By Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer

FORT WRIGHT - U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning and his Democratic challenger Daniel Mongiardo won easy victories against nominal candidates in Tuesday night's statewide primaries.

RESULTS

Republican Jim Bunning 95,974 Barry Metcalf 18,379 Democrat Daniel Mongiardo 142,392 David Williams 76,499

Their victories set up a clash between two candidates who have already engaged in plenty of political sparring.

Bunning, a Southgate Republican, carried all of Kentucky's 120 counties in beating former state Sen. Barry Metcalf of Richmond.

"Kentuckians deserve to know where their leaders stand, and I am not afraid to speak my mind," Bunning said.

"I am fighting for Kentucky," he said. "I've helped deliver tax relief for Kentucky families, a Medicare prescription drug benefit for 675,000 Kentuckians, a stronger military with better pay and benefits for their families and veterans, tax policies for Kentucky's industries to create jobs here at home and (I'm) defending our traditional values from liberals."

Mongiardo, a state senator and surgeon from Hazard, scored an impressive win in beating perennial candidate David L. Williams.

Mongiardo, who has been challenging Bunning's stance on issues and his voting record for months, will be in Northern Kentucky on Wednesday to "open the general election in Jim Bunning's backyard," his campaign said.

He plans to spend the lunch hour at Chez Nora and the Old Town Cafe in Covington.

"This election is simple," Mongiardo said. "It's time we had a senator who stood for us. If you think we can do better to make health care more affordable, create good paying jobs, help families and small businesses who are struggling, and make America more energy independent, then join my campaign and let's start taking care of Kentucky."

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com