Really, folks, why is it Daniel Mongiardo’s campaign is suddenly silent?
Is it because of this from Politico?
In Kentucky, where embattled Republican Sen. Jim Bunning is struggling in the polls, Democratic Attorney General Jack Conway posted one of the most impressive fundraising hauls among all Senate Democratic challengers. He raised $1.32 million — more than $1 million of it from in-state contributors — in a state that’s been hard-hit by tough economic times.
Conway’s total is expected to dwarf the amount raised by his Democratic primary challenger, Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo, who raised a respectable $420,000 in his debut fundraising quarter.
Or is it because his campaign is allegedly falling apart?
We mentioned it yesterday, but let’s rehash it again. Lee Murphy, an advisor and friend to Mongiardo, has departed from the campaign. He allegedly had it out with the Lt. Governor in front of campaign staff over the issue of health care. Lt. Dan waffled on universal care and Murphy called him “GOP Lite.” Murphy allegedly told Mongiardo he didn’t have the backbone/intestinal fortitude/whatever to be a U.S. Senator. Rumor has it that Kim Geveden asked him to return.
Other staff members are on the job hunt and some have quietly secured other employment in anticipation of leaving– that’s outside of pressure from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee to push Mongiardo out of the race.
We hear that credit cards aren’t clearing and that the environment within the Mongiardo inner circle is beyond tense. No one around the Lt. Governor expects a campaign manager to be hired and more than one person within the Beshear Administration says that Geveden will only keep the spot until the top guy pulls out of the race, which could be soon.
Mongiardo’s D.C. advisors (Squier Knapp Dunn) have also allegedly started to get edgy with him. One can only imagine what that’s like.
Daniel is expected to report a low $300K haul for this latest financial quarter, but he’s been remarkably silent about the campaign finance issue. We’re left to speculation, but one campaign staffer told us the crew was struggling to get the number over $300,000 prior to sending the FEC report to the secretary of the senate. Guess we’ll see, eh?
Stay tuned.
21 responses so far ↓
1 Matt // Jul 15, 2009 at 11:18 am
Nonsense.
2 jake // Jul 15, 2009 at 11:41 am
Yeah, such nonsense.
3 UTC // Jul 15, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Mongiardo will wipe the floor with all of them
4 J // Jul 15, 2009 at 12:51 pm
with what… he’s not going to be able to afford the mop…
5 jake // Jul 15, 2009 at 12:55 pm
I think the appropriate question should be:
Will Lt. Dan “wipe the floor with all of them” before or after he’s forced out of the race?
6 Taylor // Jul 15, 2009 at 1:14 pm
perhaps he will be wiping the floors of the Conway campaign headquarters? Hard to find a job in this economy…
7 Steve Magruder (I, not D or R) // Jul 15, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Mongiardo simply doesn’t have the character that Conway does, despite Conway’s odd ruling on slots, which I find to be the exception rather than the rule. Mongiardo should respectfully drop out.
8 blue canary // Jul 15, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Oh this makes me happy to hear. I’d rather have an ineffectual Senator (Bunning) than one who thinks mountaintop removal is doing great things for Appalachia. Looks like I won’t have to make that choice if Conway keeps racking up the money!
9 Lee Murphy // Jul 15, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Jake,
Please post my comment from earlier.
Lee Murphy
10 jake // Jul 15, 2009 at 2:47 pm
This is the only comment we’ve received from you today.
The only thing in spam: sluts, “viagr00″ and penis enhancement.
11 Francine // Jul 15, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Funny. What I heard is that the Mongiardo camp “let Lee go” because he is an IT and communications specialist that doesn’t have the skill set to send an email. Judging by the fact that he is sending Jake phantom posts today I can see the problem with his aptitude.
12 Lee Murphy // Jul 15, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Jake you and I have found ourselves on different ends of the spectrum in this race and have sadly written harsh words to one another.
In a regular year, I believe you would find that we would be fighting on the same side and for the most part, the same issues. Your latest post was brought to my attention this afternoon and I must take exception to it.
I am proud to say that Daniel Mongiardo has been a friend of mine for many years. My wife and I spent numerous hours back in 2004 in an effort to retire Jim Bunning. We walked neighborhoods, begged for money, and held fundrasiers at our house. I was one of the Littel green men at Fancy Farm that supposedly caused Bunning so much fear. After our sadening defeat, we encouraged DM to run for Governor. His acceptance to be on the ticket with Steve was a VERY happy day for us. As you know that race fielded MANY candidates, and I found myself on the outside with several close friends that supported other tickets. I went out of my way to make sure I kept those relationships in as good a standing as possible, and when the primary was over we joined back up, as Democrats do, and worked together to send Ernie Fletcher packing.
I started assisting DM him back in January in preparation for his US Senate run. Kim Geveden, Joe Graviss, and I were the original three organizers. These two men are also my good friends. Joe Graviss is an outstanding businessman with tremendous people skills. In fact I am glad to have had the opportunity to work with him to learn from him. It was like getting an MBA in 6 months. Kim Geveden has a great mind for strategy.
