Politics Indiana V14 N35 By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS - As Jim Schellinger took the stage at Indiana-Purdue at Fort Wayne Tuesday night for his only scheduled debate with Jill Long Thompson, he had to know that time was running out. Just a day before, a SurveyUSA poll showed him trailing Thompson 46-38 percent. Now he was appearing on her home turf - Thompson’s old congressional district, and the calendar showed just seven days before the Pennsylvania ... “That’s like selling a farm to pay for a combine.’ - Jill Long Thompson, criticizing Gov. Daniels’ toll road lease during Tuesday’s debate with Jim Schellinger in Fort Wayne Thursday, April 17, 2008 Under the hood of Clinton-Obama Hillary’s Indiana campaign planning on the fly with Bayh By BRIAN A. HOWEY SPEEDWAY, Ind. - When U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton walked into Allison Transmission Plant 12 Saturday morning, the premise was that this would commence a cohesive three-city offensive on the issue of manufacturing, jobs and national security. Walking with her was U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh and the topics at hand had his fingerprints all over them. Bayh has done several press events at Plant 12, so this was familiar territory for him and the local press. He made a pitch for the plant several years ago as U.S. military deaths began to rise due to Improvised Explo- sive Devices in Iraq. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, he also raised the alarms on the Magnaquench plant in Valparaiso that was sold to Chinese investors and then moved to Asia. The two plants provided perfect bookends for the Clinton presidential campaign. Allison is now building axles for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, while Magnaquench has disappeared. If the U.S. military needs magnets, it might have to go to China to buy them. “Because of the Bush administration’s failed poli- cies, we’re not just outsourcing jobs, we’re outsourcing our security,” Clinton said to the 400 Allison employees and local and national press. “This has got to stop. We cannot See Page 3 Time running out for the Schellinger campaign
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Politics Indiana V14 N35
By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS-AsJimSchellingertookthestageatIndiana-PurdueatFortWayneTuesdaynightforhisonly
“That’s like selling a farm to pay for a combine.’ - Jill Long Thompson, criticizing Gov. Daniels’ toll road lease during Tuesday’s debate with Jim Schellinger in Fort Wayne
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Under the hood of Clinton-ObamaHillary’s Indiana campaign planning on the fly with BayhBy BRIAN A. HOWEY SPEEDWAY,Ind.-WhenU.S.Sen.HillaryClintonwalkedintoAllisonTransmissionPlant12Saturdaymorning,thepremisewasthatthiswouldcommenceacohesivethree-cityoffensiveontheissueofmanufacturing,jobsandnationalsecurity.WalkingwithherwasU.S.Sen.EvanBayh and the topics at hand had his fingerprints alloverthem.BayhhasdoneseveralpresseventsatPlant12,sothiswasfamiliarterritoryforhimandthelocalpress.HemadeapitchfortheplantseveralyearsagoasU.S.militarydeathsbegantoriseduetoImprovisedExplo-siveDevicesinIraq.AsamemberoftheSenateArmedServicesCommittee,healsoraisedthealarmsontheMagnaquenchplantinValparaisothatwassoldtoChineseinvestorsandthenmovedtoAsia. ThetwoplantsprovidedperfectbookendsfortheClintonpresidentialcampaign.AllisonisnowbuildingaxlesforMineResistantAmbushProtected(MRAP)vehicles,whileMagnaquenchhasdisappeared.IftheU.S.militaryneedsmagnets,itmighthavetogotoChinatobuythem.
primary. TheIndianaprimarythatwilldeterminetheimmediatefutureofSchellingerandThompsonisonMay6.Butifthepastisanindication,it’slikelywe’llseeeitherBarackObamaorHillaryClintononHoosiersoilonApril22declaringvictoryintheKeystoneState.OftenthecandidatesmoveontothenextbattlegroundstateonElec-tionNightandthereisnoquestion,asHPI identified in its March 21 edition, thatIndianaistrulythe“lastswingstate”inthishistoricpresidentialrace. So where theSchellinger-ThompsoncampaignstandsonApril22-23,theverydaysthenextHowey-Gauge Poll will be in the field, willlikelybewhentimestandsstill.IftheSurveyUSApollistobebe-lieved(andtheThompsoncampaignwasbad-mouthingthelastonethatshowedherdown),Schellingerhasaboutaweektoclosethegap.Weknowofatleastoneofthepresi-dentialcampaignsthatalsoshowsThompsonaheadoutsidethemarginoferror.EvenifSchellingersomehowengineersacomeback,he’sfacingadynamicwhereThompsonislikelytofeedoffthestrengthsofboththeObamaandClintoncampaignsamongAfrican-Americansandwomen.Sur-veyUSArevealedThompsonhasabigleadinNorthernIndianawhilethepairaresplittingtherestofthestate.Schellingerisclearlypayingforallthosedormantmonthslastyearwhenhefailedtogenerateanysubstan-tialearnedmediadespitepleasforsomething...anything...frommediaoutlets(includingthisone). SurveyUSA makessomesense.SchellingerhadtheTVadcampaigntohimselfforthreeweeksandbothSurveyUSAandResearch2000showedhimmakingupalmosta30-percent deficit. Thompson entered theTVderbyalittlemorethantwoweeksago,sothetwocampaignshavebeendukingitouteversince.ThatThompsonwouldbedoingwellinNorthernIndianaisnosurprise.ShewasaValparaisoCityCouncilwoman,
aU.S.Sentecandidate,theold4thCDcongresswomanforthreeterms,andanunsuccessful2ndCDcandi-datein2002.Whilebad-mouthingSurveyUSA(aswellasHowey-Gauge)theThompsoncampaignhastoldHPIthattheformerhastheabilityto“spotatrend.”IndianapolisStarcolumnistMattTullyspentonedrearywinteraf-ternoonmatchingupSurveyUSApollswith final results. While SurveyUSA isknownasthe“poorman’spoll,”itstrackrecordhasbeencredible.Research2000pollsterDellAlitold
HOWEY Politics Indiana Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, April 17, 2008Page 2
HOWEY Politics Indiana Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, April 17, 2008 Page 3
it“desperatelynegative.”Inturn,SchellingeraccusedThompsonof“distortedattacks.”Afewminuteslater,ThompsonurgedSchellingerto“openthebooksonTridentAir”aswellas$300,000CSOArchitectshavedonatedtopoliticalcandidates.TridentAirisanLLCthatwasfundedbySchellinger’spartnersandthecandidateusestotravel.Schellingersaidthathe“wouldbemorethanwillingtoopenupbooks”butsaidthatThompson’s“legalcounselhadcanceledthemeeting.” This was not enlightening stuffhere.WhenThompsonslippedinanotherzinger,accusingSchellinger’sCSO firm of “lobbying to raise property taxes” on school constructionprojects(pssst,theGOPistakingnotes).Schellinger refused to return fire, saying, “This is when I’m supposedtogoonandattackmyopponent.I’mnotgoingtodothat.”Therewasaburstofapplausethroughthecrowd.Butifthenon-politicalpoliticalcandidatedoesn’tgonegative(andthereissomeevidencethatkindofcam-paigningwon’tbetoleratedinthis“throwthebumsout”climate;notetheClinton-Obamaracehasnotgonenega-tivehere),thequestionremains:howdoesSchellingeroutshinethecow-milking,teacherThompsonunderthetotalpresidentialeclipselessthanaweekaway? Theonlyotherjointappearancescheduledisat9:30a.m.SundayonKevinRader’sWTHR-TVshow.ThewinneroftheMay6primarywillchallengeGov.MitchDan-iels,whoisunopposedintheRepublicanprimary. And here Daniels has a commanding$5.2millioncash-on-handlead,comparedtoThompson’stiny$485,000andSchellinger’sunimpressive$715,000.IfThompsonwins,shewillhavetoexplainwhyshewasonlyabletoraise$907,000inninemonths. DemocratswillechothenamesofBrentWaltz,
