The Republicans, says Kentucky Political Report editor Lowell Reese, “hope for Reagan Democrats down in Western Kentucky” to be moved into Fletcher’s column. Fletcher’s “stance on casino gambling, packaged with four or five other issues, including the Ten Commandments, abortion, domestic partnership insurance and gun control” will split the Democratic base. Fletcher will need a big margin in rural areas in Western Kentucky this fall to offset Beshear’s strength in Louisville. The GOP is also hoping that the coming campaign can put a negative face on Beshear. “Beshear has not been defined…,” notes Reese; “In the [Democratic] primary, it was a love fest. The Democrats didn’t bring out any of the negative stuff about each other.”

So far, however, Beshear has been skilful in responding to Fletcher’s attacks. The Courier-Journal reported that when the governor criticized Beshear for a ruling he made as state attorney general that schools must not display the Ten Commandments, Beshear told the Fancy Farm audience that displaying the commandments wasn’t as important as living by them, adding “If this administration had been living by them, they wouldn’t be in the mess they’re in now.” Beshear, notes Reese, “gave the best speech” at Fancy Farm.