Free Republic

Rep. Ernie Fletcher's (R-Ky.) gubernatorial campaign has benefited from congressional support in the form of $1,000 PAC donations and fund-raisers. Fletcher's colleagues in the GOP are seizing on what they consider the Republicans' best hope for the governorship in a state where Democrats have held the job for 32 years. The leadership political action committees of Republican Reps. Jim McCrery (La.), Roy Blunt (Mo.), Joe Barton (Texas), Bill Thomas (Calif.), Mark Foley (Fla.), Don Sherwood (Pa.) and Tom Reynolds (N.Y.) have contributed to Fletcher's campaign. Robin Hayes (N.C.) wrote a personal check. Also, Sen. Don Nickles (R-Okla.) also gave $1,000...

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Just blocks north of the state Capitol Saturday, Republican Ernie Fletcher gathered with other GOP candidates under a tent at party headquarters to rally support for the fall election. Despite winds and cloudy skies that threatened rain, Republican Party officials paraded out their ticket of statewide candidates from Agriculture Commissioner candidate Richie Farmer up to Fletcher. Indeed, candidates, including Fletcher, made note of their close proximity to the Capitol complex and pointed to it when vowing victory in November. "You can feel the wind blowing, and if you've noticed it's changed...," Fletcher told reporters before the rally....

Kentucky has a November gubernatorial race the parties wanted, the pundits predicted and Tuesday's primary voters decided. Two political heavyweights - Republican Ernie Fletcher and Democrat Ben Chandler - won their party's nominations Tuesday and will square off in a fall campaign that will set the tone and tenor in Kentucky politics for the next several years. Republicans view Fletcher as the GOP candidate who can win the governor's mansion for the first time in 32 years. He has an impressive resume - two-term congressman, doctor, minister, engineer, fighter pilot - who has the deep backing of the party's establishment....

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Republican Rep. Ernie Fletcher and Democratic state Attorney General Ben Chandler were nominated for Kentucky governor Tuesday, setting up a fall battle between two well-known politicians to replace a lame-duck, scandal-tainted Democrat. Fletcher, a three-term congressman, is considered the GOP's best hope in years to capture an office it hasn't won since 1967. His opponent has major name recognition: Chandler is a grandson of Albert B. "Happy" Chandler, a former governor, senator and major league baseball commissioner. Fletcher said he got a congratulatory call from President Bush 's deputy political director. "They're looking for new leadership in...

Kentucky Governor, GOP Primary (Congressman) Ernest Fletcher: 56% (County Executive) Rebecca Jackson: 24% (State Representative) Stephen Nunn: 14% (State Senator) Virgil Moore: 3% Undecided/Other: 3% Data Collected: 5/16/03 - 5/18/03 Geography: State of Kentucky Universe: 454 Likely Voters Margin of Error: 4.6% Client: WHAS-TV Louisville/ WLEX-TV Lexington

Kentucky Governor, GOP Primary (Congressman) Ernest Fletcher: 56% (County Executive) Rebecca Jackson: 24% (State Representative) Stephen Nunn: 14% (State Senator) Virgil Moore: 3% Undecided/Other: 3% Data Collected: 5/16/03 - 5/18/03 Geography: State of Kentucky Universe: 454 Likely Voters Margin of Error: 4.6% Client: WHAS-TV Louisville/ WLEX-TV Lexington

<p>Democrat Ben Chandler and Republican Ernie Fletcher remain the leaders in Tuesday's primaries for governor, according to The Courier-Journal's latest Bluegrass Poll.</p> <p>Chandler, the state attorney general, showed damage from the attacks of big-spending businessman Bruce Lunsford, but still had 31 percent of Democrats who said they are likely to vote in the primary. Lunsford had 19 percent and House Speaker Jody Richards 14 percent.</p>

<p>Democrat Ben Chandler and Republican Ernie Fletcher remain the leaders in Tuesday's primaries for governor, according to The Courier-Journal's latest Bluegrass Poll.</p> <p>Chandler, the state attorney general, showed damage from the attacks of big-spending businessman Bruce Lunsford, but still had 31 percent of Democrats who said they are likely to vote in the primary. Lunsford had 19 percent and House Speaker Jody Richards 14 percent.</p>

Kentucky Governor, GOP Primary (Congressman) Ernest Fletcher: 50% (County Executive) Rebecca Jackson: 21% (State Representative) Stephen Nunn: 19% (State Senator) Virgil Moore: 3% Undecided/Other: 7% Data Collected: 5/9/03 - 5/12/03 Geography: State of Kentucky Universe: 494 Likely Voters Margin of Error: 4.5% Client: WHAS-TV Louisville/ WLEX-TV Lexington Kentucky Governor, Dem Primary (Attorney General) Ben Chandler: 39% (Health Care Entrepreneur) Bruce Lunsford: 28% (State House Speaker) Jody Richards: 20% (Businessman) Otis Hensley: 2% Undecided/Other: 10% Data Collected: 5/9/03 - 5/12/03 Geography: State of Kentucky Universe: 669 Likely Voters Margin of Error: 3.9% Client: WHAS-TV Louisville/WLEX-TV Lexington

