s worth a read. Especially if you’d like to see how seriously (not serious?) the mainstream media takes Fischer’s candidacy.

Some highlights:

Does Fischer have the stamina and political skill to fend off McConnell’s anticipated attacks?

“That’s yet to be seen. I would like to see him be more aggressive,” said Fischer supporter Walter “Dee” Huddleston of Elizabethtown, the former U.S. senator whom McConnell defeated in 1984.
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Fischer deflects this line of inquiry. The question to ask, he said, is whether people are happy with the way the country is headed, and he sees McConnell and President Bush as “Velcroed together.”
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Most prominent Democrats agree with Fischer’s assessment of McConnell, but many also think Fischer’s campaign has veered off track.

Congressman John Yarmuth, Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo and others took issue with a Fischer campaign ad that brought up past problems of companies founded by Lunsford. The ad specifically mentions improper billing to Medicare and Medicaid by Lunsford’s nursing home companies.

Fischer refused to stop running the ad, despite pleas that attacking a fellow Democrat only helps McConnell in the fall.

The ad also drew criticism from former Gov. John Y. Brown Jr. Fischer’s father, George Fischer, was Executive Cabinet Secretary in the Brown administration, and Lunsford was Brown’s Commerce Secretary.

On a related note, Fischer’s campaign manager A.J. Carrillo sent out an email blast today touting their fundraising prowess over that of Bruce Lunsford. Note the absolutely massive $5,000 lead the Fischer camp has when it comes to individual donors:

In the reporting period for the month of April, the Fischer for Senate Campaign outraised our opponent in funds from individual contributors: 100K to 95K.

Doesn’t that make a ton of sense? Touting an amount that’s within $5k of the opponent. But wait, it gets better. Carrillo’s memo actually goes on to tout the large sums of money Bruce Lunsford is raising:

Lunsford has been receiving additional funds though from Political Action Committees (PAC’s) totaling $36K in the April reporting period.

Great campaign strategy, right? Publicizing the fact that your opponent is outraising you. Wait– it gets even better because Carrillo goes further, touting that Lunsford has raised $70,000 in just 48 hours. And he mentions that the DSCC’s funding program is behind it all:

Now as of May 1, the 48 hour reporting period has begun; all contributions of $1000 or more must be reported within 48 hours. So far Lunsford has raised approximately an additional 70K, mainly from out of state donors. We suspect the source of these new contributions is the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee’s Candidate Fundraising Program.

Can you believe it? The Fischer campaign is giving the Lunsford campaign free publicity. No idea why Fischer allows this Carrillo guy to continue running the show. Mind boggling.