KyKurmudgeon

Wednesday’s column:

By going public with their objections to the selection of Jerry Abramson as Gov. Steve Beshear’s 2011 running mate, some Kentucky labor leaders probably sealed the deal for the man who apparently stands ready to give up the title of Louisville’s “Mayor for Life.”

Beshear couldn’t back away from Abramson now if he wanted to — not without appearing weak and casting himself as a union puppet.

Labor’s issues with Abramson are understandable. He has angered portions of that core Democratic constituency on multiple occasions. But the politically astute course for labor leaders would have been to discuss those concerns with the governor or his aides privately and leave it at that.

Beshear has been a good friend to labor. And labor leaders should know you don’t show up a friend publicly — not if you expect the friendship to remain as strong in the future.

Perhaps more important, if you do show up a friend publicly and fail to effect a desired outcome, you’re the one left looking weak.

Labor’s problems with the Louisville mayor aside, a Beshear-Abramson pairing would present some interesting angles, not the least of which is what it would say about how comfortable the governor is in his own skin.

Abramson has dominated the political scene in Kentucky’s largest city for more than two decades and has even appeared on the national stage as president of the United States Conference of Mayors. It seems unimaginable that someone so accustomed to the spotlight would fade into Frankfort’s shadows if elected lieutenant governor.

A governor willing to set up a situation inviting comparisons to a No. 2 with Abramson’s record of leadership and vision must have more than a little self-confidence.

From a political perspective, though, it would be something of an odd pairing, and not just because of the labor thing or the fact that Beshear doesn’t need help in Jefferson County.

Adding Abramson to the ticket for Beshear’s second term wouldn’t set up the best of succession arrangements for Democrats.

Sure, he’s more than capable of handling the governor’s job. But at the time of the 2015 general election, Abramson would be 69. And even though age now is far less relevant than it once was, persuading Kentuckians to elect a chief executive on the threshold of 70 could take a helluva sales jobs.

(Of course, if Beshear should choose not to serve out a full second term, Abramson would be a 69-year-old incumbent in November 2015, which could make the sales job easier.)

Finally, what signal does Beshear, who has endorsed Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo in the 2010 U.S. Senate primary (albeit in a bit of a lukewarm fashion), send to Democratic voters by choosing as Mongiardo’s replacement a strong supporter of his primary opponent — Attorney General Jack Conway?

Interesting angles, all, but none more interesting than this: Why would Abramson choose to leave his larger-than-life status in Louisville to play a secondary role in Frankfort? If all the hallway chatter proves true, he’ll no doubt be asked that very question next week.