By Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Kentucky U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, Southgate Republican, set a personal fund-raising record for the quarter ending June 30 by bringing in nearly $1 million in campaign contributions.

His previous best for a three-month period was about $400,000 raised during his 1998 Senate race.

The Major League Baseball Hall of Famer is seeking a second term.

By raising $991,051 for the quarter, Bunning has $2.048 million cash on hand for next year's campaign. All told he has raised $2.8 million.

"I'm extremely pleased to have received such strong support from all across the commonwealth - from Republicans, Democrats and Independents alike," Bunning said in a statement released Friday by his campaign.

"The last quarter was by far the best we've ever had, and I truly appreciate that so many Kentuckians have shown their faith in the job I am doing."

Bunning is not expecting to be challenged in next spring's Republican primary.

So far only one Democrat - former Kentucky Attorney General Fred Cowan - has formally entered the race. He has not yet reported his fund-raising numbers.

Bunning anticipates a challenge from Charlie Owen, the wealthy Louisville Democrat running this fall for lieutenant governor. Democrats have indicated that Owen is likely to challenge Bunning next year.

Owen, a millionaire businessman who worked in the cable and real estate industries, spent $7 million of his own money in losing the 1998 Senate Democratic primary to Scotty Baesler. Baesler went on to lose the general election to Bunning.

With Owen's candidacy looming, Bunning has said he expects the 2004 Senate race to be the most expensive in Kentucky history with each candidate spending as much as $8 million.

Also considering entering the race is state Treasurer Jonathan Miller of Lexington, who has been courted by Senate Democrats to enter the race.

"I am going to work hard to raise as much money as I can in order to have the resources to run an affective, aggressive campaign that gets out my message no matter who wins the Democrat primary," Bunning said.

Bunning has a large fund-raiser scheduled Aug. 3. The event at the Kentucky Speedway in Gallatin County will feature an appearance by former New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani.

State Rep. Joe Fischer, R-Fort Thomas, said Bunning is preparing for the campaign as he prepared for baseball games.

"Jim was always prepared in baseball and he is always prepared for campaigns," said Fischer. "Anytime a Republican runs statewide he is going to have a tough fight, and he has to anticipate that is going to happen.

"So he's getting ready and he'll have the money he needs to run an effective race."

Kenton County Democratic Party Chairman Nathan Smith said Bunning is worried too much about paying for his re-election campaign.

"It's obvious where Sen. Bunning's priorities lie," Smith said. "Instead of worrying about the economy and the fighting in Iraq, he's more worried about his re-election. He'll need every dollar he raises to explain that to voters."

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com