Clinton-Bayh chain reactionThursday, Sept. 27, 2007V14 N7

By CHRIS SAUTTER WASHINGTON-Afterallthetalkabouthowfront-loadingthepresidentialnominationprocesswillgivemorestatesavoice,itseemstobecomingdowntoIowaagainfortheDemocrats.That’sbecauseifBarackObamaor

JohnEdwardsfailtowinIowa,thereisalmostnochanceofstoppingHillaryClintonfrombecomingtheDemocraticnominee.TheformerFirstLadyhasenjoyedaremarkablerun.Ayearago,manyDemocratsandcommentatorswerepredicatingthecertaincollapseofhercandidacy.Instead,exceptforearlyenthusiasmforObama’sunique

“I cannot make that commitment.” - Democratic Presidential candidate John Edwards, asked during Wednesday’s debate whether he could guarantee all U.S. troops will be out of Iraq by 2013. Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama made similar statements.

See Page 3

Bayh endorsementcould impact entire2008 Indiana ballotBy MARK CURRYand BRIAN A. HOWEY WASHINGTON-U.S.Sen.EvanBayh’sendorsementofHillaryClinton’spresidentialbid,thoughhardlyunexpected,couldtriggerachainofeventsthatwillhaveanimpactupanddowntheIndianaballotin2008. ThedayaftertheNewYorkTimeswrotethatSen.Clinton"hasconsolidatedherearlylead,showingsteadystrength,"whiletheformer First Lady appeared on all five Sun-daymorningnewsshows,Bayhendorsedthe"frontrunner."ItcameadaybeforeaCNN/WMURpollrevealedClinton'sexpandingleadinNewHampshire(43-23percent)overSen.BarackObama. ItpromptedChrisCillizzaoftheWash-ingtonPost-whowillkeynotetheHPRForum

It will all come to Iowa

U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton Monday in Washington. The Clintons and Bayhs have a long relationship, dating back to when Bayh and Bill Clinton served as governors together between 1988 and 1992. Bayh later took the mantle of Clinton’s Democratic Leadership Council. (HPR Photo by Mark Curry)

Page 2 Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007

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candidacyandfundraisingprowess,Clinton has dominated the field. She’s done it by running a nearly flaw-lesscampaignandwinningdebates.Hercampaignslogan“Experience+Change”(snatchedfromBillRichard-son’shaplesscampaign)hasstruckachord.And,shehassystematicallyremoveddoubtsaboutherelectability.Asaresult,Clintonhasmovedintothepositionofundisputedfront-run-ner.Or,asEdwardsadviserJoeTrippitoldtheNewYorkTimes,“Youusedtobeabletosaythefront-runners-sheandObama-butIdon’tthinkthat’sthecaseanymore.It’sprettyclearthatshehassortofpulledaway.” ButthoughHillaryClintonwillbevirtuallyunstoppableifshewinsIowa(inpartbecauseofhercom-mandingleadinNewHampshireandinlargenewlyfront-loadedstateslikeCalifornia),theraceisfarfromover.WhilepollsshowClintonholdingasolidleadoverherrivalsnationally,inIowatheraceisatoss-up.ThatisduetoboththenatureoftheraceandthenatureoftheIowacaucus. Iowa’s unique roleasare-tailpoliticstestinggroundandlaunch-ingpadforupset-mindedpresidentialcampaignsisaproductoftheMc-Govern-FrazierCommission(formerlyknownasCommissiononPartyStruc-tureandDelegateSelection),createdatthe1968DemocraticConvention.Thecommission’smissionwastoopenthenominatingprocessandassuregreatergrassrootsinvolvementafterthe1968debacle.Thechangesin-creasedtheroleofprimariesandcau-cusesandreducedtheroleofpartyof-ficials and insiders. Iowa was awarded special status as the first in the nation eventatwhichdelegatesarechosen.AlthoughMcGoverndidnotwinIowa,thechangeshedirectedhelpedhimwinthenominationin1972. ItwaslefttoJimmyCarterin1976todemonstratethatanunknownlong-shotcandidatecouldparlayavictoryinIowaintotheparty’snomi-nation.GaryHartscoredasurprisesecondplaceinIowain1984,givinghimthemomentumtowintheNew