Kentucky Governor, GOP Primary (Congressman) Ernest Fletcher: 50% (County Executive) Rebecca Jackson: 21% (State Representative) Stephen Nunn: 19% (State Senator) Virgil Moore: 3% Undecided/Other: 7% Data Collected: 5/9/03 - 5/12/03 Geography: State of Kentucky Universe: 494 Likely Voters Margin of Error: 4.5% Client: WHAS-TV Louisville/ WLEX-TV Lexington Kentucky Governor, Dem Primary (Attorney General) Ben Chandler: 39% (Health Care Entrepreneur) Bruce Lunsford: 28% (State House Speaker) Jody Richards: 20% (Businessman) Otis Hensley: 2% Undecided/Other: 10% Data Collected: 5/9/03 - 5/12/03 Geography: State of Kentucky Universe: 669 Likely Voters Margin of Error: 3.9% Client: WHAS-TV Louisville/WLEX-TV Lexington

Kentucky Governor, GOP Primary (Congressman) Ernest Fletcher: 44% (County Executive) Rebecca Jackson: 22% (State Representative) Stephen Nunn: 20% (State Senator) Virgil Moore: 4% Undecided/Other: 8% Data Collected: 5/5/03 - 5/5/03 Geography: State of Kentucky Universe: 485 Likely Voters Margin of Error: 4.5% Client: WHAS-TV Louisville/ WLEX-TV Lexington Kentucky Governor, Dem Primary (Attorney General) Ben Chandler: 42% (Health Care Entrepreneur) Bruce Lunsford: 30% (State House Speaker) Jody Richards: 13% (Businessman) Otis Hensley: 3% Undecided/Other: 12% Data Collected: 5/3/03 - 5/5/03 Geography: State of Kentucky Universe: 698 Likely Voters Margin of Error: 3.8% Client: WHAS-TV Louisville/WLEX-TV Lexington

Kentucky Governor, GOP Primary (Congressman) Ernest Fletcher: 44% (County Executive) Rebecca Jackson: 22% (State Representative) Stephen Nunn: 20% (State Senator) Virgil Moore: 4% Undecided/Other: 8% Data Collected: 5/5/03 - 5/5/03 Geography: State of Kentucky Universe: 485 Likely Voters Margin of Error: 4.5% Client: WHAS-TV Louisville/ WLEX-TV Lexington Kentucky Governor, Dem Primary (Attorney General) Ben Chandler: 42% (Health Care Entrepreneur) Bruce Lunsford: 30% (State House Speaker) Jody Richards: 13% (Businessman) Otis Hensley: 3% Undecided/Other: 12% Data Collected: 5/3/03 - 5/5/03 Geography: State of Kentucky Universe: 698 Likely Voters Margin of Error: 3.8% Client: WHAS-TV Louisville/WLEX-TV Lexington

Kentucky Governor, GOP Primary (Congressman) Ernest Fletcher: 49% (County Executive) Rebecca Jackson: 22% (State Representative) Stephen Nunn: 17% (State Senator) Virgil Moore: 3% Undecided/Other: 8% Data Collected: 4/26/03 - 4/28/03 Geography: State of Kentucky Universe: 524 Likely Voters Margin of Error: 4.4% Client: WHAS-TV Louisville/ WLEX-TV Lexington Kentucky Governor, Dem Primary (Attorney General) Ben Chandler: 45% (Health Care Entrepreneur) Bruce Lunsford: 27% (State House Speaker) Jody Richards: 14% (Businessman) Otis Hensley: 3% Undecided/Other: 11% Data Collected: 4/26/03 - 4/28/03 Geography: State of Kentucky Universe: 675 Likely Voters Margin of Error: 3.9% Client: WHAS-TV Louisville/WLEX-TV Lexington

Kentucky Governor, GOP Primary (Congressman) Ernest Fletcher: 49% (County Executive) Rebecca Jackson: 22% (State Representative) Stephen Nunn: 17% (State Senator) Virgil Moore: 3% Undecided/Other: 8% Data Collected: 4/26/03 - 4/28/03 Geography: State of Kentucky Universe: 524 Likely Voters Margin of Error: 4.4% Client: WHAS-TV Louisville/ WLEX-TV Lexington Kentucky Governor, Dem Primary (Attorney General) Ben Chandler: 45% (Health Care Entrepreneur) Bruce Lunsford: 27% (State House Speaker) Jody Richards: 14% (Businessman) Otis Hensley: 3% Undecided/Other: 11% Data Collected: 4/26/03 - 4/28/03 Geography: State of Kentucky Universe: 675 Likely Voters Margin of Error: 3.9% Client: WHAS-TV Louisville/WLEX-TV Lexington

FRANKFORT, Ky. - With eight Democrats and Republicans running for Kentucky governor, you'd think they would be bashing each other heading into next month's primaries. Instead, they have ganged up on Gov. Paul Patton, the term-limited Democrat who dropped a plan to run for Senate after admitting he cheated on his wife in an affair that has led to state and federal investigations into whether he misused his office to help or retaliate against his lover. Democrats are distancing themselves from Patton and Republicans are hoping they can win the governorship for the first time in 36 years, though the...

*** GOP Gubernatorial Candidates' Debate *** This Monday, March 10, 2003 at 7:00 p.m., the GOP candidates for governor will square off at the University of Louisville Belknap Campus, in the Middleton Auditorium inside Strickler Hall. The event is free, however, tickets or reservations are required to attend. If you wish to pick up a ticket or want to be placed on the pick-up list for that night, simply e-mail Becky Terhune (with the Jefferson County Young Republicans) at dagnyt@bellsouth.net I am told you can also request tickets from Wanda Adams Taylor at wjadam01@louisville.edu or 502-852-3323. Admission will not be...