GregWalkerandGregBallard,fundraisingdwarfswhoscoredtitanicupsets.ThedifferenceisthatfewHoosierscanmatchthepoliticalacumenofGov.Daniels,whocomeswiththeMorris-Lugar-Reagan-Bulenpoliticalpedigree.ThebesthopefortheDemocratsisifaDemocratictidalwaveissohugenextNovemberthatitwipesouteveryRepub-licanstandinginitsway,which-with$4agallongasandskyrocketinggrocerybills-ispossible. WhoeverwinstheDemocraticprimaryisgoingto have to step it up in so many ways: money, field work, message,andthatunitythingthatnevercametogether. A Schellinger defeat wouldofferupsomefasci-natingimplications.HowwilltheIndianaDemocraticPartythatbackedSchellingermakepeacewithThompson?WillThompsontryandwrestcontrolofthepartyawayfromU.S.Sen.EvanBayhandChairmanDanParker,whohashisownproblems?HowwilltheBayhmachine(andIndianaDemocraticParty)actifitlosesSchellinger,ClintonandAn-dreCarson?Ittooksidesinallthosecontestswhenawisercoursemighthavebeentoletthecandidateshashitout.Ifthattrifectaoccurs,therearegoingtobemanyhostilepocketswithinthepartyjoiningthosewhohavebeenmut-teringaboutBayh’sIraqWarvoteinOctober2002. Whydidn’tthepartyremainneutral.particularlyinaracethatproducedacandidatelikeDr.WoodyMyersinthe7thCD,whohasbeenwell-funded(almostbetterfundedthanThompson’sstatewideeffort)andhasadroitlyusedTV? IfyouthinkMarchandAprilhavebeeninterestinginIndiana,waituntilmid-May. HPI Horserace Primary Status:LEANSTHOMP-SONv
HOWEY Politics Indiana Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, April 17, 2008Page 4
Hoosiersbuiltpartsthatguidedourmilitary’ssmartbombstotheirtargets.Theyweregoodjobs,butnow,they’regonetoChina.AndnowAmerica’sdefensereliesonChinesespareparts.GeorgeBushcouldhavestoppedit,buthedidn’t.Asyourpresident,I will fight to keep good jobshereandtoturnthiseconomyaround. HerpoliticalshotcallingObamaan“elit-ist”overhisSanFran-ciscoremarks,werewidelyreportedintheIndianapressbutifTuesdayLosAngelesTimes/Bloombergpoll(takenMonday)isthebeginningofatrend,itmayhave backfired. Howtheseevolvedfrom“EvanBayh”issuesto“HillaryClinton”issuesisastorythatmovesquickly.ThethinkinglastDecemberwasthatIndianawouldbeinplayonlywhentheveepstakesbegan.WhenClintonlosttoBarackObamainIowa,andthenhetookwhatappearstobeanarrowbutcommandingleadaftertheFeb.5SuperTuesday,suddenlyIndianamattered.Bythebeginningofthisweek,long-timeClintonhandJamesCarvillewassay-ingonNBC’sTodayShowwhatHPIhasbeensayingsinceearlyFebruary:Indianacouldbedecisive. On March 14, Robbie MookarrivedinIndianaafterspendingalmostayearasClinton’sstatedirectorinNevadaandthenOhio.Her10-percentwinintheBuck-eyestatesavedtheClintonpresidentialcampaigninearlyMarch.Theindustrial/manufacturingsimilaritiesbetweenOhioandIndianabroughtMookhere.Inalittlemorethantwo weeks, the Clinton campaign opened 22 offices (three morearecoming)whileHillary,formerPresidentBillClintonanddaughterChelseabarnstormedthestatewith40visitsto30cities(including14citiesforHillaryClinton). WiththeU.S.economysagging,theoverallcam-paigntemplatehadbeendetermined:Jobs.Manufacturingjobs. Defense jobs. And while the first wave of Clinton visits hadsimilarappeals,bylastweekend,thecampaignwasbeginningtoarticulatemoreintricatethemes.ThiswastheresultofapowerfulsteeringcommitteethatincludedSen.Bayh,IndianaClintonCampaignChairJoeHogsett,HouseSpeakerB.PatrickBauer,formerGov.JoeKernan,Mook,JonathanSwain,andformerHouseSpeakerJohnGregg.The Hoosier talent began refining issues for the candidate. Allison/MangnaquenchcamefromtheBayhportfo-
lio.“He’sontheArmedServicesCommittee,”saidSwain,wholeftthe Bayh Senate office toworkfortheClintoncampaigninIndiana.“Heknewitwouldbeagood fit her her. Obvi-ouslySen.Bayhhadworkedtheseissues.Butthereareabunchofworkinggroups”thathelpedMookandtheClintoncampaignsizeupissuesandopportu-nities. MookobservedofBayh,“He’sbeenveryhelpful.” Thisisanevery-dayprocess,orasMookdescribed,“arollingbase”thatin-
cludesconsultationswithBayh,alongwithconferencecalls.“Whenweknowshe’sgoingtobehere,webringthesepeopletogether.” The campaign has also matchedlocalsurrogateswith specific regions. If Sen. Clinton is stumping in South-ernIndiana,formerFirstLadyJudyO’Bannonoftengoesalong.LastThursday,Gregg,wearingcleanunderwearandsocks,accompaniedPresidentClintonontheJasper,Vincennes,TerreHaute,ClintonandGreencastlestops.ByMondayafternoon,GreggandCrawfordsvilleMayorChar-lieCoonsweretakingswipesatObamaoverthe“bitter”remarksthatsurfacedfourdaysearlier,suggestingObamawas“mocking”Hoosersmalltowns. PollsputtheClinton-Obamadramaatanywherefrom3to9percentintheNewYorksenator’sfavoruntiltheLosAngeleTimes/BloombergPollfromApril14showedObamawitha40-35percentlead(Howey-GaugeonFeb.17-18hadObamaleading40-25percent).ButMooktoldHPI,“Thisisaverycloserace.She’sgoingtobeherealot.Wefeelshe’sgotthewinningmessage.” While some thingsareadroitlyplanned,muchof a campaign in such a late stage comes on the fly. Would Sen.ClintonbeinIndianaonApril22,whentheresultsfromPennsylvaniaareconveyed?“I’veseensuchdecisionsmade in the final 90 minutes,” Mook said. And other things onthecampaigntrailaresimplyunpredictable.LikewhenHillaryClintonenteredBronko’staverninCrownPointonSaturdayandsippedashotofCrownRoyalandanOldStylebeerwhilebellyinguptothebar.“Whenweenteredthebar,Ihadnoideathatwasgoingtohappen,”Mooksaid.v
Hillary Clinton takes the shot of the campaign at Bronko’s in Crown Point last Saturday. Her campaign staff had no idea it would happen. (Times of Northwest Indiana Photo)
Thursday, April 17, 2008Page5
Obama seeks Hoosier hearts from the heartBy BRIAN A. HOWEY
