Ernie Fletcher probably has more at stake tonight than any other governor not on the ballot. If Kentucky Republicans are swept from office, talk of finding a GOPer to challenge the scandal-plagued governor in a primary will only increase. If Anne Northup, a longtime Republican congresswoman in the most Democratic part of the state, loses, she'll be angry, unemployed and still politically viable. A run for governor against Fletcher next year would make a lot of sense.
Mitch Daniels in Indiana also has a lot on the line because, in part due to his relative unpopularity, his fellow Republicans may lose control of the state House of Representatives. We'll know in a couple of hours whether Daniels continues to be politically damaged from his decision to lease a toll road in the state and his switch to daylight savings time.
Other governors not on the ballot who will be watching tonight's results closely:
Matt Blunt, Missouri: Like Daniels, the results will be a test of whether he remains relatively unpopular.
Brian Schweitzer, Montana: He's spent a lot of political capital to try to keep the legislature in Democratic hands and elect Jon Tester to the U.S. Senate.
Kathleen Blanco, Louisiana: How seriously has Katrina eroded the Democratic base in Louisiana? We might have a better idea after tonight.
Jon Corzine, New Jersey: Everyone's going to blame him if the Democrats lose a U.S. Senate seat in the Garden state.
Christine Gregoire, Washington: Are voters still angry about her controversial election two years ago?
