Miranda Pederson/Daily News United States Senator Jim Bunning addresses the 2008 State Republican Convention on Saturday at the Sloan Convention Center.

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U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning was the keynote speaker Saturday at the State Republican Convention in Bowling Green, but it was state Sen. David Williams of Burkesville who had the crowd riled up with his fire and brimstone.

Williams, while supposed to talk mostly about the state Senate, turned his message to presumed Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, saying Obama likely puts most of Kentucky in that rural category - where people are “bitter and cling to their guns and religion,” referencing a remark Obama made at a private fundraiser earlier this year.

“I want to tell you the Second Amendment is alive and well in the state of Kentucky,” he said, raising the crowd to its feet.

And then, in a reference to religion, he said he could tell the crowd what was sung at his church last Sunday.

“They will all bow down,” Williams sternly said, spreading arms wide over the congregation - or rather, delegation - who again hopped to their feet.

For his part, Bunning referred to Obama “as the most unqualified nominee for president in my lifetime.”

“Barack may be a nice guy, but he has served less than four years in the Senate. ...” he said. “He is the number one liberal in the Senate and is not qualified for president.”

Bunning criticized what he called Obama’s open-arms policy with terrorist countries and his plans to immediately pull out of Iraq.

“He doesn’t understand the way to prevent future wars is to win the war we are fighting,” Bunning said.

Bunning said Obama co-sponsored legislation with him when he first got to Congress that would help turn Kentucky coal into diesel fuel, but then “voted against it on the floor” when the lobbyists got a hold of him.

“That isn’t hope or change in my book ... that’s good ol’ D.C. politics,” he said.Switching to Congressional races, Bunning touted the qualifications of state Sen. Brett Guthrie of Bowling Green to take over the seat now held by Ron Lewis of Cecilia, who is not seeking re-election.Bunning and others talked about the need to keep Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in the Senate as a calming force and firewall for protection of such things as climate change legislation, which was turned back last week. Williams said the legislation would have ended coal production in Kentucky.Bunning said McConnell, who was absent because of his daughter’s wedding, will have a difficult time against Bruce Lunsford’s millions.“But mark it down, he is going to get re-elected,” he said.

Bunning promised that at the summer annual Fancy Farm picnic, he will tell the crowd just why Lunsford should not get elected.

He reminded the crowd how crucial it was to help get Anne Northrup of Louisville back her Congressional seat. Northup is running against John Yarmuth, who unseated her.

“John is not just a liberal by Kentucky standards, but by Washington’s standards too,” he said.

Aaron Wilson, a delegate of Scott County, was one of only two blacks at the convention where 525 delegates were seated.

During a pause in the convention, he said it was Republicans who first proposed civil rights legislation that was rejected by Democrats.

“Because of Republicans, my ancestors not only have the right of freedom but the right to own land and to vote,” he said.

The party has an overwhelming history of inclusiveness, he said, and any of its missteps should be forgiven and members should unite.

But Nick Lyons of Nelson County questioned the party’s ability to unite when it won’t let different voices be heard.

Lyons said he was an undecided delegate and was among 50 or so people constantly voting against resolutions or other matters during the convention.

Many of the most vocal delegates calling for “points of order” were supporters of Rep. Ron Paul, who has yet to officially end his campaign for president.

The convention chairman tried to have Warren County delegate Linda Huet removed for her interruptions.

Huet said she was trying to read a statement, urging that decisions regarding abortion rights be left to the states not the federal government.

Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan told the crowd that if they only read the New York Times every day and listened to major media outlets, they would think that Obama has already won “and been coronated.”

“ ... This election is not over, it’s just getting started,” he said.

Bunning and Congressman Geoff Davis, who represents the 4th District, said the nation needs to support energy development at home by using coal and drilling for oil.

“This Democratic Congress won’t listen to the American people ... who say ‘use American resources for American people,’ ” Davis said, reminding the crowd that since Democrat Nancy Pelosi took over as speaker of the House, gas prices have risen $2 a gallon.

“We have got to get energy independent, and the only way we can do this is with McConnell as majority leader. Drill here and drill now and we will get the price of oil down.”

With Kentucky’s coal resources that can be converted to fuel, residents might see “Dubai on the Ohio,” he said, referencing the oil-rich kingdom.

Davis said if the United States would drill in the Gulf, as is being done by the People’s Republic of China, it could have enough fuel for 60 million cars over the next 60 years.

After the speeches, 24 delegates were selected for the National Convention. Eighteen had already been selected for the Congressional districts and three others are automatic because of their positions in the party. Tommy Adams, Warren County’s Republican party chairman, and Guthrie are delegates.

In his closing, Williams urged the delegates to get out there and support McCain with the enthusiasm that Republicans gave Ronald Reagan.

“This election sets the pace for the next century,” he said.