HampshireprimaryandnearlydenyformerVicePresidentWalterMondalethenomination.In2004,HowardDeanandRichardGephardtwerethefront-runnersuntilacoupleofweeksleadingintoIowawhenJohnKerryandJohnEdwardsemergedasthetoptwocandidatesandtoproveagainthatIowacanchangethecourseofhistory. Thisyear,JohnEdwardsseemstohavethehomecourtad-vantage.Heiswelllikedandcreatedconsiderablegoodwillin2004byvirtuallylivinginthestateformonths.BarackObamaisbestpositionedtodenyClintonthevictorysheneedsinIowatogiveheracleanshotatthenomination.Obamacontinuestodrawhuge,enthusiasticcrowds.Hiscam-paignhasspentalmost$3millioninIowaalready,nearlytwicetheamountontelevisionadvertisingasClintonandEdwards.AndObamaisalsosaidtohavethebestgroundgamewithgreatergrassrootsenergygeneratedfromhisyoungersupporters. Clinton’s balancingactontheWarinIraqcouldpotentiallystarttogivehertroubleagainasIowaDemocratsareundeniablyandvocifer-ouslyanti-war.ButObama’srefusaltochallengeClintononhervulnerabilitieslikethewar,includingatWednesdaynight’sdebateinNewHampshire,aremakingalatesurgebytheIllinoissenatorlessandlesslikely.WhileClin-tontoutsherexperienceintheWhiteHouse,itremainstobeseenwhether

ObamawillsuccessfullymakethecasethatherWhiteHouserecordfromthetravel office to health care reform is notparticularlyimpressiveandthathertendencytopolarizethepublicistooriskyforDemocrats. Meanwhile, Sen.EvanBayh’schancesoflandingonana-tionalticketledbyClintonhavegreatlyimprovedinthepastseveralweeks.First,VirginiaSenatorJohnWarneran-nouncedhewouldnotseekre-electionin2008,openingthedoorforaSenaterunbyformerGovernorMarkWarner.TheDemocraticWarner,consideredoneofBayh’stopcompetitorsfortheVPslot,haseffectivelytakenhimselfoutofcontentionbyannouncingfortheSenate.ThatleavesfewwithBayh’sexecutiveexperienceandna-tionalappeal.ThenonMonday,Bayh’sendorsementofClinton’spresidentialcandidacyreceivedenormouscover-ageandglowingreviews.IfMonday’spressconferencehadthefeelofanauditionfortheClintonticket,thefeel-ingisBayhclearlypassed.MorethanafewcommentatorscomparedBayh’srelaxed and confident demeanor to formerIowaGovernorTomVilsack’srecentill-advisedattacksonRudyGuiliani’spersonallife.Oftheothernamesrecentlymentioned,onlyOhioGovernorTomStricklandmightbringmoretotheticket.Butfornow,Bayhhastobeconsideredthevicepresi-dentialfront-runnertojoinpresidentialfront-runnerClinton.v

Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007 Page 3

Clinton-Bayh: From page 1onOct.23-towrite,"ThelatestsignofClinton’s‘inevita-bility’...IndianaSen.EvanBayhendorsedherpresidentialbidMonday." TherewasmuchspeculationaboutBayh'svicepresidentialchanceswithSen.Clinton,giventhathedoesn’t really fit in with any other candidate in the field. Whetherthathappensornot,Bayh’smoveonMondaywasakin to dropping a fizzy in the water: M Themostlikelyreactiontothisweek’seventsisthatwithClinton'snomination“inevitability,"isthatitwilldrawformerCongressmanMikeSodrelintoafourthraceagainstU.S.Rep.BaronHill.IndianaGOPChairmanMurrayClarktoldHPRWednesdaythatheexpectsSodreltoenter.Lastweek,SodrelpromisedadecisionbyOctober.Inthe2ndCD,ArmyveteranandStateDepartmentintelligenceanalystDavid"Chris"MinorisexpectedtochallengeU.S.Rep.JoeDonnelly,waginghiscampaign,asHowardCountyRepublicanChairmanCraigDunnsaid,"fromthesandsofIraq"wherehewillreportfordutyinthenextcoupleofmonths.SotwoglaringholesintheHoosierGOPlineuparenow likely filled with RepublicansbankingthataHillaryClintonnominationwillhelptheminIndianain2008. M DeedeeBenkie,the9thCDvicechair,toldHPR,“HillaryClintonisdespisedinthe9thDistrict.TherewasabumperstickertodayinMadisonthatread-‘AnybodyButHillaryin2008!’”Benkieadded,“I definitely think Evan Bayhisherchoiceforvice-presidentandheiswelllikedinIndi-ana.However,itwouldnotmatterifLarryBirdranashervice-president,DamonBaileychairedhercampaignandBobbyPlumpgaveithisbestandlastshot...HillaryClintonlosesinthe9thdistrict.” M TheWashingtonPostreportedthatanAu-gustsurveybyDemocraticpollsterCelindaLakeshowedClintonandObamatrailingRudolphGiuliani(R)inthe31Democratic-heldHousedistrictsregardedasmostimperiledin2008,andevenpotentiallyservingasadragonthoselawmakers’re-electionchances.ThepollwasconductedinAugustandpaintsa“soberingpicture”forDemocrats,ac-cordingtoamemobyLakeandDanielGotoffthataccom-paniesthepollreport.Giulianitakes49percenttoClinton’s

39percent,whiletheformermayor’sleadoverObamaisfarsmaller,41percentto40percent. M ThereislittledoubtthatBayhwilloccupyatop five, if not top three cut of Clinton vice presidential choices.Politico'sRogerSimonwrote,“Standingtheresidebysidebehindthelecterntheylookedlike...aticket.”AClinton-Bayhticketin‘08hasthepotentialofsubstantial-lyalteringtheIndianapoliticallandscape.EverytimeBayhhasappearedonanIndianaballot,DemocratshavepickedupatleastthreeseatsintheIndianaHouse.ThiscomesafterasummerwhenIndianaHouseDemocratsareinastateofhemorrhage(andthiscomesbeforemanyHoosiertaxpayers figure out the ridiculous nature of Speaker Pat Bauer’staxrebate).StateReps.BobKuzmanandDuaneCheneyresigned,andhoursafterStateReps.JoeMiconandDaveCrooksannouncedtheywouldnotseekre-elec-tion.Ofthosefourseats,three(sansCheney’s)willlikelybeinplay.StateRep.JerryDenboisrunningfortheFrenchLickTownBoard,andthatseatcouldcomeintoplayaswell.ThereareotherDemocratswhocouldjointhisretire-menttrend. M Look no further than 1988 to find a unique

intersectionofvicepresidentialpoliticsandIndiana.BayhwontheIndianagovernorshipdespitethepresidentialticketofGeorgeH.W.BushandHoosierSen.DanQuayle.Demo-cratspickedupthreeHouseseattodeadlockthechamberat50/50.RepublicanswouldwincontroloftheHousein1994andanother50/50splitin1996-bothyearswhenBayhdidn’tappearontheballot.IfBayhweretojoinClintonontheballotin2008,thequestionbandiedabout

themostiswhetherhecouldhelptheDemocratscarryIndiana.ThisisnotoutofthequestionwhenyouconsiderthattheIraqWarcouldbecomeahugemillstonearoundtheGOP’sneck.ClintonhastakenarelativelymoderatestanceonIraq,asopposedtohermoreliberalDemocraticopponents.ButevenifClinton-Bayhcouldn’tcarryIndiana,hewouldalmostguaranteeatailwindatthebackoftheparty’sgubernatorialnomineeandmighthelpsalvageanIndianaHouseseatortwo.Bayh’sinclusiononanationalticketwouldbeacomplicatingfactorinGov.MitchDan-iels’re-electionbid,though,notasilverbulletthere.LittlewonderthatkeyBayhalliesontheIndianaDemocraticCentralCommitteehavetriedtopositionBartPeterson

