Associated Press

Ashland Daily Independent 

FRANKFORT — Democrat Steve Beshear easily defeated the scandal-plagued Republican incumbent Tuesday to become governor of Kentucky, pulling off a political comeback 20 years after he last held office.

Gov. Ernie Fletcher had won four years earlier on a campaign promise to clean up Frankfort, but was weakened by an indictment charging that he rewarded politically connected Republicans with jobs at the expense of Democrats.

A Lexington attorney who had lost his last two political races, Beshear had little problem against Fletcher. He simply reminded voters about Fletcher's scandal at every opportunity, whether in televised debates, political ads or stump speeches. Beshear made ethics a key issue in the gubernatorial race, saying Fletcher had not only broken his promise from four years ago but had actually made a mess of his own.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Beshear had 619,686 votes or 59 percent, to Fletcher's 435,895 votes or 41 percent.

Beshear carried 92 counties, including the state's two largest, Fayette and Jefferson. Fletcher, who carried 86 counties when he won in 2003, won in only 28 this time, concentrated in the heavily Republican southeastern part of the state.

"Tomorrow begins the hard task of governing," Beshear told jubilant Democrats at the Frankfort Civic Center. "Tomorrow begins the time when I call on every person in this state to come together with us, join hands with us, because together folks we can make Kentucky a much better place to call home."

Confetti streamed onto the crowd as Beshear walked on stage for his victory speech, which was brief and repeatedly interrupted by applause. The crowd had also erupted into applause earlier in the evening when Fletcher was shown on giant-screen TVs conceding the race.

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