Disdain for Ky. Gov. Sets Tone for Race [View All]

Oct 27, 3:11 AM (ET)

By CHARLES WOLFE

(AP)

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Gov. Paul Patton is not running for re-election, but public disdain for him and his scandal-tarnished administration is setting the tone in the race to succeed him.

Attorney General Ben Chandler, the Democratic candidate for governor, makes a point of telling audiences he stands apart from the incumbent even though they're from the same party.

The Republican candidate, Rep. Ernie Fletcher, promotes himself as an agent of "real change" after 32 years of Democratic administrations.

In a poll of 600 likely voters last week, Patton's approval rating was 7 percent. Nearly one in five said their vote would express opposition to Patton, who admitted to an extramarital affair and is being sued by a former mistress.


Robin Adams, a state government employee and a Democrat, said she will go "completely opposite from the way I've voted in the past" and cast her ballot for Fletcher.

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20031027/D7UED6D00.html