KY Gov: Fletcher vs. Beshear

Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher prevailed over former US Rep. Anne Northup in the Republican primary for Governor yesterday. Fletcher, who has been marred in scandal throughout most of his term, defeated Northup 50%-37%.

On the Democratic side, former Lieutenant Governor Steve Beshear managed to avoid a runoff willing 41% of the vote in a six way race. He ran far ahead of Brunce Lunsford, who got 21%. The two were expected to be tossed into a June runoff, but Beshear and his running mate, State Senator and 2004 US Senate nominee Dan Mongiardo, crossed the 40% threshold to avoid one.

Interesting Fact: Beshear won 142, 733 votes in the primary. On the GOP side, Fletcher won 101, 256. In a general election with those numbers, Beshear would defeat Fletcher 58%-42%. Republicans are down in Kentucky due to Fletcher's corruption issues, the decisive primary, and because of national issues that have been bad for Republicans.

Beshear comes out of the primaries as the favorite in the general.