Yup. It’s official. Governor Steve Beshear and Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson will run together in 2011.

Jerry Abramson said Sunday night that he will forgo a record sixth term as Louisville mayor and instead run for lieutenant governor on a Democratic ticket with Gov. Steve Beshear in 2011.

The two will make their official announcement Monday at campaign events scheduled in Frankfort and Louisville.

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Beshear said he’s not concerned that Abramson might not help him in Western Kentucky, where some polls show he has his lowest approval ratings.

“A lot of political analysts will want to look at this selection in terms of what does Jerry Abramson bring to the election day mission. I’m more interested in what Jerry Abramson is going to bring to the mission after the election day and that’s the mission of making this place a better place to live,” Beshear said. Abramson’s decision will end a run as mayor that lasted for a generation and saw significant parts of downtown Louisville rejuvenated.

Worst-kept political secret ever?

Also, check this from David Tandy:

Tandy said Abramson would be remembered “as one of the best mayors in our history” for the changes that have taken place since he first was elected in 1985.

That’s why David Tandy will not be Louisville’s next mayor.

Jerry & PopPop will make it official at 9:00 A.M.  at the Berry Hill Mansion in Frankfort and this afternoon at 2:00 P.M. in the lobby of the Kentucky Center for the Arts in Louisville. Thanks to the C-J, you’ll be able to watch a live stream of the Frankfort announcement here.

Call us crazy, but this could mean the end for Steve Beshear’s reign as governor.

What do you think, ladies? Will McCheese sink his ship? Does this mean Trey Grayson will stop focusing on the U.S. Senate race and run for Governor?

P.S. What the crap is with Bill Stone playing all nice here? At least Brad Cummings had the guts to question the move.

Oh, and this bit from Joe Gerth?

And Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo, although pushing his health care and adventure tourism priorities, hasn’t really been a full partner in the Beshear administration as he continued to practice medicine in Hazard and worked to lay the groundwork for his U.S. Senate campaign next year.

We hear from Appalachian Regional Hospital folks that Lt. Dan hasn’t really shown up to do much doctorin’ in Hazard. But he’s not another Steve Henry, thankfully.