The Eye

Grayson also got some contributions from some Kentucky judge-executives, who are the top executive officials in counties. They include Ralph Drees of Kenton County near Cincinnati, Gary W Moore of Boone County (near Cincinnati) and Duane Murner of Oldham County near Louisville.

Also giving to Grayson's effort were A. Willard McBurney, the mayor of Corbin; Dean Johnson, the clerk of Laurel County; and Michael A. Helmig, the sheriff of Boone County.

Grayson collected nearly all of his second-quarter funds from individual donors and just $6,950 from political committees, including PACs. Grayson would collect a lot more from PACs if Bunning didn't seek re-election, but they don't want to cross the senator when he is a candidate for re-election. Grayson has said he will not challenge Bunning in a Republican primary.

The political committees that did give to Grayson are the PACs of the Iowa-based American Future Fund ($2,500) and the Indiana-based Old National Bank ($250) and the campaign committee of Kentucky Republican lawyer Erwin Roberts, who planned a 2008 campaign against Kentucky Democratic Rep. John A. Yarmuth that he later shuttered to fulfill a military obligation.

Rand Paul, an eye surgeon and son of Texas Republican Rep. Ron Paul, also is exploring a bid for the Republican nomination. The top Democratic candidates for the Senate are state Attorney General Jack Conway and Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo.