Singer Boone warns Ky. voters on Democrats

LEXINGTON, Ky., Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Singer Pat Boone warned Kentucky voters this weekend that Democratic candidates for the state's top two offices want the state to be "another San Francisco."

Boone -- who has roots in the state as a descendant of Daniel Boone -- was speaking in an automated telephone message to voters on behalf of Gov. Ernie Fletcher, who has consistently run behind Democratic challenger Steve Beshear in polls leading up to Tuesday's election, The Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader reported Sunday.

Fletcher urged supporters to disregard the polls. His running mate, Robbie Rudolph, referred to the Democratic ticket as "San Francisco treats."

The reference came after Beshear and his running mate, Daniel Mongiardo, were endorsed by the Committee for Fairness and Individual Rights, which advocates equal treatment of homosexuals.

A spokeswoman for Beshear’s campaign, Vicki Glass, called the rhetoric a last-minute ploy "to divert voter attention from the issues of honesty and integrity in state government."

"Apparently the Fletcher camp has hit the panic button," said Glass.

A judge dismissed misdemeanor charges in August 2006 against Fletcher, who had been accused of orchestrating a plan to use state jobs to reward political supporters.