An aggressive opponent who is constantly on the offensive, a media feeding frenzy and some aberrant behavior by the Southgate Republican have questions swirling about Bunning's political and mental state.

Bunning supporters say those concerns are nothing more than election-year hype fueled mainly by distortions from the campaign of his opponent, Democratic state Sen. Daniel Mongiardo of Hazard.

"These are desperate acts by a desperate candidate," said state Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, who represents southern Kenton County in the General Assembly.

But Bunning, who will turn 73 this week, also is bringing attention on himself with his comments and behavior.

• Last spring he told a Republican gathering that Mongiardo, an Italian-American, looks and dresses like the sons of Saddam Hussein. He first denied making the comment. Then he said it was a joke, and only apologized to Mongiardo last week.

• Bunning has demanded police protection on some of his campaign trips through the state, claiming he is a potential target for terrorists.

• He was accused of cheating by using a teleprompter during a debate with Mongiardo. Bunning was in Washington and appeared via satellite while Mongiardo was in a TV station in Lexington. At first Bunning refused to admit using the device - but he did use it. His campaign finally said the Teleprompter was allowed because candidates could use notes during the debate. Mongiardo said that was cheating.

• Bunning has made few public campaign appearances, telling reporters last week that he doesn't need the media to draw a crowd.

Sign of 'something worse?'

Just last week, the Washington Post and the Reuters news service wrote about Bunning's unusual behavior. Meanwhile the Louisville Courier-Journal's editorial page, never a big fan of the senator, questioned his mental fitness.

"Is he, as he ages, just becoming a more concentrated version of himself: more arrogant, more prickly?" the editorial stated. "Or is his increasing belligerence an indication of something worse? Has Sen. Bunning drifted into territory that indicates a serious health concern?"

Mongiardo, as almost any political candidate would, has seized on Bunning's actions.

For instance, Bunning charged last week that his wife, Mary, was roughed up by members of Mongiardo's campaign staff during the Fancy Farm political picnic. She was "black and blue," Bunning said.

"I think it's just another example of Bunning saying outrageous things that are obviously not true," Mongiardo said.

'Desperate attacks'

Bunning's campaign manager David Young dismisses the talk.

"It's silly season out there, and since Daniel couldn't raise any money or sell his liberal prescriptions for Kentucky, all he can do is avoid the issues and sling desperate attacks," Young said.

"We are actually witnessing Daniel Mongiardo and his campaign spread rumors and innuendos about Senator Bunning's health, and for a doctor, that is pretty deplorable. But Kentuckians are seeing through all of this. Senator Bunning is sharp and in shape."

After last week's debate, Bunning's staff released letters from two doctors that proclaimed Bunning physically fit.

But critics and opponents said the letters did not delve into Bunning's mental health. And he has refused to release all of his medical records, saying that would be an invasion of privacy.

Bunning's actions may be hurting his chances at re-election.

Two months ago he had a 24-point lead, according to SurveyUSA, which does polling for television stations in Louisville and Lexington. That lead had fallen to 11 points, according to polling done the first week of October.

Still facing a fight

Mongiardo still faces an uphill battle. Bunning has raised more than $6 million and as of the end of September had more than $3.3 million in the bank, while Mongiardo has raised less than $1 million.

But Democrats, who once thought the race unwinnable, say Bunning has given Mongiardo an opening. After barely paying attention to Mongiardo for months, the national Democratic party is spending more than $200,000 on his race.

"Jim Bunning is truly out of touch, out of sight and now should be out of here," said Steve Hoffman, a member of the Kenton County Democratic Club. "We need to see a real person who can be seen, in person, with real solutions to our real problems."

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com