Democratic Governor Steve Beshear is poised to appoint another Republican to a coveted position?

Expanded gaming opponent and Republican David Williams is behind the effort to let Kentuckians vote on a constitutional amendment to allow expanded gambling in the Commonwealth? Isn't that a campaign pledge of the Democratic Governor?

What in the wide wide world of sports is going on here?

It's a high stakes political poker game against the backdrop of slot machines at racetracks, an issue that splits legislators in both parties but is fought especially hard by Republican Senate President David Williams. Yet, since the beginning of 2009, Williams' hold on the Senate Presidency has been increasingly threatened. The GOP's Senate majority has shrunken, from a 22-15 margin to a 20-17 margin, today.

And now, Governor Steve Beshear has another opportunity to transform a Republican Senate seat into an open seat, if he appoints an incumbent Republican to a judicial post.

Majority Floor Leader elections are slated for today (Friday) to replace Republican Senator Dan Kelly, who "has resigned his position as floor leader effective upon his application for the appointment to the 11th Judicial Circuit," according to Lourdes Baez-Schrader, the Communications Director for Senate President David Williams.

Though Beshear has said he has to wait to see which names a nominating committee gives him to choose from, it is widely believed that Kelly's interest in the judicial post fits into Beshear's plan to weaken and eventually overtake the Republican majority in the Senate. If a Democrat wins Kelly's seat, the GOP's margin would be down to one, 19-18.

The Lexington Herald Leader's Jack Brammer reports on who may replace Kelly, and how the presumed special election to fill Kelly's seat follows the special election this year for the Senate seat vacated by Charlie Borders. After Beshear appointed the Republican to the state Public Service Commission, Democrat Robin Webb won the special election to take his place.

The other special election this year was in February, when Democrat Mike Reynolds grabbed the seat left open when Republican Brett Guthrie was elected to Congress.

Despite whatever political maneuvers are being orchestrated by Beshear, veteran poltical observers say Williams' move this week was the masterstroke. By advancing a statewide vote on a constitutional amendment to allow expanded gambling, Williams forces Beshear to show his hand.

And Beshear is placed in the unenviable position of opposing one of his own main campaign promises, to allow Kentuckians to vote on a constitutional amendment to allow casino-style gambling in Kentucky.

Beshear echoed horseman and Republican Bill Farish, calling the proposed amendments a "cynical maneuver" and that the proposals were "neither serious nor sincere."

So, who has the next move?

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