Lunsford repeatedly reminded the agriculture reps. that he grew up on a farm and kept a tobacco cutter in the back seat of his car, saying, from what he's heard, McConnell drove around with a briefcase as a kid. Lunsford also accused McConnell of being beholden to the interest of "big oil and big pharma." Lunsford also says "no one has been more obstructionist" to getting things done in Washington "than Mitch McConnell."

McConnell countered with a recitation of the federal money and projects he's brought to Kentucky by using his clout in the Senate. McConnell says he's brought home than "500 million dollars" to Kentucky. The minority leader warned that Lunsford isn't much younger than McConnell, will have zero clout in the Senate and won't be around long enough to get the seniority needed to get any. McConnell also told the Farm Bureau leaders that Lunsford "has been bought by the AFL-CIO" which opposes "everything you're for."

Lunsford challenged McConnell to a series of once-a-week debates in rural areas of Kentucky. McConnell agreed to more debates, saying he enjoys them, but stopped short of agreeing to the one-per-week idea.

Lunsford's campaign turned the tables on McConnell's claim that his seniority in the Senate gives him power to get more done for Kentuckians. Here's the release from the Lunsford campaign regarding McConnell's first senate campaign against Walter "Dee" Huddleston:

McConnell dismissed Huddleston's claims of clout and seniority in 1984. "If he's not telling you how senior he is... Walter Huddleston is probably telling you the reason to keep him in Washington is because he has so much clout. Let me tell you about clout. It's the Republican Party that has the clout in the U.S. Senate today, and I'm here to tell you that a freshman Republican senator from Kentucky will have more clout, more influence and more ability to get things done in Washington than Walter Huddleston has today." [Courier Journal, 5/31/1984]