INDIANAPOLIS-JustaroundthecornerfromtheheartofIndiana-Soldiers’&Sailors’Monumentonthecircle-sitstheBarackObamapresidentialcampaignhead-quarters.HeadingthereTuesdayafternoon,theanticipationwasofacampaignthatwascomingoffitsroughestpatchsincetheNewHampshireprimary.ObamaappearedtobefullyinstrideonFridaywhenheconduct-edanIndianapolispresser,callingIndianaa“potentialtiebreaker.”TherewasanothertownhallinCo-lumbus,butduringthatlate-morn-ingeventHillaryClinton’scampaignwasmountingwhatlookedtobeits10th-hourassault. Working offofremarksObamamadeinSanFranciscothatappeared on the Huffington Post --“It’snotsurprisingthentheygetbitter,theyclingtotheirgunsorreligionorantipathytopeoplewhoaren’tlikethemoranti-immigrantsentimentoranti-tradesentimentasawaytoexplaintheirfrustra-tions”--theClintoncampaignseizedwhatmayhavebeenitslastshotatderailingtheObamaloco-motive.BetweenthetimeObamadidanimpromptustopatNick’sOldeEnglishHutinBloomingtonandsettingoffpandemoniumonKirkwoodAvenue,andhislasttownhallatTerreHaute,Obamafoundhimselfonhisheels.HetriedtoexplainatTerreHauteNorthHS,“PeoplearefrustratedandbitterandtheywanttoseeachangeinWashingtonandthat’swhyI’mrunningforpresidentoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica”ByhislasttownhallatMuncieonSaturday,said,“Youknow,whenyou’rebitteryouturntowhatyoucancounton.Sopeople,theyvoteaboutgunsortheytakecomfortfromtheirfaith,andtheirfamilyandtheircommunity.Ortheygetmadaboutillegalimmigrantscomingovertothiscountry.Ortheygetfrustratedabouthowthingsarechanging.That’sanaturalresponse.Now,I-Ididn’tsayitaswellasIshouldhave.” HillaryClintonwaspouringiton.AtAllisonTrans-
missionPlant12Saturdaymorning,shesaid,“IwastakenabackbythedemeaningremarksSen.ObamamadeaboutpeopleinsmalltownAmerica.Sen.Obama’sremarksareelitist and out of touch. They are not reflective of the val-uesandbeliefsofAmericans,certainlynottheAmericansIknow.”ThereweremoresuchremarksatValparaisoandMishawakabeforesheendedupatBronko’sinCrownPointwhereperhapsthemostmemorablephotowastaken--HillarysippingashotofCrownRoyal--sinceshetearedupinNewHampshirethedaybeforethatprimary.OnSunday,ouranalysiswasthis:Obamahadlosthisswagger. HeregainedsomeofitonSundaythatplayedout
ontheMondaymorningnetworkshows.ObamalaughedataneventinNorthCarolinaandsaid,“She’stalkin’likeshe’sAnnieOakley”(BillClintonwouldgoontocallMs.Oakleyan“earlyfemalerolemodel.”)ObamasaidClintonseemedtobeindicatingshespends“Sundaysinaduckblind.” At Obama’s beehiveheadquartersonTuesday,there was nothing on display but confidence. Obama’s nationalcampaignmanagerDavidPlouffedidn’thedgehiswords:ObamawillbetheDemocraticnominee.“IndianaisObamacountry,”Plouffedeclaredinfrontofdozensof
Obama’s Indiana campaing headquarters are at the state’s busiest intersection of Meritian and Washington Streets, right around the corner from Monument Circle. (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey)
HOWEY Politics Indiana Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, April 17, 2008Page 6
campaignworkersandstatechairmanKipperTew.“Threeweeksfromtonight,thepollswillbeclosedandyouhaveanopportunitytomakehistory.Barrackhaswonmorestates,moredelegates,andthesuperdelegatesarecomingourway.BarackObamaisgoingtobeyournominee.”Plouffecalledthebitters“adistraction”andadded,“It’sbeingrejected.Peoplewantfundamentalchange.Thisisthelevelofpoliticsthathasheldusback” Thenext12hours,Plouffeseemedtobepro-phetic.ALosAngelesTimes/BloombergpollshowedObamaleadingClinton40-35percentinIndiana,asharpdeparturefromrecentResearch2000andSurveyUSApollsthathadClintonleadinganywherefrom3to9percent.LAT/BloombergalsoshowedClinton’sPennsyl-vanialeadshrinkingto46-41percent.WhiletheClintonshaddescendedon30Hoosiercitiesandmade40visits(including14byHillaryand18byBill),thekeystonetotheirremainingbridgetovictory,abigwininPennsylvania,appearedtobeinjeopardy. Even more troubling, whileformerHouseSpeak-erJohnGreggandabevyofIndianasmalltownmayorswerecastigatingObamaoverhis“bitter”remarksandsug-gestinghewas“mocking”smalltowns,theLAT/Bloombergpoll was indicating it was backfiring in the Keystone State, hometomanydormantsmallminingandmanufacturingtowns.Itshowedthat24percentfeltObamahadhandledthecontroversywelland58percentsaiditdidn’tmatter.AnotherABC-WashingtonPostPollrevealedthatonly39percentsawClintonas“honestandtrustworthy,”downfrom52percentinMay2006.ThemomentthatseemstocapturethiserosioncameovertheweekendinPennsyl-vaniawhenSen.Clintonwasaskedhowoftenshegoestochurch.“Wecananswerthatsomeothertime,”Clintonsaid.“Thisisaboutwhatpeoplefeelisbeingsaidaboutthem.IwenttochurchonEaster.Imean,so?” ButthecrusherforHillarycamethefollowingmorningwhenU.S.Rep.AndreCarson,inhisownincreas-inglytough7thCDre-electionbattle,brokethesuper
delegatelogjamwhenheendorsedObama.“Heisanindividualwhocanleadthecountrywithpositiveleadership,”Carsonsaidinaconferencecall.“Heisanewgenerationofleadership.”PresidentClintonwenttotheIndianaFairgroundsadecadeagotocampaignforRep.JuliaCarson.“I’vehadtheopportunitytospeakwithbothSen.ObamaandMadamClinton,”Carsonexplained.“Asfarasthedistrictisconcerned,botharepopular,butSen.Obamaismorepopularintermsofsupportandunity.”Carsonexpressedhis“loveandrespect”fortheClintonfamily,butsaid,“Forme,itwasadeci-sionbasedonhowSen.Obamarepre-sentsanewkindofleadership.Ithinkwecanseeachangeandnewdirection.” This is a truly dangerousdevelopmentforHillaryClinton.WhileSen.EvanBayhhasthrownhisentireorganizationandhisownscheduleandpersonnabehindtheNewYorkDemo-crat,includingthe“SpineofSteel”ad,ObamawasmakingsteadyinroadsintotheHoosiercongressionalclass(thoughformerMajorityLeaderJohnBrademasisbackingClinton).HepickedupLeeHam-ilton’s influential endorsement earlier in themonth,withtheformercongressmantellingreportershewasliterallylookingatphonemessagesfromuncommittedU.S.Reps.JoeDonnelly,BradEllsworth,BaronHill(whoattendedObama’s
Columbustownhallbutremainsuncommitted)andPeteVisclosky.AndrewJacobsJr.followedsuitonMondayandwhathesaidwascontextuallystunning:“MycolleagueLeeHamiltonhasrightlysaidthatSenatorObama,inthetraditionofleaderssuchasAbrahamLincolnandFranklinRoosevelt,hastheabilitytobringourcountrytogether.” Jacobs continued,“TherearetwooverarchingissuesfacingourcountrytodayandSenatorObamaisrightonboth.First,SenatorObamahadthejudgmentandcour-agetoopposeanunnecessaryinvasionwithundeterminedconsequencesinIraq.Hewasrightfromthebeginning,andnowhehasaplantoendtheblunderandkeepussafebyrefocusingonthemostdangerousthreatsweface.Sec-ond,hehasrefusedcontributionsfrompoliticalactioncom-mitteesandfederallobbyists.SenatorObamaiscommittedtotakingourgovernmentofftheauctionblockandendingspecial-interest influence in Washington so that we can give theAmericangovernmentbacktotheAmericanpeople.” TheJacobsnodwasaprecursortoCarsonfollow-ingsuit;seasonedobserverscouldseethisonecoming.If
Obama national campaign manager David Plouffe declares the Illinois senator will win Indiana and the nomination on Tuesday as state chairman Kipper Tew looks on. In the lower photo, Barack Obama talks to supporters at Wayne HS in Fort Wayne. (HPI Photos by Brian A. Howey)
HOWEY Politics Indiana Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, April 17, 2008Page 7
