Grayson makes two-day campaign swing through Tri-County area

A hard push for clean coal technology and gaining control of runaway federal spending while at the same time spurring the economy were the main talking points for Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson during a two-day campaign swing through Knox, Laurel and Whitley Counties this week.

Grayson, a Republican from Boone County, is one of six GOP candidates vying to replace U.S. Senator Jim Bunning, who is retiring after his term ends this year.

During a fundraising event at The Depot on Main Monday evening, Grayson met with supporters and briefly laid out some of the goals he hopes to accomplish if elected.

"We have to get our fiscal house in order," Grayson told the crowd. "We’ve got to get our country headed in the right direction again and in order to do that we are going to have to make some tough decisions. I believe, as a country, we are ready to make those tough decisions."

Grayson calls current talk of spending cuts and freezes disingenuous, and is proposing "real spending freezes" to many areas of the budget except defense spending.

"At the end of the day, if the market trusts that we are getting that together, that will help our interest rates which will help small businesses get loans at a more affordable rate and they may then be willing to hire more people or undergo and expansion," Grayson said. "We need more certainty in the business climate."

Grayson vehemently opposes what is termed "cap and trade" energy policies that put strict limits on carbon emissions. He said he is also against current policies that have limited permits for mining coal. It all amounts to a "multi front war on coal" he said that would disproportionately affect Kentucky.

"Right now, there is a war on Kentucky coal," Grayson said. "It’s a war that affects all of Kentucky and I pledge to you I will be an ally to you on that."

Forcht Group of Kentucky founder and CEO Terry Forcht, who along with his wife Marion sponsored the event, said Grayson’s stance on coal is one of the main reasons for his support.

"Trey Grayson is a friend of coal. There is no better friend. We wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t," Forcht said before introducing Grayson Monday. "He is by far the person that will represent us here in the mountains."

Grayson was elected as Kentucky’s Secretary of State in 2003 and won re-election in 2007. He is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and is currently serving as President of the National Association of Secretaries of State.

Current polls show Grayson with a double-digit deficit to his main Republican rival in the primary, Rand Paul – a western Kentucky eye doctor.

Grayson said Monday he was accustomed to running political races from behind, and said it is too early to put much stock in polling.

"The polling, especially for this election, is pretty inexact," Grayson said. "Maybe it’s right, maybe it’s not. Our polling shows some very different results right now."

The SurveyUSA poll released recently shows Paul with about an 18-percentage point lead, but with about 20 percent of voters undecided. Grayson said the poll typically overstates support for candidates.

"We feel very confident where we are headed," Grayson said. "None of my races have I ever been ahead in the polls this far out … It’s not a new experience. I think we will be just fine."

Grayson visited local nursing homes, CTA Acoustics, and Vision Motor Cars, Inc. in Williamsburg. He was also treated to a special breakfast event at the Corbin Center for Technology and Community Activities.