A subplot to watch during this fall's campaign will be how the patchwork relationship between Gov. Ernie Fletcher and U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell holds up.

Much is at stake for both Kentucky Republican officials. Fletcher is seeking another four-year term. And McConnell, who is up for re-election next year, risks facing a more powerful, strongly backed Democratic opponent in 2008 if that party takes control of the governor's office.

In public, McConnell and Fletcher shrug off suggestions that animosity or frustration exists between them.

"Mitch is campaigning with us. We're glad to have his help," Fletcher said in a manner-of-fact tone Saturday after the Graves County Republican breakfast in Mayfield.

When pressed on what McConnell's role will be in the campaign, Fletcher gave few details. He acknowledged that he would take advice from the state's senior U.S. senator but quickly added that he talks "to all of the federal delegation quite a bit."

On the topic of whether McConnell -- a famously prolific fund-raiser -- will be spearheading efforts to collect bucket loads of national donations, Fletcher was equally vague.

"I'd welcome any help that anyone can give with raising money," the governor said. "I'm sure he will."

The afternoon’s highlight was a rousing performance from a rejuvenated Gov. Ernie Fletcher, who just over a year and a half ago was under indictment, had approval ratings in the 20s and had lost the backing of most of his party and Mitch McConnell, the state’s senior United States senator.

Staging a striking comeback, Mr. Fletcher, the first Republican governor in the state in more than three decades, saw the corruption charges against him dropped last August and won more than 50 percent of the votes in the May primary. On Saturday, he smiled contentedly as Mr. McConnell took the stage to speak on his behalf as he seeks a second term as governor.

In his speech, McConnell didn't talk about his own re-election campaign next year, focusing instead on this year's gubernatorial race between Beshear and Republican incumbent Ernie Fletcher.

McConnell said he gave Beshear a lot of credit for returning to Fancy Farm, adding, "We all know how tough it can be to get back on that horse after you've been thrown off."

The senator added that Beshear's victory in the spring primary shows that Democrats "embrace recycling."

Beshear, a former lieutenant governor and attorney general, later got in his own zinger at McConnell's expense.

"It only took you a year, but I'm glad you finally remembered Ernie's name," Beshear said to McConnell.

McConnell was conspicuously silent about Fletcher when the Republican administration was the target of a special grand jury investigation into whether it illegally rewarded political supporters with state jobs. A special grand jury indicted Fletcher on three misdemeanor charges that later were dropped as part of a negotiated deal with prosecutors.

McConnell refused to offer an endorsement during the three-way GOP gubernatorial primary in the spring that Fletcher won, and the senator late last year wouldn't comment on Fletcher's performance as governor.

Since Fletcher's primary election victory, McConnell has embraced the governor's campaign and says he'll help Fletcher.