Hindu Rite Turns Political in Kentucky Race

When you're down 25 points in the polls, might as well swing for the fences: After Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear took part in a Hindu blessing ceremony to celebrate the arrival of an India-based employer, his GOP opponent let loose, notes the Lexington Herald-Leader: "He's sitting down there with his legs crossed, participating in Hindu prayers with a dot on his forehead with incense burning around him," said state Senate President David Williams. "I don't know what the man was thinking."

Beshear's camp fired back that the comments were "pathetic and desperate," and a National Hindu spokesman reminded Williams that if he wins, he'd be "governor of all Kentuckians, including Hindu Kentuckians." Williams was unmoved: "To get down and get involved and participate in prayers to these polytheistic situations, where you have these Hindu gods that they are praying to, doesn't appear to me to be in line with what a governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky ought to be doing." Nothing he does probably matters at this point, however: He trails Beshear 54% to 29% in the polls with less than a week to go, notes the Courier-Journal.