KY-Gov: Fletcher leads Northup

Governor Ernie Fletcher is well ahead of former Congresswoman Anne Northup in the GOP primary for Governor of Kentucky this year.

A Tarrance Group poll, which is a Republican-biased poll, has Fletcher leading Northup 51%-29% in the race for the GOP nod.

A Fletcher win would be good news for Democrats as the Governor has a 63% disapproval rating according to a March Survey USA poll. (His approval rating is negative among Republicans)

In other news, Senator Jim Bunning (R-Kentucky) is apparently supporting Northup in the primary. The junior senator, who narrowly won reelection in 2004 and has a 41% approval rating, is helping Northup by cutting campaign commercials to be aired in Northern Kentucky, where Fletcher is strong among Republican voters.

A Northup victory would be a serious blow for Democratic changes in Kentucky. Although Northup lost her House seat representing Louisville last year, she managed to get 48% of the vote in the state's Democratic stronghold.

Democrats can't win statewide if they only narrowly win Louisville.