Bunning PAC throws cash

Sen. Jim Bunning has a new political action committee with a name only the former all-star pitcher and Hall of Fame member could pull off – "The Political Hall of Fame PAC."

The Kentucky Republican gleefully told reporters about his new leadership PAC during a conference call today, exclaiming that his new PAC is “going great.”

“This is the most important election – 2006 – that we have faced since 1994, so I am concentrating on that,” Bunning said.

Bunning's PAC was first started in 2004, according to Federal Election Commission reports, but it only recently became active. Bunning raised about $80,000 last year; his first contributions to candidates went out in March of this year.

A report filed yesterday with the FEC shows Bunning’s PAC has raised $90,000 since its inception and has doled out $25,500 to eight candidates.

All recipients were Senate candidates, except Rep. Geoff Davis of Hebron, Ky., who holds the House seat once occupied by Bunning himself. Davis, who faces a possibly difficult challenge this year from former Democratic Rep. Ken Lucas, got one of three $5,000 checks passed out by Bunning’s PAC.

The Senate candidates who got money from Bunning, however, do NOT include Sen. Mike DeWine, a Republican from Cedarville in neighboring Ohio.

Bunning recipients:

Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa. - $5,000
Sen. Jim Talent, R-Mo. - $5,000
Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont. - $2,100
Sen. Craig Thomas, R-Wyo. - $2,100
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah - $2,100
Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz. - $2,100
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas - $2,100