AP: Kentucky Governor loses bid for second term

From The Associated Press

"Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher, a Republican whose lone term was dogged by a hiring scandal, lost badly Tuesday despite an election-eve effort to woo conservative voters by displaying the Ten Commandments in the state Capitol.

"Democratic challenger Steve Beshear, a former attorney general and lieutenant governor, pulled off a political comeback 20 years after last holding office.

"With 71 percent of precincts reporting, Beshear had 431,566 votes, or 60 percent, to Fletcher's 285,297 votes, or 40 percent.

"Beshear reminded voters at every opportunity of accusations that Fletcher directed the hiring of political allies for jobs protected by the state's merit system.

"He also made religion a centerpiece of his campaign, citing his religious upbringing and running television ads showing him in front of a church in western Kentucky.

"On Monday, Fletcher ordered that the Ten Commandments be displayed alongside other historical documents in the state Capitol, after a federal judge ruled that a previous injunction in a separate court case did not apply to the display.

"Fletcher, the state's first GOP governor in more than 30 years, was indicted on misdemeanor charges that were later dismissed in a negotiated deal after a judge said he could not be tried in office. But the grand jury later issued its findings, saying Fletcher had approved a "widespread and coordinated plan" to skirt state hiring laws."