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People in KY voted for Patton by a large margin in 1999 (narrow margin in 1995). They know that he is a tax-first governor, and they should support him. Otherwise, they are being inconsistent with their 1999 electoral mandate. KY has had SEVEN Democrat governors since 1971: Wendell Ford, Julian Carroll, John Y. Brown, Martha Layne Collins, the late Wallace Wilkinson, Brereton Jones, and now Paul Patton. People in KY like Democrat governors. The last Republican governor, Louie B. Nunn, lost popularity when he tried to place sales taxes on groceries. This may have cost Nunn victory in the 1972 senatorial general election in KY. Even as Nixon was sweeping KY that year, Nunn was losing the Senate race, and that was a Republican seat being vacated by the now deceased John Sherman Cooper.

I bet Patton has something on Lucas...that's why he didn't switch

People in KY voted for Patton by a large margin in 1999 (narrow margin in 1995). They know that he is a tax-first governor, and they should support him. Otherwise, they are being inconsistent with their 1999 electoral mandate.

Patton and his Dem cronies stole the election in '95 but Mr. Forgy (the Repub) chose not to challenge, knowing it was a lost cause. The Republicans didn't run a serious candidate in '99 partly because Mr. Forgy wouldn't run again without better controls in place to prevent vote stealing at the local level. This accounts for the supposed '99 "mandate."

Right now it appears Rep. Ernie Fletcher (R) is planning a run for Governor next year. He has a good shot, especially with the thoroughly disgraced Paul Patton staying on despite his "affair" with Tina Connor and abuse of office in punishing her through attacking her nursing home via state regulators.

The times and politics are a'changin' in Kentucky. The Dems no longer walk on water.