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Barry Metcalf won't give odds on his chances of winning a state Senate seat Nov. 7. But the Republican thinks his strong opposition to expanded gambling provides him "a great shot" of defeating Democratic incumbent Ed Worley. Metcalf, who lost to Worley by 1,901 votes for the 34th Senate district seat four years ago, has tried to make gambling the hot-button issue of the campaign in the district made up of Madison, Rockcastle and Lincoln counties. Democrats have a majority in Madison and Lincoln counties, while Republicans control Rockcastle. "This election is a referendum on casino gambling," said Metcalf, who hopes to return to the Senate. He was in the chamber from 1994 through 1999 and has plastered on his Lexus a sign for this fall's campaign that reads, "Re-elect Barry Metcalf State Senator." "If Ed Worley gets elected in November, this state will soon have casino gambling," Metcalf said. "If he does not, Kentuckians won't have to mess with it." Worley, the Senate Democratic floor leader, compares Metcalf's constant barrage on gambling to "a yapping dog." He says he thinks voters will re-elect him to a third four-year term because of his "ability to produce for the district in two areas: education and funding local projects." Worley, who has been in the legislature eight years and has served as minority leader for four, points to education funding he has supported in the legislature, especially $113 million for facilities at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond since 2000. His campaign ads also tout hundreds of millions in projects he has garnered for his district. "I'm proud of what I have done for my district," he said.

Worley, former city manager for Richmond, has never been on a general election ballot for the state Senate without facing a Metcalf. In 1998, he beat Garrard County's Mark Metcalf, Barry's younger brother, who now is a federal immigration judge in Miami Beach.

Worley accuses Barry Metcalf of misrepresenting his views on expanded gambling.

"He's painting me as a primary force behind it," said Worley, who advocates for allowing Kentuckians to vote on a constitutional amendment that would allow casinos.

Metcalf has been passing out to media in the district copies of newspaper reports that record Worley's concern in recent years that Kentucky is losing millions to Indiana's gambling boats. Metcalf says the reports are "proof that Worley will work to bring casinos to Kentucky."

Worley calls Metcalf's attempts "ridiculous" and says he "would not lobby anyone to vote one way or another on the issue. I'd respect each person's vote."

Asked how he would vote on casino gambling if the General Assembly ever should put the measure on a statewide ballot, Worley said, "I'd have one vote. I'd cast that vote in privacy."

Metcalf said he will "never support casino gambling.

"It's immoral. It's for losers. It will make a huge number of people poorer," he said. "It will cause many social problems for the entire state while only benefiting a handful who will make a bundle off of it."

Although opposed to casino gambling, Metcalf said he would not work to ban horse racing, bingo or the Kentucky lottery.

Though some prominent Republicans were cool toward Metcalf's 2002 campaign because he had challenged Jim Bunning for the U.S. Senate, Metcalf is getting help from them this year.

"I think some in the party who were upset with Barry is old news," said Senate Minority Leader Dan Kelly, R-Springfield, who recently attended a fund-raiser for Metcalf.

Metcalf also is trying to gain political advantage by talking about a recent court case involving Worley.

Last month, a federal judge dismissed a civil racketeering case against Worley and his business partner Allen Grant Jr. U.S. District Judge Joseph Hood said that Earl Estes, Worley's former business partner, could not prove that there was a "pattern of racketeering activity" in the sale of seven parcels of land at the intersection of Ky. 52 and the Eastern Bypass in Richmond.

Hood said the allegations in the case were outside the jurisdiction of the federal court, but said Estes could pursue his claims of fraud in state court. The case has since been refiled in state court.

In his order, Hood did not address any of the questions about the land transactions that have been in dispute, including whether to admit as evidence a secretly taped conversation that Estes' attorney says shows that Worley lied in an April deposition.

Estes sued Worley, Grant and WG&T Builders, which is owned by Worley and Grant, in U.S. District Court in Lexington in January. He alleged that Worley and Grant committed fraud when they induced Estes to sell seven parcels of property that the three men jointly owned in Madison County for substantially less than fair market value. Worley and Grant have denied any wrongdoing.

"This is a property dispute that Barry is trying to paint as a scandal," Worley said.

If he is re-elected in November, Worley said, he will run again for Senate minority leader in January's legislative leadership races.

"I've been gettin' it done for my district," he said. "I want to continue that."

Metcalf said Worley should not tout projects he has brought to the district, since many were paid for with $4 billion in debt the legislature has approved in the last two years.

"What Worley does not tell you is that he has put this spending on a credit card and voters get the bill for the next 20 years," Metcalf said.