Bayh was acknowledged by President Bush at his May 2003 appearance at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Future Gov. Mitch Daniels can be partially seen behind Bayh. Bayh’s endorsement of Sen. Clinton could reverberate through-out the Indiana ballot in 2008. (HPR Photo by Ellen Jackson)

Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007Page 4allyJimSchellingerforthestateticket.Hadthenominationfallento a gadfly, it would have posed aproblemforBayh’sinclusiononanationalticket.ThefactthatJillLongThompsonhasemergedasanearlyfrontrunnerdoesn’tneces-sarilyposearoadblockforBayhtomakeaticket. M StateRep.Crooks,whocreatedastironAug.13whentheAssociatedPressinanationalstoryquotedhimassayingofClinton,“Sheisjustsopolarizing,”andaddedthatshecouldcoststateDemocratsherethreeorfourpercentagepointsinthenextelec-tion.“WeseemtobeseeinganewHillaryClintonemergerightnow,fromhercommentstoherappearancestoherpersonality,”saidformerIndianaHouseSpeakerJohnGregg.ShecouldreallyenergizethepartyhereandthroughouttheMidwestifshechoseIndianaSen.EvanBayhasherrunningmate,hesaid.CrookstoldHPRonWednesdaythatthe“inevita-bility”factorhasnothingtodowithhisretirement.HesaidthataClinton-Bayhticket“wouldcorrecttheHillarydrag”and added once again, “It will be difficult for Hillary Clinton towinIndiana”evenwithBayhontheticket.“Ihaveahardtimebelievingshe’llselectEvanBayh,”Crookssaid. M ThereinliesthebiggestparlorgameinHoosierpolitics.SomearguethataClinton-Obamaticketismorelikely,buttherehasbeenadistinctstraininthatrelation-shipduringthecampaign(astherewasbetweenJFKandLBJin1960,ReaganandBushin1980,andClintonandGorein1992).Whenitcomestimetochoosearunningmate,thepartynomineewilldowhateverittakestoposi-tionaticketforthewin,beitkissingafrogorselectingaTexan.NewMexicoGov.BillRichardson,webelieve,willbeanotheroccupantonsuchashortlist,havingservedinPresidentBillClinton’scabinet,thoughhepossessesmuchmorebaggagethanEvanBayh,whohasnothingbutasqueakycleanbackground,hasworkedonfamilyissues,andhasdevelopedasolidreputationontheSenateArmedServicesandIntelligencecommittees. M Bayhhasawarchestof$10million,somethingnoothercandidatewillbeabletoofferClintonnextsum-mer. One Republican source said that will be of little signifi-cance.“HillarycanraisethatwithonephonecalltoGeorgeSoros.” Politico’s RogerSimontakesalinesimilartoHPR’sthoughtprocess:“WaybackinJuly,IsaidthatMarkWarnerandEvanBayhwereleadingchoices.Now,Warner,theformergovernorofVirginia,hasremovedhimselffromvicepresidentialcontentionbychoosingtorunforsenatorfromVirginiainstead.Frankly,thatisasurprisingchoice.

Ifyouwanttobepresident-andIsuspectWarnerdoes-becomingavicepresidentisamuchbetterwayofgettingthere.” BayhisknowntoDemocratsinIowa,Illinois,Ohio,MichiganandWisconsin,wherehegaveJ-Jspeechesduringtherampuptohisownpresidentialcampaign.Hewouldplaywellinthosestatesdur-ingthefallof2008.Histwotermsasgovernorinaredstatewillbeseenasaplus.Hecertainlywon’tupstageClinton,aswasherconcerninthehoursleadingintohis1996Demo-craticNationalConventionkeynotewhensheandAlGorestalledBayh’sspeechuntilitwastoolatetocarryon the East Coast network affiliates.

