Democrats Smell Victory in Kentucky Gov. Race

Nov. 4, 2007— -- Who would have thought it?

Democrats think they are about to steal the governor's mansion in the solidly red state of Kentucky. On Tuesday, voters will choose between Democrat Steve Beshear and incumbent Republican Governor Ernie Fletcher.

Statewide opinion surveys suggest Democrats have every right to be gleaming with hope ahead of the election. Some polls show Beshear ahead of Fletcher by more than 20 points.

Four years ago, Kentucky residents made Fletcher the state's first Republican governor in three decades, but his re-election chances are in trouble, because of his scandal-plagued first term.

Fletcher and several members of his administration were indicted on charges that they illegally rewarded political supporters with state jobs. The indictment was later dropped after Fletcher admitted wrongdoing by his administration.

For some time, the Fletcher campaign has described the controversy surrounding his administration's hiring practices — which was led by a Democrat — as a "political witch hunt."

Fletcher campaign spokesman Jason Keller told ABC News last week that "the media polls are not reflecting how tight the race is getting," and that Bluegrass State residents are more concerned with the governor's views on education, health care, and economic development.

Whatever the case may be, Fletcher has paid a heavy political price since the hiring controversy, losing support from key state Republicans — including his own lieutenant governor Steve Pence.

Pence decided not to seek re-election with the governor in the GOP primary, and endorsed Fletcher's strongest primary challenger, former Rep. Anne Northup. She based her campaign on the argument that Fletcher could not defeat Democrats in the general election.

The Republican Governors Association had a substantial investment early in the contest, on the air with television ads for Fletcher. In fact, Democrats in the state complained that Republicans were acting illegally by working in coordination with the Fletcher campaign.