On Tuesday, Salon's Mary Jacoby reported on the erratic behavior of Sen. Jim Bunning, R-KY, amid rumors of his failing health and much speculation that Bunning relied on a teleprompter when debating opponent Dan Mongiardo on Monday this week. The two debated by video satellite hookup -- Mongiardo from a TV studio in Lexington, and Bunning from RNC headquarters in Washington.
It turns out Bunning was using a teleprompter. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, "during a teleconference with reporters after the debate, the Southgate Republican would not answer whether he was using a TelePrompTer But after being questioned by reporters Tuesday, Bunning campaign manager David Young admitted a TelePrompTer was used."
Bunning's campaign manager, David Young, insisted that using a teleprompter was allowed, because the rules of the debate allowed "notes." Mongiardo campaign manager Kim Geveden called Bunning's use of a TelePrompTer "an outrageous abuse of the agreement." "The bottom line is that Jim Bunning cheated in the debate," he said.
An executive for the TV station that hosted the debates, agreed with Mongiardo, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.
"Jim Ogle, senior vice president for news at WKYT, said: 'There was nothing in the rules that specifically prohibited' using a TelePrompTer. 'But I think it was despicable. It more than violated the spirit of the rules.'"
The taped debate will be broadcast tonight, shortly before the third presidential debate takes place in Arizona. Meanwhile, Bunning now claims that members of his opponent Mongiardo's staff battered his wife at a picnic in August. "My wife was black and blue from their staff or someone connected with the Mongiardo campaign -- absolutely running into her," Bunning said, according to the Courier-Journal.
Mongiardo called the charge "outrageous."
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