Lt. Gov. Pence jumps ship, backs Northup
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - The governor's second in command jumped ship on Monday and endorsed an opponent in the May 22 primary election.
Lt. Gov. Steve Pence threw his support to former Congresswoman Anne Northup, a Louisville Republican who entered the governor's race saying the incumbent's legal turmoil has rendered him politically vulnerable to Democrats.
"She is the better candidate for the Republican party," Pence said. "She has a real chance of winning."
Pence, who had already refused to run for re-election with Gov. Ernie Fletcher, had publicly questioned whether the first Republican governor elected in Kentucky in more than 30 years could win re-election in the wake of a grand jury investigation into the administration's hiring practices.
Fletcher drew two Republican opponents, Northup and Paducah businessman Billy Harper. Both said the first-term governor has been damaged beyond political repair and would be a weak candidate to put up against Democrats in the November election.
Seven Democrats, all critical of Fletcher, also are vying for the top job in Kentucky, one of three states that will elect a governor in 2007.
The governor was indicted last year on charges that he illegally rewarded political supporters with protected state jobs. The indictment was dismissed in a deal with prosecutors, but the special grand jury later issued its findings in the case, saying Fletcher had approved a "widespread and coordinated plan" to skirt state hiring laws.
Fletcher has maintained that the investigation was politically motivated.
Pence said he initially ran with Fletcher on a mission to change the culture in Frankfort that rewarded political supporters and punished opponents, but now questioned whether that mission was accomplished.
In a press conference at a Frankfort hotel, Pence criticized Fletcher for using his Fifth Amendment right against self incrimination when he was called to testify before a special grand jury investigating his administration's hiring practices. Pence also criticized the governor for issuing blanket pardons to his staff, even before he knew which staffers were being indicted and what the charges would be.
The lieutenant governor said Fletcher shouldn't have "cut a deal" with prosecutors to have the charges against him dismissed.
"The Republican Party must have a candidate who can get beyond the scandals of this administration," Pence said.
Northup said the endorsement from Pence is important to her campaign.
"He has a clear vision of what happened and what should have happened," Northup said.
Fletcher campaign manager Marty Ryall said the endorsement gave Northup another opportunity to bash Fletcher.
"Anne Northup has been on a negative rampage against Governor Fletcher since entering this race," Ryall said. "She has no ideas or agenda other than to tear down our first Republican governor in 32 years. It is no surprise that the 'Brutus' of Kentucky politics has joined her negative campaign. She should hope there are no rough waters ahead because Steve Pence will be the first one to jump ship."
Eastern Kentucky University political scientist Kendra Stewart said Pence's endorsement is very unusual.
"That certainly is a coup for the Northup campaign," Stewart said. "It demonstrates the dissension in the Republican party at this time."
Story created Feb 27, 2007 - 11:43:26 EST.
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