any of the remaining “fretful five” as The Politico’s David Markcalledthem,comesonboardtheObamalocomotive,Hillary Clinton will be in a deep fissure. WithJillLongThompsonenmeshedinherowngubernatorialbattleandpastMembersJuliaCarson,FloydFithian,FrankMcCloskey,JimJontzandVanceHartkerecentlydeceased,onlyformerSen.BirchBayhandformerRep.PhilSharparelefttoweighinduringthehomestretch. The six recent Obama townhallsafterhisinitialforay at Plainfield were rousing events that commanded longlinesandexuberantreactions.WhileHillaryClinton
attractedsimilarenthusiasmatherevents,severalofthemorerecentPresidentClintoneventsplayedoutbeforelessthancapacityvenues. With food prices skyrocketing (twogallonsofmilk,agallonofapplejuice,a12-packofBudandtwobagsofgroceriesatMarshcostme$106earlierthisweek)andrecordhighgasprices($3.49headingto$4),Hoosiersseemquiteopentoachangeagent,andthispresentsadifficult dynamic for not only Hillary Clinton, but Sen. John McCaininthefall...hereinredstateIndiana.v
Obama, a nexus and message and technologyBy MARK CURRY
WASHINGTON-Whiledeliveringthekeynotespeechbeforethe2004DemocraticNationalConvention,ajuniorsenatorlittleknownoutsidehishomestateofIl-linoistoldcheeringdelegatesthatthetruegeniusofAmericais“afaithinsimpledreams,aninsistenceonsmallmiracles.”Thephilosophybehindthetitleofthatspeech,“TheAudacityofHope,”continuestoserveasthevehicleforthemostsurpris-ingdevelopmentinAmericanpoliticsinrecentmemory:thedawningofthepoliticalstarthatisBarackObama.InthefouryearssincethatJulydayinBoston’sFleetCenter,millionsofAmericanshaveheardhimsay,ashedidlastnightduringthelatestDemocraticdebate,“I’mrunningforpresidenttoensurethattheAmericanpeopleareheardintheWhiteHouse.”Now,reelingfromthebloodiedanddisturbedbegin-ningofthisnewcentury,manyhavecometoseeinObamathebesthopeforacountryriddledandanxiouswithconcernforthefuture. For the candidate, thetimingappearsmostfortunate.Hearrivesatanexusofmessage,philosophyandtechnologythatthusfarhasservedtofurtherhiscareer.Buthehasnotarrivedalone.Withhimarethousandsofcampaignworkersandvolun-teersattractedtoObama’snotionthatideologicallabels
Americanpolitics.It’shappeninginstatesacrossthecoun-tryandit’shappeninginIndiana. “You go down to Obamaheadquartersandit’sjust filled with new faces,” Obama supporter and former FortWayneMayorGrahamRichardtoldHPI.“It’sasthough
Obama’s appearance at the University of South Carolina football stadium with Oprah Winfrey last January produced a motherlode of voter contact. (Obama campaign photo)
HOWEY Politics Indiana Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, April 17, 2008Page 8
there’sawholenewlifttothelocalAllenCountyandregionalDemocraticParty.I’vejustneverseenanythinglikeitsinceBobbyKennedycam-paignedherein1968.”Youngpeoplewithcov-eted skills and ambition are flocking to politics, andtheyrepresentthefutureDemocraticParty,tomorrow’scampaignmanagersandactivists,and,asRichardsaid,“thecadreofpeoplewhowill run for office” in the years to come. “This islikegivingarecruitmentdriveforthenextdecadefortheDemocraticParty.” “Icouldn’tpossiblyknowwhatitwaslikewhenTeddyRooseveltwasattheturnofthatcentury,acrusaderagainstthemuckrak-ersandtheIdaTarbellsandthemeat-packingindustry,”theformermayorsaid.“Therewasawholemovement.Ifeelthat’swhat’sgoingonrightnow.” Kyle Cox is one Hoosier amongthoseattractedtotheObamamovement.At33yearsoldheisalreadyaveteranofseveralcampaignsinhishomestate.Inspiredbythesenator’s2004speechattheconvention,CoxsignedontothecampaignsoonafterObamalaunchedhisintentiontoseekthenomination.Sincethen,Coxhasspentmuchofhistimeworkingthehigh-techleversthatmachinemodernpolitics.Hedevoted10monthstoSouthCarolinawhichcul-minatedinDecemberatWilliams-BricestadiumattheUni-versityofSouthCarolinainColumbia.There,asamemberof the field leadership team, he coordinated and executed
whattheGuinnessBookofWorldRecordsofficially certified to betheworld’slarg-estphonebank.Some36,000peoplemade117,000telephonecallsinamassivegetoutthevoteeffort. “WetriedtothinkhowwecouldbestusethecrowdthatBarackObamaandOprahWin-freyweregoingtobuildforus,”CoxtoldHPI.“Ourthinkingwas...putthescriptupontheJumbotron,andgetpeopletomakethesephonecalls.”AccordingtoCox,thepreviousrecordwas16,000,setbyGeorgeW.Bushin
Texasduringtherunuptothe2000elec-tion. TolistentoCoxdiscusshisroleinthecampaignistolearnaboutThiessenPolygons,meansofincreasingbandwidth,methodsofcapturingandparsingdata,andusinggraphicoverlaysforGeographicInfor-mationSystems(GIS).TheBedfordnative,whoworkedlocallyasacampaignman-agerbeforeenlistinginJohnKerry’sfailedbid, now finds himself inthemidstofthemosttechnologicallyadvancedpoliticaleffortinhistory.“ForpeoplelikemethisislikeplayingintheSuperBowl,”hesaid.Coxtalkedforseveral
minutesaboutthequalityofthetalentthatsurroundshim.“Wehavethebestandbrightest,”hesaid.Hesometimesshares office space with Chris Hughes, the 25-year-old co-founderofFacebookwhohasworkedwiththeObamacampaigntodeveloppoliticallyviableonlinesocialnetwork-ingmodels.“Thereare19-year-oldtechnologyfolksthatarephenoms,”CoxtoldHPI.“I’veneverseenanythinglikethem.I’manoldfogeyonthiscampaign.”Notonlyarecampaignersincreasinglymorelikelytobetechsavvy,thesoftwareandequipmenttheyusearealsomoreuserfriendly.“Moretoolshavebecomeavailableandtheeaseofuseofthosetoolshasexpeditedtheacceptanceofthesetools,”Coxexplained.“Itjustmakeslifesomucheasier.”Thisshiftinthephilosophyoftechnologyandpoliticswillbenefit down-ticket races as well, he said. “We’ve been stuckinthestoneageswithspreadsheetsforeverandnowwe’removingrapidlytowardsanewmodelthatisageog-raphy-basedmodel.” It’s important to notethattechnologyisonlyameans.Obama’ssuccesshashingedonahappymarriageoftalent,message,philosophyandtechnology.CoxpointedtoHowardDean’sfailedeffort.“IthinkhismistakewastheyboughtinalotofthesefolksfromCaliforniawiththeorangehats,andfarmersinIowadon’tnecessarilyiden-tifywithkidsfromCalifornia.Whatwedidandhavedonesuccessfullyisuseorganizersthatspendalotmoretime
Indiana’s Kyle Cox and “Smokey” in South Caro-lina where Barack Obama posted his first big win. (Obama campaign photo)
Thursday, April 17, 2008Page9
