EKB News

Two of Kentucky's top Democrats declared yesterday that they would not challenge Gov. Ernie Fletcher in next year's governor's race, leaving the party without a named opponent to the incumbent. Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson and State Auditor Crit Luallen both took their names out of contention as candidates in the 2007 governor's race. Both had been considering a run atop the Democratic slate against Fletcher, a Republican, who has been politically weakened by a lengthy hiring investigation.