Congressional Quarterly’sCraigCraw-fordobserved,“ClintonhasmanyreasonstoputBayhatthetopofherlist.TheIndianaDemocratistelegenic,butwithout the fiery charisma that might upstage her. And he ispopularinaredstatewhereheonceservedasgover-nor.BayhandClintonarecolleaguesontheSenateArmedServicesCommitteeanditwasnotablethatshetookhimalongonhertriptoIraqandAfghanistaninJanuary,mak-ingsuretoincludehiminthepressconferencesafterthatjourney.Anditsurelyhelpshischanceswithherthatheoptedoutofhisownrunforthepresidency.”

Beginning, ending with a joke EvanBayh’sendorsementoftheHillaryClintonpresidentialcampaignbeganandendedwithajoke. Thesenatorswerenearly30minuteslatewhentheywalkedintotheballroomoftheHolidayInnindown-townWashington.Theyweregreetedbyacoupledozenjournalists,includingabankoftelevisioncameracrews,andanalmostequalnumberofsenateandcampaignstaff-ers.ThecrowdhushedandcamerasbegantoclickandwhirlasIndiana’sformergovernorsteppedtothepodium.Sen. Bayh first noted that his wife, Susan, was on hand. “Thatreducestheriskofdisruptivephonecalls,”hesaidinapokeatRepublicancandidateRudyGiuliani,whofamouslyinterruptedarecentspeechtoanswerhiswife’scall.Bayhwaitedafewsecondsasseveralintheaudiencechuckledappreciatively,andthenlaunchedintoa450-wordproclamation. “I’mheretodaytoendorseHillaryClinton’scam-paignforthepresidency,”hesaid. “ThisisnotadecisionthatIhavecometoquicklyorlightly,infact,becauseofmyrespectforothercandi-dates in the field. But more than anything else I have come tothisdecisionbecauseIbelievethestakesinthiselectionareprofound.”

Clinton and Bayh during their January presser fol-lowing their trip to Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“IbelievethenextpresidentoftheUnitedStatesmustbeexperiencedandseasoned,mustbesmart,andmustbetough.IbelievethatHillaryClintonisallofthesethingsandmore.” AsSen.Clintonlookedon,Bayhtouchedonherforeignpolicyexperience. “I’vehadtheprivilegeoftravelingwithhertoIraq,AfghanistanandPakistan,”hesaid.“I’veseentherespectwithwhichsheisheldbyleadersofothercountries.Iknowshehastheabilitytoreachouttoothernationsandtoenlisttheminourcause.” HealsopluggedtheDemocraticdomesticagenda. “Ibelievehercampaignandadministrationwilltargetsquarelythemiddleclasseco-nomicanxietiesthateffectsomanyAmericansintheheart-landwhereIamfrom.Shewillemphasize job creation and fiscal responsibility.” Finally,heinsisted,Hillarywillrunabipartisancampaignandadministration.“Sheknowsthatprogressinoursystemcanonlycomebyforg-ingconsensus,andshewillrunacampaignandadministrationthatreachesouttonotonlyDemo-cratsbutalsoIndependentsandreasonableRepublicans.” StaffersbrokeintoloudandsustainedapplauseasBayhbackedfromthemicrophoneandSen.Clintonsteppedforward.TheNewYorkDemocratallowedthatshewas“agreatadmirer”ofbothEvanandSusan“intermsoftheircommitmenttopublicserviceandthewaythattheyleadtheirownlives.” “Thisendorsementmeansagreatdealtomeper-sonally,”shesaidatthebeginningofher580-wordspeech.Shementionedthesix-1/2yearsthey’veservedtogetherintheSenate,includingtimeontheArmedServicesCommit-tee,andEvan’saccomplishmentsasgovernor. “Inthelastyears,workingwithhimonarangeofissues,IseethedepthofhisintellectandhispassionforgettingitrightforAmerica,”shesaid. “Evansharesmydeepfrustrationwithourinabil-itytohaveamanufacturingpolicythatworksinAmerica.ComingfromIndiana,IhavinggrownupintheMidwest,representingupstateNewYork,heandIhavebothseenthelossofjobs.” Beforeofferingherthanksfortheendorsement,shehintedattherolewemightexpectforSen.BayhinaClintonadministration.“Asweknowalltoowell,asdif-ficult as the campaigns are, and they are, the very hard workstartsafteryouwin,”shesaid.“Andthat’swhenIwill

