Senator Jim Bunning, who won reelection by a surprisingly narrow margin in 2004, said he would need to raise $10 million for his re-election campaign.

[3] However, NRSC chairman John Cornyn pressured Bunning to retire due to concerns that he could lose a reelection bid.

[5] In February 2009, Senator Bunning stated that another justice could soon be appointed to the United States Supreme Court because Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, would be dead within nine months,[6] creating a significant amount of controversy, which resulted in an apology from Bunning.

When Senator Jeff Merkley urged him to drop his objections to vote on a 30-day extension of benefits, Bunning responded "tough shit.

"[10][11] Bunning finally agreed to end his objection to the bill in exchange for a vote on his amendment to pay for the package.

[17] Paul embraced the Tea Party movement, and promoted "small government principles" one day after he officially entered the race for Kentucky's open seat.

[21] He sent out another TV ad and web video that stirred controversy by making the case that Paul believes that foreign policy decisions made prior to September 11, 2001, are partially to blame for the attacks.

[22] Paul immediately responded by launching a statewide television ad in which he expresses his "outrage at terrorists who killed 3,000 innocents" before accusing Grayson of a "lie" and a "shameful" tactic.

[25] *Though Bill Johnson dropped out of the race prior to the primary, he still appeared on the ballot.

[80][81] Attorney General Conway refused to join a lawsuit claiming that health care reform is unconstitutional.

The primary race was also notable because both Conway and Mongiardo received more votes than Republican Rand Paul.

[105] Some speculate that the reason why no minor party or independent candidate filed is because Paul's candidacy helped discourage it.

Billy Ray Wilson, an independent of London, filed as a write-in candidate.

Conway agreed to run an advertisement that linked Paul's policy stances to a college prank in which Paul reportedly demanded that a female classmate worship a bong named "Aqua Buddha."

Independent political analysts in Kentucky quickly warned that Conway would regret his decision.

The ad's focus on religion led critics, including not just Republicans but also some liberals such as Hardball's Chris Matthews, to charge that Conway was improperly questioning Paul's faith, to which Conway countered that the ad was intended to question Paul's "judgment."

Conway ceased his defense of the commercial after the election, admitting that running it had been a mistake; he claimed that he had done so only reluctantly at the urging of national advisers despite finding it "harsh as mule's breath.

[114][115] Paul was endorsed by The Kentucky Enquirer,[116] The Richmond Register,[117] and the Bowling Green Daily News;[118] as well as by the National Federation of Independent Business,[119] Council for Citizens Against Government Waste,[120] National Right to Life,[121] US Chamber of Commerce,[122] National Vietnam and Gulf War Veterans Coalition,[123] Mike Huckabee,[124] and Tony Perkins/FRC Action PAC.