From Kentucky Public Radio's Tony McVeighU-S Senator Mitch McConnell and Democratic challenger Bruce Lunsford squared off Saturday at the 128th Fancy Farm picnic in far western Kentucky.Senator McConnell won the coin toss and opted to go second, which gave Bruce Lunsford, who was making his first appearance on the Fancy Farm stage, his opening line:"It’s interesting that Senator McConnell chose to go second because that’s where he’s going to end up on November 4th."McConnell pretty much ignored Lunsford and instead concentrated on blasting Democrats for high gas prices."Obama says pump up your tires and go to Jiffy Lube. Obviously, they’re not serious about lowering gas prices," McConnell said.McConnell left the Lunsford bashing to junior Senator Jim Bunning, who accused Lunsford of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Washington Democrats.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.