needthesteady,experiencedguidanceofsomeonewhomIadmiresomuchtohelpmeputtogetheranagendaforpositivechangethatcanbringpeopletogether,getthevotesweneedtopassit,andthenbegintoimplementitinordertomakesurewedocontinuetheprogressinAmericathatbothheandIbelievesodeeplyin.” SevenminutesintotheannouncementClintonofferedBayhawarmhugandtheninvitedquestions.Thefirst few were directed to Hillary, and Bayh waited patiently inthebackground,smilinginthewaysenatorsdowhenlistening to a colleague, until someone finally brought up

thequestioneveryreporterhadbeenas-signedtoask.“Senator,doyouthinkyourcolleaguefromIndianaisvicepresidentmaterial?” Laughter filled the room and Sen.BayhleanedacrossClintonandintothemicrophone. “Thankyouallforcoming,”hesaidtomoreapplause.“Well,Ithink,youknow,thatitgoeswithoutsayingthathisrecordofpublicserviceisextraordinary,”Clintonsaid,“andIhavethehighestper-sonalandprofessionalregardforhim.” LaterduringtheQ&Aportion,Sen. Clinton said, “It’s very significant to haveSen.Bayh’sendorsement.IthinkhewillbeextraordinarilyhelpfulnotonlyinIndianabutintheMidwestandbeyondbecauseoftheveryhighregardthatmany

peoplewhoknowhimandhavefollowedhiscareerhaveforhim.” BayhindicatedafterwardthattheClintoncampaignhad yet to ask for his help in any specific way. “It’s still early,”hesaid.“IftheyaskI’llbehappytodowhatIcan.I’vegotadayjobthatkeepsmeverybusy,representingthepeopleofIndiana.ObviouslyI’mgoingtocontinuetofocusonthat,that’smytoppriority.Butiftheydoask...anditmakessensethatIcanhelp,I’dbehappyto.” Duringhisowncampaignforthenomination,whichendedinDecember,BayhestablishedanimpressivenetworkoffriendsandsupportersintheMidwestandinthekeystatesofIowaandNewHampshire.AskedifhevisualizedaroleforthisgroupinaClintoncampaign,hesaid,“Someofmysupportersaresupportingavarietyofcampaigns,includingSen.Clinton’s.Othersareundecided.OfcourseIwillbehappytocommunicatetothemwhatIthinkandI’llhopethey’llputsomestockinmychoice.” And the final joke? At the conclusion of the an-nouncement,areporteraskedHillarytocommentonastatementbyPresidentBushthathebelievesshewillwintheDemocraticnomination.Clintonreactedasifshehadbeen asked to kiss a frog. Laughter again filled the room. “I’mjustproudtohaveEvanBayh’sendorsement,”shereplied.v

Susan Bayh greets Sen. Clinton at Monday’s press conference. (HPR Photo by Mark Curry)

Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007Page 6

Two property tax proposalsfloated as governor mulls optionsBy BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS-Twopropertytaxproposals-bythe Indiana Farm Bureau and Indiana Realtors - were float-edonMonday.Buttherealdramawillcomethismonth. That’swhenGov.MitchDanielswillweighin,selectingoneofseveralplansnowbeforehim.SeveralobserversHPRhastalkedwithbelievethatthegovernorandarathercomplexplanSen.LukeKenleyiscurrentlyfloating will likely meld together. Look for circuit-breakers, a shifttosalesandincometaxes,andmovingassessingdutiesfromtownshipstocountiesasalmostcertainhallmarksofanysuchplan.Onesourcesuggestedthatanincometaxincreaseisgivingthegovernorheartburn.Heissaidtodesirea simplified system. InadditiontothegovernorandSen.Kenley,otherkeyplayersinthispro-cessareOMBDirectorRyanKitchell,assistantchiefofstaffBetsyBurdick,PatKielyoftheIndianaManufacturersandtheChamber’sKevinBrinegar. Thisplanmightcomein two phases: the first would shiftcurrentlocalpropertytaxexpenditures-welfare,courtsandschoolgeneralfunds-tothestate,similartowhatKenleyproposedlastMarch. Along-termapproachwouldincludethelocalgovernmentreorganizationthatisbeingresearchedbytheKernan-ShepardCommission.Gov.Danielshassaidrepeat-edlythatpropertytaxandgovernmentreformareinextri-cablylinked. TheOctoberunveilingiscriticaltogivelegislatorstimetoreactwiththeirconstituentstoanyplanpriortoNovember’slegislativeOrganizationDay. IFB President Don Villwock calledfortheshiftfromlocalpropertytaxestothestateonMonday,buthewasthinkinglong-term.“Anysolutionmustbepermanent,mustbesubstantial,andmustbefair,”Villwocksaid.“Reliefthatisonlytargetedtoonesegmentofoursocietyandeconomycannotandwillnotbepermanent.FarmBureauandourmembersaretiredofBand-Aidapproaches.FarmBureauisaskingthelegislatureandthegovernortoworkwithustomakesurepropertytaxreformistrulyperma-nent,substantialand–mostimportantly–fair.Weknowthatwecannotdoawaywithpropertytaxesaltogetherin

theshortterm.Ithinkthatitisstillanoblelong-termgoalthatweatFarmBureauwillstillstrivefor,butweneedim-mediaterelieftodayandweneeditnow.” Farm Bureau specifically suggests that five categoriesofexpenditurescurrentlyfundedbylocalprop-erty taxes be funded instead by state sources. The five expendituresaretheschoolgeneralfund,whichcurrentlyisestimatedtobeabout$800million;schoolutilitiesandinsuranceexpensesfromtheschoolcapitalprojectsfund,estimatedat$205million;allremainingwelfarelevies,estimatedat$350million;leviesusedtosupportlocalcourtsystemswhichmaybeasmuchas$350million;andaset-asideforanewschool“rainyday”fund,estimatedat$400million.Whentheschool“rainyday”fundreaches

a sufficient level, the plan calls forannualschooldebtreductiongrants of $400 million. These five categoriesofexpendituretotalanestimated$2.105billioninprop-ertytaxliability. FarmBureauproposesfundingtheseexpendituresbyincreasingthestatepersonalincometaxfrom3.4percentto4.4percent,whichwouldraiseabout$1.225billion,andincreas-ingthesalestaxfrom6percentto7percent,whichwouldraise$880million.Notcoincidentally,theseincreasestotal$2.105billioninstaterevenue.Thepropertytaxsystem,Villwocksaid,isbroken.AccordingtoestimatesbytheLegislativeServicesAgency,net

propertytaxesinIndianagrewbetween2006and2007byabout$800million–anincreaseofmorethan14percent.This is nearly six times the current inflation rate of 2.36 percent.Incontrast,theprevioustwoyearssawacom-binedincreaseof$470million.“Itisjustnotanassessingproblem,itisataxburdenproblem,”Villwocksaid.“Wesayenough is enough. We must fix the property tax system.” “Weknowthatwecannotdoawaywithpropertytaxesaltogetherintheshortterm,”headded.“Thatisstillanoble,long-termgoalthatweinFarmBureauwillstillstrivefor.Ithinkweneedimmediaterelieftoday,weneeditnow,andwecan’twait…togetpropertytaxrelief.” Villwock told HPR on Monday thathefearsGov.Danielsmaybelookingatisolatinghomeownerrelief,whichhesaidthatshifttheburdentobusinessandagricul-ture.“Thatwouldbeourworstnightmare,”hesaid.Hesaidthegovernoris“lookingattheassessingprocess.” AskedabouttheChicagoCityCouncilponderingan11percentsalestax,VillwocksaidthatIndiana’sneighborsmayalsoendupincreasingsalestaxes.“Ohioalreadydoes

