A big endorsement for Anne Northup’s bid for Kentucky governor. Lieutenant Governor Steve Pence is backing her -- not Governor Ernie Fletcher.

Steve Pence hasn't been getting along with Ernie Fletcher since the governor pardoned everyone in his administration who was charged or connected to the merit hiring investigation.

Now, Pence has gone one step further. Not only will Pence not run again with his boss or support his reelection bid, he'll be working for Fletcher’s opponent.

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The lieutenant governor endorsed Anne Northup Monday. Pence says Fletcher has blown the confidence Kentuckians have placed in him by offering pardons, taking the Fifth before a grand jury and punishing folks who disagree with him.

Pence says Northup will be different if she's elected governor: “We need, in sum, a candidate who can restore confidence to the chief executive’s office of our state, and we have such a candidate in Anne Northup.”

“I think anybody that’s here in Frankfort knows that we’ve changed the culture and we’ve cleaned it up,” said Fletcher.

The governor says he's not surprised that his former running mate has jumped ship and is supporting Northup. Even though pence isn't on speaking terms with Fletcher and has been given few job duties by the governor, Pence says he won't quit his job as lieutenant governor.

Pence says he needs to be around to take over in case Fletcher resigns or is incapable of serving.

Web story produced by Jay Ditzer.

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From The Associated Press:

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- The governor’s second in command jumped ship on Monday and endorsed an opponent in the May 22 primary election.

Lt. Gov. Steve Pence threw his support to former Congresswoman Anne Northup, a Louisville Republican who entered the governor’s race saying the incumbent’s legal turmoil has rendered him politically vulnerable to Democrats.

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

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)