Republican Kentucky U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, known nationally for a sharp political mind and prodigious fund-raising skills, appears to have informally started his 2002 re-election campaign.

        Mr. McConnell's staff issued press releases this week stating that he “secured” $750 million in the just-approved federal budget for Kentucky projects.

        The funding includes $135 million for military bases and operation, $9 million for cleanup of the contaminated Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Paducah and $30 million for the state's universities, including $500,000 for a work force training facility at Northern Kentucky University.

KY. FUNDING

Here is how some of the $750 million Kentucky U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell secured in the federal budget will be spent in Kentucky.    • $140 million in assistance for Kentucky tobacco farmers.    • $600,000 for waste management at Western Kentucky University.    • $5.5 million for a Doppler weather radar system in western Kentucky.    • $200,000 for the U.S. Attorney's Office in western Kentucky.    • $66.4 million for the Appalachian Regional Commission.    • $8 million for management of the Land Between the Lakes in western Kentucky.    • $3.65 million to repair electric and water systems at Mammoth Cave National Park.    • $300,000 for the Owensboro Riverfront Development System.    • $2 million for the Paducah Area Transit System.

        The staff also boasted that Mr. Connell is second only to Arizona Sen. John McCain in the number of TV guest appearances on Sunday morning news talk shows.

        “Senator McConnell made 16 appearances,” reads a news release, “two more than vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Lieberman, five more than Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, eight more than former presidential candidate Sen. Orrin Hatch and several more than Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle, House Speak er Dennis Hastert and House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt.”

        Mr. McConnell was one of the members of Congress who met with President-Elect George W. Bush this week. And, the staff reminded, as co-chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, Mr. McConnell will be assured even more national TV and press appearances during inauguration week.

        Mr. McConnell had already enjoyed national exposure as head of the National Republican Senatorial Campaign, which works to elect Republicans to the Senate. Over the last four years Mr. McConnell has worked on more than 50 races and raised $180 million for the GOP.

        Now that his tenure as chairman is complete, he is eager to work on his own campaign, say aides and other Republican operatives.

        “It's not too early,” said Kentucky GOP Vice Chairman Damon Thayer.

        “Sen. McConnell has done a terrific job helping other Republicans across the country. He told me in Philadelphia (during the Republican National Convention) this summer that he was looking forward to concentrating on his own campaign.”

        Already Mr. McConnell has raised $1 million for his 2002 re-election bid, when he will be seeking a fourth term. He is getting out early to clear the field and scare away any potential Democratic challengers, his supporters said.

        So far, only Democrat Lois Weinberg is thinking about running against Mr. McConnell in 2002. She is a community activist in eastern Kentucky and a member of the Council on Postsecondary Education, but she does not enjoy statewide recognition or support.

        “We'll have somebody and we'll have somebody good,” said Kenton County Magistrate Steve Hoffman, a Kenton County Democratic Party official.

        Mr. Hoffman believes Mr. McConnell is vulnerable on the subject of campaign finance reform. He is a vocal defender of keeping campaign finance laws status quo, arguing that giving money to a political candidate is a protected form of speech under the First Amendment.

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