06:32 PM EDT on Wednesday, June 7, 2006

It's the biggest political meeting since Ernie Fletcher and Steve Pence saw each other on Saturday -- only this one involved two Democratic Party heavyweights.

Mayor Jerry Abramson met Congressman Ben Chandler in Chandler's Washington office Tuesday, in part, to talk about next year's governor's race. The meeting may have laid the groundwork for a blockbuster Chandler-Abramson ticket in '07.

The last time Ben Chandler ran for governor, he picked Louisville businessman Charlie Owen as his running mate. A meeting Tuesday raised the possibility if Congressman Chandler runs again, another Louisvillian, Jerry Abramson, might be his lieutenant governor running mate.

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“You could certainly speculate to that effect,” said Chandler via phone.

Chandler says he didn't ask Abramson to run with him and won't ask anybody until he decides whether to seek the governor's chair.

“The only thing I consider being is mayor of Louisville.” That's about all Abramson will say about his political discussion with Chandler. 

Some of Abramson’s allies are urging him to run for governor. He’s is facing a tough challenge from Republican candidate Kelly Downard this fall. The Tuesday meeting with Chandler suggests Abramson’s thinking about his political future, and whether that might involve Ben Chandler.

“I think it would be safe to say that we have agreed to talk again about what the future holds,” said Chandler.

Chandler called Abramson “honorable, decent, smart and the most charismatic politician in Kentucky.” Chandler says he can't see any scenario where he and Abramson would ever run against each other. Chandler would be the overwhelming favorite to win, if he enters the governor's race next year.

Web story produced by Jay Ditzer.