Re-election races are 9 times out of 10 an uphill battle for the incumbent seeking to extend his power for another term. By the time campaign season approaches, they’ve already built a governing record that can be contested. But Governor Ernie Fletcher has the task of not only defeating the Democrats in November, but also use his campaign to rally members in his own party as well as turn the spotlight away from his own personal troubles.

The Kentucky GOP is mending fences and working to create a unified platform after April’s televised Republican gubernatorial debate revealed divisions amongst the party on issues such as the existence of tolls on two planned bridges in Jefferson, County. 

 The project itself will cost nearly $4 billion and although he is not 100% against a toll option, Fletcher believes that there are other ways to pay for the bridges. “We’ve got to work with the General Assembly,” said Fletcher during the debate.                                                                                             

The governor survived the debate and the primary with a margin of victory of a little less than 30,000 votes. Now he heads into the summer secured with an eligible running mate in Robby Rudolph, the current secretary of the Kentucky Executive Cabinet, a position Fletcher appointed him to in June 2006. 

Rudolph, an accomplished businessman, who built Rudolph Tire Company from the ground up in the early 1980s, believes in the traditional Republican standard of consolidated government. He wants institutions with similar functions to be placed under one agency rather than scattered throughout the state bureaucracy.

The Fulton, KY native had time to hone his skills as the Secretary of the Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet prior to his current position. Governor Fletcher believes that Rudolph will be a formidable asset in the race for Lieutenant Governor.

He’s going to need a strong running mate as the last man he shared a campaign ticket with, current Lieutenant Governor Steve Pence, bolted this years re-election effort citing that he didn’t want to share the same ticket with Fletcher a second time.

Pence placed his endorsement behind Republican Congresswoman Anne Northrup during the primaries. The case with Pence is another prime example of an ever-splitting Republican Party in Kentucky and the effect of Fletcher’s 36% job approval rating.                                   

The governor has been catching heat ever since he was indicted last year on charges of conspiracy surrounding hiring practices. Heads turned when he pardoned many of his administrations officials, some of them he eventually fired.  Charges were dropped as the courts decided that he could not be prosecuted while still in office.

Today, the governor is putting the past behind him and looking toward the general election in November.  He now has to prepare to take on his opponent Steve Beshear, who didn’t have the easiest time himself winning the Democratic nomination.

Despite his troubles, the governor has landed himself several key state endorsements as well as personnel support from Kayi Lewis, wife of Congressman Ron Lewis, and J.

Marshall Hughes, an attorney from Bowling Green.  “Kayi and Marshall are a tremendous addition to our team,” said Governor Fletcher. “Their leadership in the state’s 2nd district will be a key to our success and I look forward to working with them throughout this campaign.” 

During the primary, the governor received a total of 14 Republican Party County Chairs in the 2nd District endorsing his candidacy. 

According to Fletcher’s campaign staff, the remaining six Republican Party County Chairs in the 2nd District decided to remain neutral during the primary. Now he will make it a priority to gain their unwilling support. He has all summer to do so.

He has also won the support of several members of the State House including: Rep. Jon Draud (R-Edgewood), Rep. Tom Kerr (R-Taylor Mill), Rep. Sal Santoro (R-Florence), Rep. Addia Wuchner (R-Burlington), along with former state Representative Paul Marcotte. 

“Ernie Fletcher ran on a vision and a prescription for Kentucky that is making our commonwealth a better place to live, work and raise a family,” said Rep. Wuchner.

Wuchner continued, “His Administration has made countless improvements in education, healthcare, and transportation. Those issues, along with his strong focus on economic development, have all played an important role in moving Kentucky forward. This May, I am honored to stand by his side once again in support of the Fletcher/Rudolph ticket.”

Just a few months ago political pundits were writing off Governor Fletcher, but after a convincing win in the primary, in which no run-off was required, his campaign appears to have more momentum than ever before and at a higher level than any of the ‘experts’ predicted.

For the meantime, key endorsements and a brand new running mate are great moves in clearing the air of a questionable past.  As summer arrives, the real games begin as Governor Fletcher heads into the long stretch of the race. Now he’ll have to prove that this era of good feeling is the light at the end of the tunnel rather than the eye of the storm.