listeningthantheydotalking.Theyspendalotmoretimetryingtotakethatvoterandconnectthemwiththecandidateandmakethemseethatwe’reallsortofinthesameboattogetherasopposedtosellingthecandi-date.We’renotsellingthecandidate,we’renotservingupBigMacsonthiscampaign...Weputanemphasisandapremiumonthehumanelementofpoliticsandthepersonalrelationshipsthatpeoplehave,asopposedtostirringupdebateandcreatingthesedivisivesortofmicro-targetingapproaches.” Marjorie R. Hershey, authorof“RunningforOffice: The Political Education of Campaigners” and “TheMakingofCampaignStrategy,”remindedHPIthatmostofthemajortechnologicaladvancesofrecentdecadeshaveenteredcampaignsviatheRepublicanParty,whichistraditionallymorecloselylinkedwiththebusinesscommunity.“Socomputerizeddirectmail,forinstance,startedwithdirect-mailmarketerssuchasRichardViguerieandwerethenadoptedbyright-wingRepublicancandidates,”Hershey,aprofessoratIndianaUniversityinBloomington,wroteinanemail.“Similarly,theRepublicans’useofmicro-targeting,beginningin2002,camedirectlyoutofthebusinesscommunity.How-ardDeanwasabigelectronicfund-raiserin2004,butitwasJohnMcCainin2000,whoraisedmorethan$1millionin24hoursafterwinningtheNewHampshireprimary,whowasthepioneerhere.AndtheRepublicanshavepioneeredallkindsofotherfund-raisinginnovations,suchasthelarge-scaleuseofbundlingcontributions,eversinceGeorgeW.Bush’sgubernatorialcampaigninTexasinthemid-1990s.”WhenaskedifshethoughttheDemocraticPartycouldsustainitscurrentlevelofactivism,Hersheywrote,“That’salmostimpossibletopredict,Ithink.Evenamonthcanbealifetimeinpolitics;activismdependsoneventsmobilizingpeoplewhowouldotherwisebedoingotherthings,andeventssimplycan’tbepredicted.ThinkoftryingtopredictthetrajectoryofAmericanpoliticsonSeptember10,2001;eventswesimplycan’tforeseeininternationalpoliticscaninterveneatanytime.MysenseisthatifObamaistheDemocraticnominee,wewillseeaconsiderableamountofDemocraticactivism,especiallyonthepartofyoungerpeople,atleastduringthecourseofthecampaign.IfClintonisthenominee,theactivismmaydecline.ButIthinkit’shazardoustomakepredictionsaboutwhatthecampaignwillbeliketomorrow,muchlessfurtherintothefuture.” As an Obama supporter,Richard,thefor-mermayorofIndiana’ssecond-largestcity,waswillingtohazardapredictionfortheMay6primary,however.“Oneofyourquestionswashowwilllocalelectedof-ficials, Democrats, state representatives, candidates for Congress, candidates for offices that are on the ballotnextyear,mayors,peoplethatcareaboutthe
infrastructureoftheparty,howaretheygoingtorelatetotheObamacampaignversustheClintoncam-paign,”Richardsaidduringour30-minuteinterview.“There’sobviouslytheissues.Howdoyoufeelaboutthecandidate?There’salsojustwhichofthesecandidateswillrunabettercandidacyinallofit’sdimen-sionsinthefall.SoIwassharingwithyouthosemarkersthatwouldgiveanindicationthatatthegrassrootsthatmaybewhythatsomeofthepeoplearelookingatObama.Andwedidthebigpicturewiththe mobilization of field forces like we’veneverseenbefore.AndthenItalkedaboutthelittlethingsthatmatterwhenyou’retryingtowooleaders.Ithinkthey’ve(theClintoncampaign) become so fixated on superdelegatesthatthey’vepoured
Former Fort Wayne Mayor Graham Richard had origi-nally dedicated his 2008 to helping Evan Bayh win the presidency, but now he supports Obama.. (Fort Wayne city photo)
HOWEY Politics Indiana Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, April 17, 2008Page 10
2008 Indiana Governor Governor 2008:Republican:Gov.MitchDaniels,.Democrat:JimSchellinger,JillLongThompson.1996 Results: O’Bannon(D)1,075,342,Goldsmith(R)997,505,Dillon(L)35,261.2000 Results:O’Bannon(D)1,230,345,McIntosh(R)906,492,Horning(L)38,686.2004 Results: Daniels(R)1,302,912,Kernan(D)1,113,900,Gividen(L)31,644.2008 Forecast:.ThompsonwasendorsedbyTeamstersLocals142(Gary),Local414(FortWayne),Local215(Evansville)aswellasLocal89andLocal783inLouisville.“Atthiscriticaltimeforourstateandnation,ourmembersfeltitwasimportanttosupportsomeonewhohasaproven record of fighting for work-ingpeople,”saidWaltLytle,theSecretary-TreasurerofLocalUnion414inFortWayne.Schellinger’scampaignputoutapressreleaselastFridaytoutingtheendorsementsoffourmayorsfromacrossthestate.Ofnote?TwoofthemarelistedonJillLongThompson’sweb-siteasbackinghercampaign,includingCanneltonMayorSmokeyGravesandBicknellMayorJonFlickinger.CouldthisraceturnonBicknell?Basedonhisadvertisingalone,votersmightthinkRepublicanGov.MitchDanielsisfacingaseriouschallengeintheMay6primary(Louisville Cou-rier-Journal).Afterall,DanielsisontelevisionineverymediamarketthattouchesIndiana,includingLouisville,airing five commercials. But the governor won’t face a chal-lengeruntiltheNovemberelection.AndwithtwoDemo-cratsseekingtheirparty’snomination,Danielsdoesn’tevenknowwhohisopponentwillbe.Thathasn’tstoppedhimfromspeakingtovoters.“ThecampaignactuallywantedtostarttelevisioncommercialsinJanuary,”Daniels’campaignspokesmanCamSavagesaid.“Hesaidabsolutelynot,notuntilthelegislativesessionisover,notuntilwepassproperty-taxrelief.”Almostimmedi-atelyafterlawmakersadjourned,thefirst Daniels commercials went on the air,andthecampaignhaspurchasedtelevisionandradiotimethroughtheprimary,Savagesaid.“It’stherightthingtodo,”saidMikeMcDaniel,aformerstatechairmanoftheIndianaRepublicanParty.“Bybeingonnowandbeingonasmuch—ifnotmorethan—thetwoDemocratsrunning,youstartgettingyourownmessageout before you’re defined by them.” DemocratssayDanielshadnochoicebuttobeginadvertisingearlybecausevotershavenotgivenhimahighap-provalratinginpolls.“He’ssmartto
puthisadsuptherebecausehe’sgottore-craftanimagethatalotofHoosiersdon’tlikerightnow,”saidRobinWin-ston,aformerstatechairmanoftheIndianaDemocraticParty.SchellingerandThompsonsaythetaxpackagethatGov.Danielssignedintolawthisspringshouldnotbethefinal word on the state’s tax structure (Weidenbener, Lou-isvilleCourier-Journal).Thompsonsaidthatifelectedshe’llleadacompleteoverhaulofIndiana’staxsystem,gearingittowardeconomicgrowth.SchellingersaidHoosiersdon’tunderstandtherecentlypassedplanandarelikelytobeshockedwhentheirpropertytaxbillsincreaseinthefuture.Hesaidonlyintensefocusonstateandlocalgovernmentefficiencies will help. “You can’t make good decisions when you’reincrisismode,”Schellingersaid.ToThompson,abolishingthelocaltaxisnotagoodoption.“Ithinkthepropertytaxprovidesaconsistentlevelofrevenuefromyeartoyear,”Thompsonsaid.“Butitneedstobefairandtransparentsopeoplearen’tsurprised(bytheirbills),anditneedstobefairandequitable.”Schellingerwassomewhatless definitive about eliminating property taxes. “I’m open toit,”hesaid.“It’sintriguing.”Schellingerwentontosaythatabolishingthepropertytaxcompletelyorforhomeownersonlywouldmeandrasticcutsingovern-mentservicesorincreasesinothertaxes“thatIdon’tthinkarerealistic.”Thetaxsystem“hastoberesponsible,”hesaid,whichdoesn’tmeantyingallservicestoincomeandsalestaxesonly.Primary Status: LeansThompson
2008 Congressional Congressional District 5: Republican:U.S.Rep.DanBurton,Dr.JohnMcGoff,ClaytonAlfred.Democrat:ChesterKelsey,MaryEttaRuley,KennyStall.Geography:MediaMarket:Indianapolis,FortWayne,SouthBend.People:Urban/rural73/27%;medianincome
$40,381;Poverty9.5%;Race84%white,8%black;5Hispanic;Blue/whitecollar:34/50%.2006Repub-licanPrimaryResult:Burton61,150,Alfred6,869,Wakley4,822.2006GeneralResult:Burton(R)133,118,Carr(D)64,362,Sharlow(L)7,431,Miller(I)18.2008 Forecast:In-dianaRighttoLifeendorsedBurton.McGoffcontinuesacableTVbuywithhisbasicbioad.Primary status:LeansBurton Congressional District 7: Democrats: U.S.Rep.AndreCar-son,StateRep.CaroleneMays,StateRep.DavidOrentlicher,Dr.Woodrow
U.S. Rep. Andre Carson broke the super delegate log jam by endorsing Obama on Tuesday.
