Not so much green in the Bluegrass State

Money is getting scarce in Kentucky, where three top candidates turned in fourth quarter reports with less than $500,000 raised.

Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson's (R) $446,000 report would have been more disappointing, had it not been for the meager quarters eventually turned in by the two top Democrats in the race -- state Attorney General Jack Conway and Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo. Conway ($333,000) and Mongiardo ($225,000) both raised less than half of their third quarter totals.

Neither Democratic campaign was anxious to release their fundraising totals Monday, the day after they were due. Conway's campaign actually waited until Tuesday morning to announce its numbers.

Grayson, of course, has his own problems, as primary opponent Rand Paul continues to outraised him. Paul pulled in $650,000 in the fourth quarter, though Grayson maintains a slight advantage in cash on hand, $1.4 million to $1.3 million.

Conway, who turned in a $1.3 million second quarter before seeing his fundraising drop off precipitously, still has the most cash in the race, at $1.7 million. Mongiardo had $783,000 in the bank after saving just more than $30,000 of the money he raised in the fourth quarter.

The four candidates are seeking the seat of retiring Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.).