By Patrick Crowley
Enquirer staff writer
and the Associated Press

FORT WRIGHT - Extra security U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning is receiving during a two-day trip to western Kentucky has drawn criticism from his Democratic opponent.

Bunning requested special protection Tuesday and today during a visit to the cities of Fulton and Paducah. Mike Reynard, Bunning's spokesman, said the Senate sergeant-at-arms recommended that senators take extra precautions in light of recent threats that al-Qaida is planning additional terrorist attacks and could target members of Congress.

Reynard said no specific threats have been made against the senator, but the escort was requested in response to suggestions made by the Senate sergeant-at-arms. He said similar requests will be made wherever the senator travels.

The cities will not be reimbursed for the expense of providing additional security.

Bunning is in the area to present a $180,000 federal grant to the Fulton Fire Department. The money comes from a program that provides funding to first responders to emergencies.

The campaign of Democrat Daniel Mongiardo, the state senator challenging Bunning, was critical.

"Jim Bunning's request to take Paducah police off their duties to serve as his personal bodyguards on the chance he might be subject to an al-Qaida terrorist attack is bizarre," said Kim Geveden, Mongiardo's campaign manager.

"If Jim Bunning thinks al-Qaida is waiting for him in Fulton or Paducah, he is either grandstanding or has an exaggerated sense of self importance," Geveden said.

Geveden criticized Bunning for voting "numerous times against funding for the first responders he now seeks protection from."

According to the Mongiardo campaign, Bunning voted in March against a measure that would have increased funding for Homeland Security grants by $1.7 billion.

But David Young, Bunning's campaign manager, said that bill would have also cut funding for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the nation's stockpile of oil for emergencies.

"The vote our opponent's campaign cites would have ended future deliveries of oil to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. ... Unlike our opponent, Senator Bunning believes we need and can keep our emergency oil reserves intact for Americans, and still give substantial funding for homeland security grants to our communities," Young said.

Last year, Senator Bunning voted for more than $30.4 billion in security programs for the Department of Homeland Security, Young said. Of that, nearly $8.5 billion was for first responders to help them prepare for terrorism and other threats.

Robin Newberry, spokeswoman for the Paducah Police Department, said it is believed to be the first time such a request for more protection has been made by Bunning, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell or Ed Whitfield, who represents western Kentucky in Congress.

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com