HOWEY Politics Indiana Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, April 17, 2008 Page 11
Meyers,JosephStockettIII,FrancesNelsonWilliams,LarryLedford,PierrePullins.Republican:StateRep.JonElrod,CatPing,LawrenceShouse2008 Outlook: Thesignalsfromthisraceareinteresting.Outofthebluelatelastweek,theIndianaDemocraticPartysentoutapressreleaseendorsingCarson.Adayorsolater,theAdvanceIndianablogpublisheda“poll”thatshowedtheraceprettymuchknottedupbetweenCarson,OrentlicherandMyers.Theidentityofthepollandwhoitwasconductedforaremurky(andthisfromabloggerwhodidn’tconsiderHowey-Gauge “credible.”) So while we won’t publish the specifics, theactivitiesofCarsonsignaltoustheyarenotseeingnumberstheylike.OnWednesday,CarsonendorsedBarackObamaforpresident.“Iknowthisistherightthingtotodoandtherighttimetoendorse.Asfarasthedistrictiscon-cerned,botharepopular,butSen.Obamaismorepopularintermsofsupportandunity.”CarsontoldanObamacon-ferencecall.“Iwasjustcompelledtoendorsehimatthistime.”Itmakessense.TheResearch2000pollhadObamaleadinginthe7thby20percent.Carsonisobviouslyseek-ingtojumponthetrain.AskedifObamawouldreturnthefavor,Carsonanswered,“Absolutely.Yes.”ThiscomeseventhoughDr.MyersservesonanObamahealthcarecommit-tee. ItwasimportantfortheObamacamptobreakthroughIndiana’ssuperdelegatelogjam.It’snotastretchtoseethequidproquohere,particularlyifCarson’smovecompellsCongressmenBaronHill,BradEllsworth,JoeDon-nellyandPeteViscloskytofollow.”MyershassteppeduphisTVadcampaign,whichhasbeencleaver.Inonead,heisdrivingpastthenorthwestsideoilterminalstalkingaboutthehighpriceofgas.AnotherusesfootageoftheIraqWarandMyerstellshisaudiencethatthemoneycouldbebet-terspentoneducation,healthcareandinfrastructure. The Myers campaign took a swing at Carson’s first TVad.Carsonsaysinthead,“LobbyistsandCEOshavetoomuchpowerinWashington.That’sgottochangesowecanhelpworkingpeople.ButMyernotes:yetin2008,hiscampaignhastakenlargeamountsofmoneyfromPACs,Washington,D.C.-basedlobbyists,andcorporateexecu-tivesleavingtheaveragevotertoaskhowcanhepossiblyexpecttoreducetheirpowerinWashington?Thisyear,accordingtoFECreportsfortheMarch11primary,theCarsoncampaignhasacceptedmorethan$100,500from30PoliticalActionCommitteesincludingthoserepresent-ingtheAmericanBankersAssociation,MortgageBankersAssociation,AT&T,Navistar,andtheFloridaSugarCaneLeague.Thecampaignhasalsoacceptedatleast$1,550fromatleastsixcorporateexecutivesfromCitiGroup,JPM-organChase,OracleandNASDAQ.AndD.C-basedlobbyistsworkingonbehalfofVerizon,ClearChannel,andtheU.S.ChamberofCommerceamongothershavecontributedatleast$2,000totheCarsoncampaign.Thesespecialinterests,intotal,havespentatleast$104,050onAndre
Carson’scandidacy.Ofthethreeleadingcandidates,Myershasbeenmostimpressivewithhisadvertising.Orentlicher’sfirst ad, in which supporters have trouble pronouncing hisnamewascurious.Most7thCDDemocratsknowwhoOrentlicheris.It’shardnottonoticeallhissignsinhisleg-islativedistrictandthatgetshiminthegame.WestillthinkthisisCarson’sracetolose.HehasthefamilynameIDandnetwork.ButMyershasbeenimpressiveandOrentlicherhasasolidbase.Primary Status:LeansCarson
2008 Indiana Legislature HD2:Democrat:StateRep.EarlHarris,DrakeMorris.2008 Outlook:DrakeMorriswillhopethethirdtime’sthecharmwhenvotersgotothepollsonMay6(Post-Tribune).ItwillbethethirdtimevotersinIndiana’s2ndDistrictwillchoosebetweenhimandEarlHarris,thedistrict’s13-termrepresentativeintheIndianaGeneralAssembly.Onceagain,the49-year-oldMorrissaid,thebiggestissuefacingthosevotersishighpropertytaxes.“Ijustfeellikeheturnshisbackonthepeople,”MorrissaidofHarris,“andthepeopleoughttorealizethat.”Harris,66,votedagainstthepropertytaxreformpackageapprovedbythegeneralassembly.Hesaidthebillwasan“incompletedocument”andthereismoreworktobedone.NorthwestIndiana’slargestcities,Harrissaid,couldbedevastatedbythebill.“Itisahuge,hugeproblemthathastobesolved,”Harrissaid.“Peoplelivehere.”Morris,wholivesinEastChicagobutdoesbusinessinGary,saidhewantstomeetwithGaryMayorRudyClay,alsothechairmanoftheLakeCountyDemocraticParty,totalkaboutpossibleinitiativestotakedowntoIndianapolis.Primary status:LIKELYHARRIS HD50: Republican:StateRep.DanLeonard,TerryAbbett,GarySnyder.2008 Outlook:Snyderan-nouncedthathehassignedtheAmericansforTaxReform’s“TaxPayerProtectionPledge”.Thepledgestates:I,GaryL.Snyder,pledgetothetaxpayersofthe50thDistrictoftheStateofIndianaandallthepeopleofIndianathatIwillopposeandvoteagainstanyandalleffortstoincreasetaxes.”SnyderistheonlycandidateintheintheIndianaHouseDistrict50Republicanprimarytosignthepledge.“IwanttheresidentsofHuntingtonandWhitleycountiestoknowthestatusquoisnolongeracceptableandtheywillhave a champion of the middle class finally representing them.Iwillnotsupportanytaxincreaseonacommunityburdenedwithmorethanitsfairshareoflocal,stateandpropertytaxes.”Primary Status:LIKELYLEONARD H90:Republican: StateRep.MikeMurphy,Mat-thewHamner.2008 Outlook: Gov.DanielstooktherarestepofmakingaprimaryendorsementofMurphy,whichreinforcesourtakethatthisraceisinplay.Oneoftherea-
HOWEY Politics Indiana Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, April 17, 2008Page 12
