By Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Democrat Dr. Daniel Mongiardo has once again shaken up his U.S. Senate campaign team by hiring a new manager and gutting his finance staff.

Mongiardo announced Thursday that he has hired Kim Geveden, a veteran at managing Kentucky Democratic campaigns, to run his bid to unseat incumbent Republican Sen. Jim Bunning of Southgate.

Mongiardo, in a conference call with reporters, also confirmed that he has fired the three members of his fund-raising staff.

"We're retooling and ramping up our staff ... after our sweeping victory in (Tuesday's) primary," said Mongiardo, a Democratic state senator from eastern Kentucky making his first run for state office.

"I'm really excited about the changes," he said

Mongiardo disputed rumors that the three staff members quit.

"It was our decision to replace them," he said.

At the end of April Mongiardo had less than $300,000 in the bank. Bunning, who is seeking a second term in the Senate, had more than $3.6 million.

In April Jody Lassiter quit the Mongiardo campaign after just a few weeks on the job as manager.

"I'm really excited about our chances to win," Mongiardo said.

Bringing Geveden on board is a strong strategic move, said Kenton County Democratic Party chairman Nathan Smith.

"Kim Geveden is a real pro," Smith said. "Sometimes campaigns reshape after primaries. Hiring Geveden is a move to make sure the ship is headed in the right direction."

Mongiardo won Tuesday's Democratic primary by capturing 65 percent of the vote in beating David L. Williams, a perennial candidate who spent virtually no money and did little statewide campaigning.

And while Mongiardo carried Kenton and Campbell counties, Williams won Boone County and actually tallied more total votes in Northern Kentucky than Mongiardo, 5,054 to 4,999.

To try to shore up his Democratic support here, Mongiardo spent part of Wednesday campaigning in Northern Kentucky, greeting voters at two Covington restaurants - Old Town Cafe and Chez Nora.

On Thursday, Mongiardo challenged Bunning to a series of seven televised debates, one in each of Kentucky's six congressional districts and the statewide debate broadcast by KET public television.

"Debates are American as apple pie," Mongiardo said. "The people of Kentucky deserve a chance to see where we stand."

Said Bunning campaign manager David Young: "We are not going to force the public to endure a debate about debates. Later this fall, when voters in Kentucky really start to focus on the election, we will have a rational discussion about this issue. In the meantime, Senator Bunning has a full-time job and is continuing to focus on representing the people of Kentucky in the U.S. Senate."

In many of his past races, Bunning has refused to debate opponents.

For instance, he did not appear at this year's KET primary debate against Richmond Republican Barry Metcalf. Bunning beat Metcalf with 84 percent of the vote.

"What's he hiding from?" Mongiardo said. "I never see him out campaigning, and when he gets out and campaigns, he makes mistakes."

Mongiardo was referring to misstatements Bunning made about federal funds to build bridges in Louisville, where he told a business group in February the projects might be delayed. He later recanted.

Bunning was also criticized in March for saying Mongiardo, an Italian-American, looks like the deceased sons of Saddam Hussein. He later apologized and said he was only joking.

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com