Beshear Victorious: Fletcher Fails to Secure 2nd Term

By Bill Bartleman, The Paducah Sun, Ky.

Nov. 7–Western Kentucky’s recent trend of favoring Republicans running for statewide office came to an end Tuesday when Democrat Steve Beshear easily won the region in his statewide romp over Gov. Ernie Fletcher.

Statewide, Beshear’s margin over Fletcher was 18 percent, reflecting statewide polls that since May consistently showed Beshear with a lead of no less than 15 percent.

With 99.9 percent of precincts reporting, Beshear had 619,654 votes or 59 percent, to Fletcher’s 435,857 votes or 41 percent.

In 2003, Fletcher beat Democrat Ben Chandler 55 percent to 45 percent.

The turnout Tuesday was 37 percent, with just over 1 million of the state’s 2.8 million registered voters going to the polls.

Beshear won 23 of 32 counties in the 1st Congressional District. The only counties won by Fletcher were traditionally Republican counties in the eastern end of the district.

“Western Kentucky is very important, not only politically but for the economy of the state,” Beshear said. “I’ll concentrate a lot of effort to help that area of the state.

“I look forward to bringing a renewed energy to western Kentucky … and I am anxious to get to work on high-wage job creation, affordable health care and quality education for our children.”

He said his victory is the start of efforts to return western Kentucky to its historic roots as a dependable Democratic stronghold. He said it will be an important battleground next year when Democrats try to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell.

Beshear, 63, also won the Jackson Purchase and neighboring counties, a reversal of four years ago when Fletcher won nine of the 13 counties. Voters in Calloway County, the home of Fletcher’s running mate, Robbie Rudolph, also favored Beshear by 11 percentage points.

The turnout in the 13 counties ranged from a low of 29 percent in Fulton County to a high of 48 percent in Carlisle County.

One of the biggest turnarounds in the region was in McCracken County. Four years ago, Fletcher defeated Chandler by an 18 percent margin — 12,075 to 8,413. On Tuesday, Beshear won by 13 percent — 9,868 votes to 7,569.

Beshear is a native of Dawson Springs in Hopkins County, where his father was a Baptist preacher and an undertaker. He used his western Kentucky roots, dissatisfaction with Fletcher over a hiring scandal and a promise to promote passage of expanded gambling to return the office to the Democrats.

For Beshear, it is a political comeback that he didn’t plan until last January, when he jumped into the race after receiving encouragement from others who felt the field of Democrats was weak. Prior to that, he was trying to encourage others to run.

After serving as a state representative, attorney general and lieutenant governor, he lost the Democratic primary race for governor in 1987 and the 1996 race for the U.S. Senate to incumbent McConnell.

Since then, he has practiced law in Lexington.

“I know that I will be a much better governor today,” he said during his victory celebration in Frankfort. “I have had more life experiences in the last 20 years. I hope I’m a little wiser, and I know I’m a little more patient.”

Beshear conceded that the Fletcher hiring scandal gave Democrats an opening to reclaim the governorship. “Certainly being in the right place at the right time always plays a role in politics,” Beshear said.

Fletcher acknowledged Beshear’s comeback in his concession speech at a Lexington hotel, broadcast live by Kentucky Educational Television.

“He persevered, and there’s something admirable in that,” Fletcher said. Fletcher said he called Beshear and congratulated him “on a vigorous campaign.” He said it was time for him to move on, and he would cooperate to ensure a smooth transition.

Fletcher asked his supporters to put their party differences aside and support Beshear for the good of the state. “We let our light shine, and this election doesn’t snuff it out,” Fletcher said to applause.

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Election 2007

Governor

Fletcher (R) 41.3%

Beshear (D) 58.7%

Secretary of State

Grayson (R) 57.1%

Hendrickson (D) 42.9%

Attorney General

Lee (R) 39.5%

conway (D) 60.5%

Treasurer

Wheeler (R) 42.5%

Hollenbach (D) 57.5%

Agriculture Commissioner

Farmer (R) 64%

Williams (D) 36%

99.9 percent precincts reporting

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Copyright (c) 2007, The Paducah Sun, Ky.

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