sonsit’sinplaycomesfromillwillMurphyfosteredwhenhewasMarionCountyGOPchairman.Primary Status: LEANSMURPHY. SD2:Democrat:DianeSmith,LonnieRandolph,GarySchoolTrusteeMichaelScott,CarolynRhymesJordon,JesseOrtiz,LouisVasquez,JuneSimmonsBlackmon.2008 Outlook:VotersinthestateSenateDistrict2willseefamiliarnamesontheMay6primaryballot(Post-Tribune).AmongthesevencandidatestoreplaceretiringSen.SamSmithofEastChicagoisSmith’swife,Diane,veteranGarySchoolBoardmemberMichaelScott,andLonnieRandolph,whoheldtheseatuntil1998,whenhewasappointedEastChicagocityjudgeandwasreplacedbySamSmith.AlsoontheballotarecommunityactivistCarolynRhymesJordan,whoranforEastChicagoclerkin2003;JesseL.Ortiz,whoranforNorthTownshiptrusteein2006;LouisVasquezIII,whoranforLakeCountytreasurerin2006,andIndianaHarborcommunityactivistJuneSimmonsBlackmon.DianeSmithisnotcountingonnamerecognitiontocarryhertovictory.Herhusbandannouncedhisresignationlastyear,thenwithdrewitwhenitappearedDianeSmithwouldnotwinaspecialprecinctelectiontotakeoverhisseat.“It’smy civic duty to finish what he started,” said Diane Smith, whowasinchargeofthefamilyfuneralhomebusinesswhileSamwasinIndianapolis.RandolphsaidhewillbeabletousehisexperiencefromhissixyearsintheSenatetohitthegroundrunningshouldhereturntotheState-house.“I’mnotgoingtobelikesomefreshmansenator,”hesaid.“ThepeoplethatarenowdrivingtheSenatearetheonesIcameinwith(in1992).”Primary status:LeansRandolph SD8:Democrats: StateSen.JimArnold,DebraBirkholz,MaxineSpenner.2008 Outlook:Arnoldwasen-dorsed by the FOP in his race against union official Birkholz. “WeappreciateyourhardworkanddedicationonallissuesofimportancetothecitizensofIndiana,butparticularlythoserenderedinsupportofIndianalawenforcement,”saidTimDowns,presidentoftheIndianaFraternalOrderofPolice.Arnoldintroducedandsponsoredseveralbillsthissessionrelatingtolawenforcement.OnebillmakesitaClass C felony to disarm an officer, while another increases the death benefits for police and firefighters. Arnold also authoredabillthatrequiresindividualsarrestedfordomes-ticviolencetobekeptincustodyforatleasteighthours,whichallowslawenforcementtotakemoreproactivestepstopreventrepeatdomesticviolencefromoccurring.“SinceI served as a law enforcement officer for such a long time, IunderstandtheconcernsofthemembersoftheFraternalOrderofPoliceverywell,”saidArnold.“It’simportanttomethatthoseconcernsaretakenseriouslyandactedonwhenpossible.It’stheleastwecandoforpeoplewhoputtheirlivesonthelineforuseveryday.”Arnoldisaformertwo-termLaPorteCountysheriff.Primary Status: Leans
Arnold SD42: Republican:JeffSponsel,MaxEllison,JeanLeising,JohnHeaton.Democrat:WarrenGoodrich.2008 Outlook:ConnersvilleMayorMaxA.Ellisonan-nouncedTuesdaythatheisendorsingformerSenatorJeanLeisingforstatesenatorinDistrict42.EllisonannouncedinJanuaryhewouldseektheseatbeingvacatedbyBobJackman,butinanefforttosolidifythepartybehindthebestcandidatehaschosentosuspendhiscampaignandsupportLeisinginherbidfortheSenateseat.“AsaformercitycouncilmanandmayorIknowthedifficulties any elected official must overcome tobeaproductiveandeffective office holder. Aftercarefullystudy-ingtheissuesandthedifficult economic decisions our state will face during the next4years,ithasbecameabundantlycleartomethatournextsenatormustbeabletostartworkingforDistrict42immediately.Therewillnotimefortheluxuryoftry-ingtolearnthejobwhilemakingtheseveryimportantdecisionsthatwillhaveaneffectontaxpayersfordecadestocome.AtthispointinIndianahistory,theresponsibil-ityofastateSenatorissimplytooimportantofanelectedoffice to learn as you go. That is why, after careful consid-erationandmuchprayerIfeelthereisonlyONElogicalchoiceforthenextSenatorofDistrict42.ThatchoiceisformerSenatorJeanLeising.’’Primary Status:LeansLeis-ing.
thestory.Hetolditasitis,asmostlocalpoliticianswouldnotdare. ThenalongcomesSen.HillaryClintonwhoignorestherealityoftheseremarksandgoesontoaccuseObamaofattackingpeopleoffaith.WorsethemedialabelsObama’swordsasa“bungle.”Nonsense.ThesenatorfromIllinoisknowsexactlywhatishappeningthroughoutthenorthandinmanyofthetownsoftheindustrializedoldsouth. Manufacturing jobs that gavecitizensgoodwagesalsoprovidedidentitiestohundredsoftowns.“ThisistheplacewheretheymakeABCorFGH.”IwasproudofaFordMeterBoxfromWabash(IN)inasidewalkofSanJuan(PR).FolksfromBedfordtakeprideintheirlimestonecontributionstobuildingsandmonumentsnationwide.Wedon’tforgetthatCDscomefromTerreHaute.WeknowthatHoosiersteelanditsmanytransformationsarevitalto cars, trucks, homes and offices. Shelbyville residents remindyouthatOldHickoryfurnitureoriginatesintheirtown.WhocanseparateColumbusandCummins?NewCastleseesitselfastheabandonedchildofChryslerwhileKokomopraysitdoesnotsufferthesamefate. Muchofourstruggleasastateisourmentaldis-tress. Just as it was finally sinking in that Indiana was not afarmstate,westartedtothinkthatourpreeminenceinmanufacturingwasending.TherearestillHoosiers,inandoutoftheGeneralAssembly,whodonotseethatmanufac-
turingistheheartofourpast100yearsandtheessentialcoreofournextcentury.PartoftheproblemisthatRCAquitMarionandBloomington,thatGeneralsMotorsandElectrichavecutbacktheirIndianaproductionfacilities.Butwedon’tunderstandhowthestateisadvancingintheessenceofmanufacturing:theembodimentofhumanknowledgeintomaterialgoods. PeopleworkingwithBioCrossroadsortheIndianaHealthIndustriesForumknowwhatisgoingon.Therearethousands of Hoosiers finding new ways to transform what weknowaboutbiologyandchemistryintoproductsthathelpprotecthumanityfromdiseaseanddebilitation.Thisismanufacturing. Most communities nowunderstandtheneedto attract new firms and to retain existing manufacturing facilities.Few,however,arepreparedtoassistexistingcompaniesinthenecessarymigrationtonewapproaches.Thisismorethanjobtrainingforlineworkers.Indiana’ssuccessdependsonreassessingourselvesratherthanblamingexternalforces.Owners,executives,andmanag-ersneedtoseewheretheiroldwaysareprovenpathstofailureinthemarketplace.Theyhavetounderstandhowtothriveintomorrow’sworld. IfwearetoescapethesadrealitypicturedsoaccuratelybySenatorObama,Indianamustembraceitshighestaspirationsratherthansettlingforthemalignancyofmediocrity.v Mr. Marcus is an independent economist for-merly with IU’s Kelley School of Business. Contact Marcus for speaking engagements at: [email protected] or 317-626-8853.
