Published: November 10, 2007 05:23 pm      

Republicans praise Fletcher, vow 2008 will be different

LEXINGTON — First they looked back, thanking Gov. Ernie Fletcher and listing his accomplishments. Then they looked forward, promising to unite and make sure U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell is re-elected next year.

The symbolism was hard to miss at the Saturday morning meeting of the Republican Party of Kentucky central committee meeting. Most of the meeting was spent praising Fletcher and his accomplishments. It was the last time Fletcher, who lost Tuesday’s gubernatorial election to Democrat Steve Beshear, will address the group as the leader of his party or as governor.

But at the end, they turned their attention to next year’s election, assuring each other they would retain control of the state Senate and promising to re-elect McConnell.

Fletcher left no doubt he doesn’t – at least openly, publicly – bear any grudges against some in the room who supported one of his primary challengers - Anne Northup or Billy Harper, neither of whom was there Saturday - last spring. And McConnell left no doubt he intends to hold onto to his Senate seat and his job as Republican Leader in the U.S. Senate.

Fletcher made it clear he and his running mate, Robbie Rudolph, want no challenge for McConnell in a primary.

“Ernie Fletcher and Robbie Rudolph will be working for Mitch McConnell and we’ll be discouraging anyone from getting into a primary,” Fletcher told the crowd. “We don’t need that.”

The man to whom Fletcher obviously was talking, however, wasn’t on hand. Larry Forgy has hinted he might challenge McConnell – either in a primary or as an independent in the fall – to punish McConnell for what Forgy sees as failure to support Fletcher.

But Fletcher made clear any differences he may have had with McConnell – or his ally in the state Senate, David Williams, R-Burkesville, who at one time publicly questioned whether Fletcher could win re-election – are in the past.

McConnell, Fletcher said, helped him in all his campaigns.

“He’s been there to help me every single time,” Fletcher said. “And any time I’ve gone and asked for advice, he’s been there.”

Preceding Fletcher to the podium were Republican National Party Chairman Mike Duncan of Inez and Williams. Both praised Fletcher, telling the Republican faithful Fletcher was a marked man.

Williams said Democratic Attorney General Greg Stumbo “from the first day set out to persecute and prosecute our governor.”

Duncan, Williams and McConnell didn’t deny disappointment over Tuesday’s lost election, but they praised Fletcher. Duncan called him “one of the most wonderful, decent human beings who ever graced the governor’s mansion.”

“Unfortunately, from the very first day, he had a target on his back,” Duncan said.

Williams offered similar praise for Fletcher while conceding Fletcher “wasn’t much of a politician but (he) was a tremendous governor. I am proud and honored to have served with you, Gov. Fletcher.”

Fletcher conceded his lack of political skills had something do with his downfall.

“I will take whatever blame there is for losing that election – not the Republican Party,” he said. He said the re-election of Trey Grayson as Secretary of State and Richie Farmer as Commissioner of Agriculture showed the party remained strong in spite of his poor showing.

McConnell followed Fletcher, calling him a “magnificent governor,” and praising his accomplishments in Medicaid reform and transportation projects. He said Fletcher and his wife, Glenna, “on a strictly personal basis have been people we all could look up to and admire.”

But then McConnell turned his attention to next year.

He said the election will be about the future and not the past, that Democrats are wrong to believe taxes don’t remain a powerful issue on which Republicans can win. He said Democratic candidates will try to reprise the 2006 election when they used dissatisfaction with the war in Iraq and President George W. Bush to take control of Congress, but Republicans won’t allow them to do that and he predicted Sen. Hillary Clinton would be the Democratic presidential nominee.

He conceded, as Republican Leader, he makes an inviting target for the national Democratic Party.

“I’m a bigger target, but I’m a pretty big boy,” McConnell said. “And I tell you this: if they throw a pebble at me, I’m going to throw a boulder back at them.”

Afterwards, it was hugs, handshakes and posing for photographs. Unity was the word. And praise for Fletcher.

“We look forward to the future, not with fright but with optimism,” McConnell said.

RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com.