FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo used profanity as he criticized Gov. Steve Beshear and his support of Mongiardo's U.S. Senate candidacy in a recording posted last week on the Internet.
In the recording, which was placed on YouTube by someone using the name "senrace2010," Mongiardo is heard saying he is so frustrated with Beshear that he is "close to saying f— it all. I do not need this job. I do not need the U.S. Senate."
Mongiardo is also heard saying that Beshear, who's endorsed Mongiardo, will be remembered as the state’s "worst" governor and that a "blowup" is coming.
Mongiardo spokesman Kim Geveden said the audio tape was “edited” and that Mongiardo “strongly supports” Beshear.
"He supports him now and he supports him for reelection in 2011," Geveden said in a statement. “He believes Governor Beshear has provided strong leadership and a steady hand during some of the most difficult times in our Commonwealth's history.
Geveden declined to answer specific questions about the veracity of the tape, including when and where it might've been recorded.
Earlier Monday, the Mongiardo campaign released a video of Beshear praising Mongiardo at a Sept. 23 fund-raiser in Northern Kentucky.
In that tape, Beshear called Mongiardo "the next United States senator," praised his knowledge of health care issues and lauded his work on an adventure tourism project.
The U.S. Senate campaign of Attorney General Jack Conway, Mongiardo's chief rival in May's Democratic primary election, said Monday that Mongiardo "has a lot of explaining to do to the governor and the people" about the anonymous tape.
Beshear spokesman Jay Blanton said Monday evening that "the Governor continues to strongly support Lt. Gov. Mongiardo's candidacy for the U.S. Senate." He declined to comment on the YouTube recording.
This isn't the first time profanity-laced statements have caused problems in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.
Conway apologized last month for using profanity during statements he made at the annual Fancy Farm political picnic in Graves County.
Read more at Kentucky.com
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