Bunning, who had more name recognition and campaign funds, Mongiardo was able to make large gains on account of several missteps committed by Bunning and other Kentucky Republicans, including Bunning's admission not to have read newspapers articles on the Iraq war and claims made against Mongiardo regarding his staff's violence against Bunning's wife, his sexual preference, and his physical likeness to Saddam Hussein's sons, for the last of which Bunning later apologized. Mongiardo responded with statements about his co-sponsorship of a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in Kentucky and his intent to vote in favor of a Federal Marriage Amendment, and he argued that Bunning was removed from the interests of families. Mongiardo gained support from national Democratic organizations, but lost the bitterly contested election 49.3 percent to 50.7 percent. Mongiardo was ahead with as much as 80 percent of the returns in. However, the western portion of the state broke strongly for Bunning, providing the ultimate margin of victory. Lieutenant governor Former Kentucky Lieutenant Governor Steve Beshear chose Mongiardo as his running mate for the 2007 gubernatorial election in Kentucky; they won the Democratic primary election on May 22, 2007 with 41 percent of the vote against several tickets, including Bruce Lunsford and Greg Stumbo, and Steve Henry and Renee True, and with enough votes to avoid a June runoff. Beshear-Mongiardo were elected over incumbent Republican Governor Ernie Fletcher on November 6, 2007, winning with 58.7 percent of the state vote. Mongiardo did not risk losing his seat in the state senate because Kentucky holds its constitutional officer elections in odd years. In September 2008, Mongiardo claimed that some rural voters would not support Barack Obama because of unfamiliarity with Obama, ignorance or race. Mongiardo had endorsed Obama, who had supported him in the 2004 U.S. Senate election. Republican Kentucky State Senate President David L. Williams demanded Mongiardo apologize. Mongiardo argued that if Williams suggested racism was not an issue, he was "out of touch." 2010 U.S. Senate race In January 2009, Mongiardo announced that he would be running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by incumbent Jim Bunning. Mongiardo called for Bunning to withdraw from reelection, questioning his ability to represent the state because of controversial statements made about the health of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Bunning's reportedly strained relationship with other Republican senators. Bunning later announced that he would not run in