By Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer

CRESTVIEW HILLS - Northern Kentucky state Rep. Jon Draud has decided his pockets just aren't deep enough to help Republican lawmaker Steve Nunn win the governor's race.

Mr. Draud has asked Mr. Nunn to take his name out of consideration as his possible lieutenant governor running mate in the 2003 Republican gubernatorial primary. With other candidates picking running mates with access to millions of dollars in campaign funds, Mr. Draud said Monday he was concerned about being a financial liability to Mr. Nunn's campaign.

"I still think Steve would make a great governor and I'm going to do everything I can to help him in Northern Kentucky," said Mr. Draud, a Crestview Hills Republican. "I'm not even sure he was going to put me on his ticket.

"But with other candidates picking running mates who have a lot of money or who can raise a lot of money, I just told Steve he would be better off with a running mate that has access to that kind of money," Mr. Draud said.

Prompting Mr. Draud's withdrawal from consideration in the primary were moves by two other gubernatorial candidates, Republican Ernie Fletcher and Democrat Ben Chandler.

Mr. Fletcher, of Lexington, the state's 6th District congressman, has tapped Oldham County lawyer Hunter Bates as his running mate.

Mr. Bates is a former chief of staff and legal counsel to Kentucky U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, a Louisville Republican. Mr. Bates also ran Mr. McConnell's record-setting re-election campaign in the 2002 race.

Though Mr. McConnell has said he will remain neutral in the GOP primary, Mr. Nunn and Mr. Draud say the senator will use his national fund-raising contacts to attract millions of dollars to the Fletcher-Bates campaign.

Should Mr. Nunn win the primary, he might then face Mr. Chandler, of Versailles, the state's two-term attorney general.

Mr. Chandler has chosen Louisville businessman Charlie Owen, a millionaire who spent an estimated $6 million on his unsuccessful run for U.S. Senate in 1998.

"With Steve facing that kind of money, it's best he get a running mate who can help him financially," Mr. Draud said.

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com