Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning of Southgate would, most political watchers assumed, overwhelm Democrat Daniel Mongiardo with a six-to-one fund-raising advantage, the power of incumbency and a better known name from his days in politics and professional baseball.

But Mongiardo's feisty, bare-bones campaign coupled with what his campaign termed missteps made by Bunning has made the race surprisingly close. Independent polling shows Bunning's once formidable lead of more than 20 points has dwindled into single digits.

Bunning has had to fight off rumors that he is in poor health. His campaign has accused Mongiardo of spreading the rumors, a charge the Democratic state senator from Hazard has denied.

"We are actually witnessing Daniel Mongiardo and his campaign spread rumors and innuendos about Sen. Bunning's health, and for a doctor, that is pretty deplorable," said David Young, who is managing Bunning's campaign. "But Kentuckians are seeing through all of this. Sen. Bunning is sharp and in shape. He's in excellent health and his doctors have attested to this."

Mongiardo says Bunning is "out of touch" with Kentucky voters.

"Sen. Bunning just doesn't get it," he said. "He is out of touch with the people of Kentucky. This is not about me, and it's not about him. It's about the people of Kentucky.

"Sen. Bunning has repeatedly made wild, untrue, absurd accusations throughout this campaign to cover up his failed record on behalf of working families."

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com