Former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup, challenging incumbent Ernie Fletcher for the 2007 Republican gubernatorial nomination, said that just four months ago she didn’t dream she’d run for governor.

&#8220But I knew that our party was going to take a terrible beating this November,” Northup said, speaking Monday from a flag-flanked lectern at the Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport.

She and Lt. Gov. Steve Pence were on a flying tour of the state to spread word that Pence is endorsing Northup.

About 30 people came to the local announcement, including former State Rep. Woody Allen from Butler County and several Western Kentucky University students. Northup thanked many in the crowd for driving in from other counties.

Click here for video coverage of the Pence-Northup visit.

Northup, a five-term U.S. Representative from Louisville, lost in November to Democrat John Yarmuth. Before serving in Congress, she spent a decade in the General Assembly. She entered the gubernatorial race Jan. 17 with State Rep. Jeff Hoover of Jamestown as her running mate, and she will face incumbent Gov. Ernie Fletcher and Paducah businessman Billy Harper in the May 22 primary.

Pence said he first announced his endorsement in Frankfort, and was promptly asked if he was looking for a job in a Northup administration. He said no – he plans to return to private practice – though he wouldn’t have minded serving another four years with Fletcher if all was going well. But their administration lags in opinion polls, largely as a result of an ongoing scandal involving the distribution of state merit-system jobs to political supporters.

Pence said June 1 that he wouldn’t be Fletcher’s running mate in 2007, and was replaced on the ticket June 3 by Robbie Rudolph, Executive Cabinet secretary and tire-company owner from Murray. Fletcher then asked Pence to resign as lieutenant governor, but Pence refused.

Northup said Fletcher’s campaign lacks credibility, pointing to the governor’s public performance before the grand jury that was investigating his hiring practices.

&#8220They saw him take the Fifth Amendment,” Northup said, adding that Kentucky needs a governor who isn’t afraid he’ll incriminate himself when speaking.

She also denounced the defense fund Fletcher has set up to pay his personal legal bills. He’s keeping the names of contributors secret, which Northup said smacks of an arrangement in which contributors give &#8220a check on Monday, (and get an) appointment on Tuesday or a contract on Wednesday.”

Marty Ryall, a spokesman for Fletcher’s campaign, blamed the governor’s troubles on a &#8220political witch-hunt” launched by Attorney General Greg Stumbo into the merit-jobs case.

&#8220We don’t expect Ms. Northup to understand this,” Ryall said this morning. &#8220Her campaign is based on the actions of the Democrat attorney general.”

He said the names of Fletcher’s donors are being kept secret for now to protect them from retribution, but that will change when Stumbo is out of office.

&#8220The governor will release the names of those who donate to his legal fund … as he’s required by law to do next year,” Ryall said.

He said Northup is concentrating on personal attacks rather than offering policy ideas, while Fletcher is pushing tax cuts and education reform.

Northup said Monday that she’s eager to talk about jobs, education and health care costs. President Bush’s policies have been an economic boon to all states, but Kentucky hasn’t kept up under Fletcher, she said, quoting U.S. Department of Labor statistics to show that the state’s relative standings in unemployment rates and business climate have dropped since Fletcher took office in 2003.

Northup said establishing legal limits on medical malpractice jury awards is &#8220right at the top of my list of things to do,” and that the way to keep health care costs down is to make sure that money &#8220doesn’t go to lawyers.”

There should be more flexibility in what insurance plans cover, but the current system based on private hospitals and insurance is the best, and should remain without a new government-backed health care system, she said.

John Horton, a Hardinsburg freshman at Western who was at the speech, said he likes and backs Northup.

&#8220I know that she can deliver for Kentucky like she did for Louisville when she was in the House,” Horton said.

Jim Skaggs of Bowling Green, a member of the executive committee of the Kentucky Republican Party, was also present, but said he came out to support Republicans in general.

&#8220At this point I’m endorsing everyone, as people,” he said, adding that he introduced Fletcher to the area four years ago.

Also on hand was Osi Onyekwuluje, who is seeking a new Warren District Court judgeship. This is Onyekwuluje’s sixth campaign in three years, with his most recent loss being the race for a family court seat last November. Onyekwuluje is running against Bowling Green attorney John Brown, who was appointed to the spot Friday by Fletcher.

Onyekwuluje refused to say if he is backing Northup, but said he wasn’t there to campaign for himself.