Elaine Chao

BOWLING GREEN -- Mainstream media outlets have been a frequent target of criticisms from the campaign of U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) - particularly the state's largest newspaper, the Louisville Courier-Journal. McConnell's wife, U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, threw a jab of her own at that paper today while on the campaign trail, when asked if she thought recent polls indicating a tightening race between McConnell and businessman Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville) were accurate.

One of those polls was a Courier-Journal-commissioned survey conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research. That poll showed just a one point lead for the Republican incumbent - the smallest margin shown by McConnell in months. It was released in late-September.

"We are pleased with the position that we are in," Secretary Chao told PolitickerKY.com on Monday when asked about her take on the state of the race.

"One has to take a look at the source of the recent poll that said that the race was closing," she added. "It was a poll that was commissioned by the Courier Journal, which has been shameless in this election cycle for its lack of objectivity and fairness."

Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao: Politicker photo

Comments made by U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao today while she campaigned for her husband, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) drew an objection from the camp of McConnell's opponent, Louisville businessman Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville).

At a women's luncheon in Bowling Green, Chao spoke extensively of federal funds McConnell had brought back to Kentucky as a principle reason for his re-election while asserting that Lunsford "said that he will not use his position to help fund Kentucky projects."

Lunsford spokesperson Cary Stemle rejected that sentiment in a statement sent to PolitickerKY.com.

"It's ludicrous to say Bruce wouldn't help Kentucky," said Stemle.

"Just remember what Mitch McConnell said in 1984: ‘Being in the majority is what matters,'" he added.

MINNEAPOLIS – Republicans are scrambling to adjust the Republican National Convention schedule in response to Hurricane Gustav which is ripping through the Gulf Coast.

This is no different for the Maine delegation. Late Sunday evening Maine party chairman Mark Ellis said the delegation was still working out how their schedule will be altered.

Two events are set.

Monday morning the delegation will hold a breakfast at the Hyatt Regency in Minneapolis.

A day after U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell's (R-Louisville) campaign referenced opponent Bruce Lunsford's (D-Louisville) history as head of the troubled nursing home chain, Vencor, the Lexington Herald-Leader notes McConnell has his own connection to the Vencor controversy.

John Cheves writes that McConnell's wife, and U.S. Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao served on Vencor's board of directors from 1997 to 2001.

Cheves notes that period encompasses Vencor's bankruptcy in 1999.

Lunsford served as Vencor's CEO until January of 1999. In 2001, the company agreed to a $104.5 million settlement with the federal governmentover charges of "overbilling," "failure of care claims," and "improper" claims on Medicare reports.

TUCSON - U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao came to Tucson today to help drum up support for state Sen. Pres. Tim Bee (R-Tucson) - help he needs in his quest to unseat Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-8), the well-funded freshman Democrat.Chao spoke before a roundtable of business leaders about the strength of the U.S. economy,and the need to contribute to Bee's campaign. According to Chao, media bias makes it imperative that Bee "bypass" news outlets and appeal directly to voters. 

U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao is the latest GOP star to lend her support to State Senate Pres. Tim Bee's congressional run. The labor secretary and wife of U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will appear tomorrow with Bee at a breakfast fundraiser in Phoenix.

Chao joins a growing list of name brand Republicans to get behind Bee in his fight to unseat freshman Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-8). The race is drawing extensive focus by both Democrats and Republicans, and today's announcement of the Chao event was instantly met with scorn from the Arizona Democratic Party, which seeks to portray Bee as a loyal Bushite and associate him with Social Security privatization.