Published November 5, 2003
The Associated Press
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Rep. Ernie Fletcher easily won the Kentucky governor’s
seat yesterday, ousting Democrats from power after 32 years.
Mississippi Democratic Gov. Ronnie Musgrove fought to keep his job
against Washington lobbyist Haley Barbour as the GOP sought to make
further inroads in the South.
Fletcher, a three-term congressman, defeated state Attorney
General Ben Chandler, polling 55 percent, or 593,508 votes, to the
Democrat’s 45 percent, or 484,938 votes, with all precincts
reporting.
With 23 percent of Mississippi precincts reporting, Barbour had
54 percent, or 106,968 votes, to 45 percent, or 88,881 votes, for
Musgrove.
In Philadelphia, one of three big-city mayoral races, Democratic
incumbent John Street handily defeated Republican businessman Sam
Katz, 59 percent to 41 percent.
In both Kentucky and Mississippi, candidates tried out slogans
and strategies that could well be used in the 2004 presidential
race.
Mississippi Democrats criticized Barbour as a “Washington
insider” as President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and
other top GOP officials came to campaign for him.
In Kentucky, party activists argued that a vote for Chandler
would tell the White House its economic policy is a failure.
State Republican Chairwoman Ellen Williams said Bush helped
swing the race in western Kentucky, a conservative Democratic area
which both campaigns said was crucial.
