Steve Beshear And Jerry Abramson Join Gatewood Galbraith And Dea Riley In Kicking Off Kentucky's 2011 Governor Contest.

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Beshear and Abramson kick off campaign
By Joseph Gerth

FRANKFORT, Ky. — With Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson as his new running mate at his side, Gov. Steve Beshear kicked off his 27-month re-election campaign Monday morning with a press conference in the capital.

He pledged to avoid some divisive issues and instead focus on issues that he said can unite the Commonwealth.

"Jerry Abramson and I both believe in the Second Amendment," said Beshear, responding to a question about Abramson's past position on guns. "There will not be any agenda on gun ownership at all."

Abramson has traditionally favored some limitations on gun ownership, as many big-city mayors do. He has been outspoken in the past in favor of bans on assault weapons.

Beshear, in an interview Sunday, said he and Abramson would announce Monday that they are teaming up to run for governor and lieutenant governor in 2011. His current lieutenant governor, Daniel Mongiardo, relinquished his place on the ticket when he decided to run for U.S. Senate in 2010.

Abramson, who has been mayor of Louisville for 20 of the past 24 years, will be making his first run for statewide office. For Beshear, it will be his sixth statewide campaign.

Beshear said during the press conference that he decided to seek a second term when he realized that one four-year term wouldn't be enough to complete his objectives, given the current economic climate.

He said that Abramson would help lead his economic-development efforts as lieutenant governor but would also be involved in every decision his administration makes.

And Beshear said he didn't consider anyone else for the job, given Abramson's record as Louisville mayor.