HOWEY Politics Indiana Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, April 17, 2008Page 14
Rich James, Post-Tribune:Havingbeenaroundtheblockatimeortwo,letmetellyou--experienceisn’twhatit’scrackeduptobe.Experience,inmostcases,meansyouareolderthantheotherguyorgal.Politicianssayexperiencecounts,buttheydon’toftensayforwhat.We’veheardmoretalkthanweneedtoonthepresidentiallevelaboutexperience--who’sgotitandwhodoesn’t.Wehearthesamethingonthelocallevelcomeelectiontime.Forthemostpart,experienceisintheeyeofthebe-holder.Onthepresidentialfront,isitfairtosayRepublican John McCain is the most qualified tobecommanderinchiefbecausehespentfive years as a prisoner of war during Vietnam? Hardly.OrisitfairtosayMcCainisthemostexperiencedbecausehe’sspentmorethantwodecadesintheSenate?Dependsonwhathe’sbeendoing.HillaryClintontalksalotaboutexperiencebecausesheismarriedtoamanwhowaspresidentforeightyearsandisjustshortofbeingoldenoughtobeBarackObama’smother.AllthatmeansisthatshehasbeenaroundlongerthanObama,butnotaslongasMcCain.Andallthattalkaboutthephonecallat3inthemorning.Abouttheonlythingpeopledoatthathourisgetuptogopotty.v
Gary Gerard, Warsaw Times-Union:EltonJohnsangsomesongs,butbeforethat,heofferedupthebittersentimentthatit’ssexismthat’ssinkinghisfriendHillary’scampaign.“Ineverceasetobeamazedbythemi-sogynisticattitudesofsomepeopleinthiscountry,”hesaid.“Isaytohellwiththem....Iloveyou,Hillary,I’llalwaysbethere for you.” Elton, here’s a flash. Hillary’s campaign isn’t sufferingbecauseshe’sawoman.It’ssufferingbecauseshe’sHillary.v
Mark Bennett, Terre Haute Tribune-Star: WhilelisteningtoBarackObama’sclosingwords,Irealizedtherarityofmyexperience.I’veseenandheard,inperson,thenextpresidentoftheUnitedStates.I’mnotreferringtojustObama,whomaywellbecomethatper-son. In February, at an Indianapolis office building, I saw RepublicanSen.JohnMcCaingiveanincreasinglyconser-vativeblueprintforhispresidentialaspirations.InMarch,IwatchedSen.HillaryClintonworkthecrowdsinsideandoutsideTerreHaute’sSaratogaRestaurant,pitchingherselffortheDemocraticPartynomination.FridaynightinsideajammedTerreHauteNorthHighSchoolgym,Obamatoldme,and2,700otherHauteans,howhispresidencywouldchangeAmerica.AsObama’sspeechended,hetoldthethrong,“IwillspendeverydayI’mintheWhiteHousethinkingaboutyou,andhearingyourvoices.”OneofthesethreepeoplewillreplaceGeorgeBushinNovember,thankgoodness.Each(McCaintoafarlesserdegree)gotachancetomeetandhearHoosiers’voices.Unfortunately,
that circumstance is a fluke. I felt unappreciative, maybe downright selfish, when that thought ran through my mindlaterFriday.Usually,it’stheotherwayaround.I’maglass-half-fullkindofguy.Bitternessbelongsinstrongcoffeeandgoodbeer,forme.Life’stooshortforself-in-
tookaperfectstormofacampaigntoluretheDemocraticfrontrunnershere?Iftheirparty’sracehadproducedaclearfrontrunnerinmid-February,justastheRepublicans’did,thistownwouldn’thaveseenastumpingcandidateunlesstheircampaignbusblewaradiatorhoseneartheI-70 exit. The first visit to Indiana of 2008 by the Democrats producedatellingcomment,whenClintondecidedtokickoffherHoosiercampaignintheTheSaratoga.Asherhost,Sen.EvanBayh,explained,Clintonchosethateateryinhopesofmeeting“someregular”Hoosiers.RegularHoo-siers.Withapologiestoresidentsoftheother49wonderfulstates,ournationalleaderswouldbewisetoseekoutandlistento“regularHoosiers”onaregularbasis.v
Matthew Tully, Indianapolis Star: Foronenight,IndianapoliticsveeredfromBarackandHillaryandfocusedinsteadontheundercardintheMay6primary--thebattlefortheDemocraticgubernatorialnomination.Well,maybeitdidn’tfocusonthegubernatorialprimary.Afterall,onlyabout100peoplesatinahalf-emptyaudi-toriumhereonthesprawlingjointIndianaUniversityandPurdueUniversitycampus,watchingadebatebetweenformerU.S.Rep.JillLongThompsonandIndianapolisbusinessmanJimSchellinger.Let’slookatthehighlights:Thetwodustedeachotherupovergasprices.Schellingercriticized“knee-jerk”reactionstorisingprices,aresponsetoLongThompson’splantocuttaxesongas.Inreturn,LongThompsonpointedtothemillionsthatSchellinger’sarchitecture firm has made on property-tax-funded school projects.Then,SchellingerblastedLongThompsonforgoingnegative.Thiswentonandonandspilledintopost-debatenewsconferences.Whatdoesitmean?Theprimaryis in its final days, polls are tight and the campaigns are gettingtesty.SchellingerrepeatedlycalledLongThompson“congresswoman,”eventhoughsheleftCongressmorethanadecadeago.Inthiseraofanti-incumbentsenti-ments.Threeweeksbeforetheprimary,JimandJilltookabitofthespotlightawayfromBarackandHillary.Withtheintensefocusonthepresidentialcampaign,itmighthavebeenthelasttime.v
Daniels seeks freetuition for college INDIANAPOLIS-Gov.MitchDanielswantsthestatetohelpbankroll the first two years of college forHoosierfamiliesstrugglingtopaytuition(IndianapolisStar).Thegov-ernordoesn’tknowhowthestatewillpayfortheplan,whichhesaidwouldprovide$6,000,theequivalentoftwoyearsoftuitionatIvyTechCommunityCollege.Familiesearninguptothestate’smedianincomeof$54,000ayearwouldbeeligible.“Thecareersoftomorrowwillrequiretrainingbeyondthatwhichisavailableinhighschoolstoday,”Danielssaid,notingcollegetuitionhasrisen21/2timesfasterthanHoosierincomes.“Wemustelevatequicklythenumberofouryoungpeoplewhopursueeducationbeyondhighschool.”Thegoal,Danielssaid,is“toassureeveryIndianahighschoolgraduatetwoyearsofpaidtuitionatIvyTech,orthatamountofmoneytransportabletoanyschoolinthestate.”Indianaranks44thnationallyinthenumberofresidentsover25withabachelor’sdegreeand41stinthenumberofadultswithanassociate’sdegree.
Muncie leaders don’tlike Pence moratorium MUNCIE - The top officials of
Muncie’slargestemployers,DelawareCountygovernmentandthebusi-nesscommunityhaveaskedRep.MikePence,R-6th,toreversehisnewpolicyaboutseekingmoneyforlocalprojects(Smith,Fort Wayne Journal Gazette).Pence’sspokesmansaidhe’snotlikelytobudge.Pencesaidthisyearhewon’trequestmoneyforprojectsinhisMuncie-areadistrictbeincludedinnextyear’sfederalbudget.Mostspendingbillsincludemoneyfor“earmarks,” which are specific projects identified by individual lawmakers. InalettersignedbythepresidentofBallStateUniversity;thepresidentofCardinalHealthSystem,whichoperatesBallMemorialHospital;twoDelawareCountycommissioners;andthepresidentoftheMuncie-Dela-wareCountyChamberofCommerce,Pencewasaskedtoreconsiderhismoratorium.Theysaidchangingtheearmarkprocessisagoodideaandthat everyone would benefit from less federalspending.Buttheysaid,“theearmarkmoratoriumdoesneither.De-nyingfundstoeast-centralIndianawillnotresultinlessfederalspendingbut,rather,adiversionoffederalspendingfromourareatootherstates.”
Lake County faces$10-15m in cuts CROWNPOINT-LakeCountygovernment officials must find be-tween$10millionand$15milliontocutoutofthisyear’sbudgetbeforeIndiana’spropertytaxreformsbeginin eight months, county officials said Wednesday(Times of Northwest Indiana).CountyCouncilmanLarryBlanchard,R-CrownPoint,saidhewillhelpleadthatsearchaschairmanofthe county government finance com-mittee.“Nothingisoffthetableatthispoint.Everythingisunderconsid-eration,”Blanchardsaid.Possibilitiesincludelayoffs,servicecutsandalocalincometax--anoptionBlanchardsaid he finds personally repugnant. He votedagainstanincometaxlastyear.
Michelle Obamasays she’s not elitist EVANSVILLE-MichelleObamasaidWednesdaysheisaprod-uctofaworking-classbackgroundandrejectedcharacter-izationsofherandherhusbandaselitist.DemocraticpresidentialcandidateBarackObama has tried to deflect criticism ofhiscommentsthatpeopleinsmalltownsclingtoreligionandgunsoutofbitternessovertheireconomicplight.DemocraticrivalHillaryRod-hamClintonandRepublicanJohnMcCainhavecalledtheremarkselitist.Obamasaiditwasapoorchoiceofwordstodescribetheeconomicinsecuritymanyface(Associated Press).“Iamaproductofaworking-classbackground,Iamoneofthosefolkswhogrewupinthatstruggle.ThatisthelensthroughwhichIseetheworld,”MichelleObamatoldacheeringcrowdatHarrisonHighSchool,“Therewerenomiraclesinmylife,”shesaid.“ThethingthatIsawthatmanyofusstillseeishardwork and sacrifice.” Touching on ris-ingfoodandgasprices,themortgagecrisisandmanyAmericans’strugglestomakeendsmeetononesalary,sheaskedthecrowd,“Doesthissoundfamiliar?AmIoutoftouch?”
Hill attended Obamarally, but still neutal COLUMBUS-TheappearanceofU.S.Rep.BaronHill,D-Ind.,inColumbusforFriday’sspeechbySen.BarackObama,D-Ill.,caughtpeople’sattention(Columbus Republic).HillisoneofIndiana’s12Democraticsu-perdelegates but also one of five who havenotpubliclystatedwhichcandi-datetheyarebackingforpresident:
HOWEY Politics Indiana Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, April 17, 2008Page 15