My reason for leaving the campaign was solely self serving . I wanted to prepare for 4 local races in Madison which I am handling next year as well as picking up a few others. 2010 is a HUGE year with huge opportunites.
As with any candidate you will find that you NEVER agree 100% on the issues, if we did we would call ourselves Republicans and walk lock step as they do. Daniel and I do disagree on some issues, however NEVER have we had a “blow-up” or even rasied our voices toward each other. I do feel Daniel Mongiardo will make a fine US Senator and serve in the seat of Wendell Ford with distinction.
As for finances, that is not my area. I find the whole “asking for money” deal disgusting. I NEVER involved myself with that area in any form. I do know that we had an incredible 1st quarter and will continue to build on that throughout the campaign. I dont know for sure but I believe our avergae donation was in the $100 range, and from a balanced area across the Commonwealth.
Jake your references to my emails as being idiotic is also insulting. I simply contacted you back in February in an effort to bridge the gap between you and Daniel. At the time there were NO other candidates, and I thought you should give us a chance and a look. I can’t imagine that was a problem for you. Jake … you and Joe Sonka (sorry Joe if I spelled your name wrong) tore into me as if I were the enemy. I approached you as a gentleman and NEVER attempted to slam your position or your cause. I just asked if you would be interested in a sit down meeting with Daniel to discuss the race. Now that you have chosen a candidate, I wish you well and am very glad that it is a Democrat. The best campaign with the best message will win in May and hopefully we will stop the infighting and come back to win in November.
Wherever you get your information, you need to verify it before publishing. Someone called my office and said they were Jake Paine and left a number … I called back only to get what I think was a strip club in Louisville. Nice.
I am sure you you will rip this message apart and several more names will be tossed my way. OK, I have fairly thick skin. But from my side there is NO malice here.
Lee Murphy
13 jake // Jul 15, 2009 at 3:56 pm
If there was no issue between you and Lt. Dan, why are current staffers saying otherwise?
And which races? I find it difficult to believe (one just doesn’t up and leave a U.S. Senate campaign if everything is fine and dandy). But if you’ve found other clientele, good for you.
You didn’t just simply contact me… you repeatedly acted ridiculously and I’ve saved all the messages to prove it. (I think I’ve posted some of them) And you distorted Daniel’s record.
My last name is Payne. And you should know quite well that I wouldn’t waste my time calling you. (I also never refer to myself as “Jake” unless it’s with family or a loved one, at least not while speaking) I’m positive you’ve got something called Caller ID and can identify the individual who called. So. I say prove it. Especially if someone (I imagine it was a drunken redneck) is attempting to impersonate me.
14 jake // Jul 15, 2009 at 3:58 pm
last name is SPELLED Payne, that is… (I know you know my last name)
And… I wouldn’t waste my time… because I never use the phone – I prefer email.
15 Lee Murphy // Jul 15, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Sorry I misspelled your name. I will try to make sure I remember that in the future.
No the call was forwarded automatically from my office to my cell. Didn’t think it was big deal ..thought you were calling for a “qoute”, so I returned your call. What I DID think was interesting was how you knew I was leaving.
Who are these staffers that are so unhappy. It’s a small staff.
Lee
16 Lee Murphy // Jul 15, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Oh ..sorry. Begley for Magistrate, Long For Magistrate, Smart for City Council, and the 4th I can’t say yet cause it’s a larger race and isn’t yet announced. I have no desires to go to DC, love Richmond, and LOVE political races. The experience of organizing a US Senate race was AWESOME. not many folks get that experience.
And you and I …believe it or not are NOT enemies. Your anger toward me is based on a SINGLE issues (well maybe 2) which I don’t even agree on.
17 jake // Jul 15, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Oh, there’s no anger here.
Nothing but a smirk on my face as I watch Lt. Dan’s campaign implode.
18 Joe Sonka // Jul 16, 2009 at 2:23 am
“you and Joe Sonka (sorry Joe if I spelled your name wrong) tore into me as if I were the enemy. I approached you as a gentleman and NEVER attempted to slam your position or your cause. I just asked if you would be interested in a sit down meeting with Daniel to discuss the race.”
correct me if I’m wrong, but (1) I’ve never written about you on B&P, and (2) both Schankula and I replied to you, and you never bothered to reply to us
19 johnny masters // Jul 16, 2009 at 3:05 am
Lee Murphy 1, Joe Sonka and Jake Payne 0
20 schankula // Jul 16, 2009 at 10:55 am
i don’t think we need to keep score.
we could probably just enjoy the common ground of being happy Lee is finally free of that pathetic Mongiardo campaign.
now he can focus more on the GOOD fight rather than Dan’s nutty one.
21 jake // Jul 16, 2009 at 10:58 am
Indeed, David, indeed.
From what I’ve heard today, Lee did get someone testy with Daniel Mongiardo. And rightly so. He can deny it all he wants, but multiple Mongiardo staffers have confirmed it. For that, I think he’s a good man. Good for him for standing up for what’s right.
Shame on Mongiardo & crew for trying to keep him quiet.
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