Posted on 01/22/2007 7:32:45 PM PST by LdSentinal
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning broke with the sitting governor from his own party on Monday, throwing his support behind Anne Northup's campaign to unseat Gov. Ernie Fletcher in the Republican primary.
Fletcher has garnered endorsements from a number of Republican politicians, but Bunning became the biggest name to back a candidate in the May GOP primary. Fletcher said he didn't consider it a snub.
"I'm very confident that this is just all in the family, if you will, and after the primary we'll all come together as a family again," Fletcher told reporters in Frankfort after Bunning's announcement.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Jody Richards, who unsuccessfully sought the nomination in 2003, was planning to enter the race later this week with former Secretary of State John Y. Brown III as his running mate, Brown told The Associated Press. Richards and Brown are planning to officially announce their entry into the race at 9 a.m. CST Wednesday in Bowling Green, Brown said.
"I had not planned on getting back into politics in 2007, but the governor's race sort of shaped up in an unorthodox and unanticipated manner and I was asked by Speaker Richards to be his running mate," Brown said in a telephone interview. "After sizing up the field, I thought that we would have the best chance of winning in November."
In Washington, Bunning, R-Ky., revealed his support for Northup, a former five-term congresswoman from Louisville, during a breakfast sponsored by the Kentucky Right to Life Association in Washington.
"Lately, I have put a lot of thought into how important it is for Kentucky to have a strong Republican that shares our values leading our commonwealth," Bunning said. "And today I would like to announce that I think Anne Northup would be the best Republican pro-life candidate to lead Kentucky forward."
The endorsement comes days after Northup entered the governor's race and introduced Jeff Hoover, the top Republican in the Kentucky House, as her running mate. Northup offered herself as an alternative to Fletcher, who she said was politically damaged by his troubles in office, including his indictment - and subsequent dismissal - on misdemeanor state hiring charges.
Northup lost her congressional seat last November to Democrat John Yarmuth.
Meanwhile, the field of Democrats running for governor is expected to grow Tuesday with a scheduled announcement by former Lt. Gov. Steve Henry at a kickoff event at a Louisville union hall. Gatewood Galbraith said Monday he plans to file his candidacy papers Tuesday in his fourth run for governor.
State Treasurer Jonathan Miller, former Lt. Gov. Steve Beshear and Otis Hensley Jr. of Harlan have announced their candidacies in the Democratic primary. Candidates have until Jan. 30 to officially enter the race.
In the GOP race, Bunning became the highest-ranking Kentucky Republican to make an endorsement in the May GOP primary, which also includes Paducah businessman Billy Harper.
In 2003, Fletcher ran with the GOP establishment firmly behind him in becoming Kentucky's first Republican governor in a generation. But Fletcher's term has been marred by an investigation into whether his administration illegally rewarded political supporters with state jobs after he took office.
The governor maintained the investigation was politically motivated and gave a blanket pardon in 2005 to anyone except himself who could be charged in the probe.
A Franklin County special grand jury indicted Fletcher on misdemeanor charges that were eventually dropped last year in a deal with prosecutors. The grand jury's report found that Fletcher had approved a "widespread and coordinated plan" to skirt state hiring laws.
Northup said Monday she was "thrilled" by Bunning's endorsement.
"Sen. Bunning has the respect and affection of Republicans across the state, and his endorsement is another great step forward for our campaign," Northup said.
Fletcher said he remained confident of winning renomination for another term.
"As I've traveled around the state, the support is very strong out there," he said.
Stan Pulliam, Harper's campaign manager, said the endorsements for Northup and Fletcher are a reaction to Harper's willingness to "shake up politics as usual."
"Our campaign wants to change the way things are done in government," Pulliam said. "So government officials who want to change the way things are going, we invite their endorsement. And politicians who want to stick with politics as usual, they should probably find another candidate."
Bunning said that primaries can be a "healthy part of our representative government," adding that he rarely has gotten involved in Republican primaries.
"We each have to make our own choice, but I wanted to share with my close friends here today that I think Anne and Jeff will win the primary in May and carry the governor's office in November," Bunning said.
Hoping to show it has broad Republican support, the governor's campaign has said Fletcher picked up endorsements from 15 of the state Senate's 21 Republicans. Notably absent from the list was Senate President David Williams of Burkesville. Fletcher's campaign also has touted support from various county judge-executives.
U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, the state's senior senator, previously said he wouldn't endorse anyone in the Republican primary but added that Northup would be "a formidable opponent."
*ping*
Dr. Fletcher has been the victim of a political witch hunt from day #1 by the scummy 'Rat vermin AG Stumbo. He's done nothing a rodent Gov hasn't done in wanting people loyal to him in state government after 32 years of one-party rule. Sadly, he's been crippled politically for doing so, and should now step aside for the good of the party. It's appalling he got such a raw deal. Hopefully, too, we can take out the #1 'Rat target in KY, Stumbo.
I wish her well.
BTTT!
Very well-stated. If Stumbo runs for Governor, he can be accused of misusing his office for his own political gain.
Do you remember what happened to Jimmy Evans in Alabama (1994)?
Evans was the other half of the tag team effort to take out Gov. Guy Hunt (that being fmr. and now again (!) Lt Gov Jim Folsom, Jr), and he was, fortunately, swept out by the voters (along with Folsom) that year for their respective antics, which was in reality, a coup d'etat.
As it stands, the only declared candidate against Stumbo is the Commonwealth Attorney Tim Coleman. Personally, I believe our strongest candidate (who expressed an interest for the job) is Lt Gov Steve Pence.
Even if she wins the primary, she'll have a tough time beating the rat. Traditionally, Louisvillians don't win statewide races in KY -- McConnell being the one exception I can think of.
"Northup lost her seat in Congress due to the nearly equal Republican and democrats in her old district. She would win by around 500 votes or less."
I think that Dr. Fletcher should step aside and think about running for his old House district in 2008, a presidential election year. Sometimes politics isn't fair.
I doubt he could beat Ben Chandler, unfortunately.
Memories are long in Kentucky.
Ann Northup cannot hide the facts of her past anti-2nd Amendment votes.
Northup voted to tax and spend at every opportunity while in Congress; thus, she is culpable for the run-up of the record deficit and, soon to be the coming spiraling inflation.
She supported the suppressive KERA bill and the HB 250 Hillary Health Care while a state legislature.
Bunning is not taken seriously anymore. He is dead meat politically.
Northup does not have any chance to win the race.
Look elsewhere or, reelect Fletcher.
Stumbo is apparently now running for Lt. Governor with Bruce Lunsford. That would make that office an open seat. State Rep. Stan Lee has also filed for AG on the Republican side. I have a feeling Lt. Governor Steve Pence may end up filing for that office as well as you have indicated.
In any event, this endorsement by Bunning could prove quite helpful for pulling Northern Kentucky votes toward Northup which could be key.
Her choice of Jeff Hoover as a running mate could help that problem out.
Huh ?
at 1/22/2007 5:49 PM big butt said...
Bunning is wracked with dementia.
I'll admit that if that is her stance on the 2nd Amendment, it is disturbing. However, that is her record from 7 years ago. Can you document this consistently for her 10 years in Congress ?
Since when does Leopards change their spots?
She was dead set against the concealed carry bill as a state legislator and she continually obstructed our efforts to get it passed.
She said she does not think that "your duck guns" should be banned.
Even if she could win the primary, the Democrats would destroy her on anti-gun issues alone.
Get real.
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