Ky Lt. gov. endorses GOP opponent

[deadparrot]

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Embattled Gov. Ernie Fletcher's second in command endorsed an opponent Monday in the governor's race.

Republican Lt. Gov. Steve Pence threw his support to former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup, who entered the race saying the incumbent's legal turmoil has rendered him politically vulnerable to Democrats.

"She is the better candidate for the Republican party," Pence said. "She has a real chance of winning."

Pence had already refused to run for re-election with Fletcher and publicly questioned whether the first Republican governor elected in Kentucky in more than 30 years could win in the wake of a grand jury investigation into his administration's hiring practices.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070226/ap_on_el_gu/kentucky_governor