Kentucky Primary Sets Spending Record

Democratic Rep. Scotty Baesler narrowly won the most expensive primary campaign in Kentucky history Tuesday for the right to face Republican Rep. Jim Bunning for the state’s open Senate seat.

Baesler beat five opponents, including multimillionaire businessman Charlie Owen, who spent more than $6 million of his own money - five times what Baesler spent. Owen, who made his fortune in cable television and real estate, is a former federal prosecutor who has never held elective office.

The previous record for a Kentucky campaign was set by Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, who spent $5.3 million in 1990 on the primary and re-election campaign.

Baesler won with 190,073 votes, or 33 percent, while Owen had 170,734 votes, or 30 percent, and Lt. Gov. Steve Henry had 155,372 votes, or 27 percent, with 99 percent of precincts reporting.

Bunning, a Hall of Fame pitcher who has served six terms in the House, had a much easier time beating his lone opponent in the GOP primary, state Sen. Barry Metcalf. Bunning got 153,160 votes, or 74 percent of the vote, while Metcalf got 53,215 votes, or 26 percent, with 98 percent of precincts reporting.