Indiana Farm Bureau President Don Villwock said it is time to begin seeking long-term property tax solutions. Villwock is shown here during a Statehouse presser on Monday. (HPR Photo by Brian A. Howey)

Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007Page 7

2008 Indiana Governor Governor 2008:Republican:Gov.MitchDaniels,LaRonKeith.Democrat:SenateMinorityLeaderRichardYoung,JimSchellinger,JillLongThomp-son.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 Fore-cast:LongThompsonpickeduptheendorsementoftheIndianaJointBoardofRetrail,WholesaleandDepartmentStoreUnion,andtheUnitedTransportationUnionLo-cal298.AFSCMELocal446endorsedherlastweek."Jillhasprovensheisaloyalfriendofworkingfamilies,"saidRWDSUPresidentDavidAltman."Allyouhavetodoislookatherrecord."Schellinger’s“listeningtour”spentWednes-dayinOwen,GreeneandVigocounties.StateRep.DaveCrookstoldHPRhehasendorsedSchellinger.“Peopleareunderestimatingthisguy,”Crookssaid.“They’vegotarealplanofattackcoming.Iseehimasarealdarkhorse.”CrookssaidhetouredDuBoisCountywithSchellingerandthatthecandidatewas“wellreceived.”Democratic Primary Status: LEANSLONGTHOMPSON.General Status:LeansDaniels.

2008 Indiana Congressional Congressional District 2: Republican:DavidC.“Chris”Minor.Democrat:U.S.Rep.JoeDonnelly. Geography: SouthBend,MichiganCity,Mishawaka,Elkhart,Kokomo,Plymouth,Logansport;LaPorte,St.

Joseph,Starke,Marshall,Pulaski,Fulton,Cass,CarrollandpartsofHoward,Porter,ElkhartandWhitecoun-ties.Media Market:SouthBend-Elkhart,Indianapolis,Lafayette,Chicago.People: Urban/rural73/27%;medianincome$40,381;Poverty9.5%;Race84%white,8%black;5Hispanic;Blue/whitecol-lar:34/50%.2002 Result:Chocola95,081(50%),LongThompson86,253(46%); 2004 Result:Chocola140,496(54%)Donnelly(D)115,513(45%)2006 Result:Donnelly103,561,Chocola88,300.

2008 Forecast: DavidC."Chris"Minor,aretiredIraqU.S.ArmyveteranandcurrentchiefofintelligencefortheStateDepartmentinBaghdadwillchallengeU.S.Rep.

thatwiththeirlocalsalestaxes.Illinoisisbankrupt,”hesaid. IndianaRealtorsunveiledtheirpropertytaxreformagendaonMonday,aplanthatcallsforIndianatoelimi-nateitstownshipassessmentsystemandconsolidatelay-ersoflocalgovernmentwhile,atthesametime,reducingrelianceonpropertytaxesandreplacingthemwithbroad-basedtaxescenteredonanabilitytopay.“Thecurrentpropertytaxmessistheproductofthreedecadesofdeci-sions by public officials in both political parties at both the stateandlocallevels,”saidKarlBerron,CEOoftheIndianaAssociationofRealtors.“Whenitcomestopropertytaxreform,we,asHoosiers,haveresistedchangefortoolong;wecannotaffordtodosoanylonger.RealtorsareofferingaplanthatcallsoneveryoneinIndianatostepoutoftheircomfortzone,accepttheneededchangesanddemandreform.” Realtorspropose:Eliminate the township as-sessment system: At1,008,Indianahaswaytoomanyassessors.Eliminatingtownshipassessorsandcreatingfewerandlargerjurisdictionswillleadtoequitable,fairmarketvalueassessments.Consolidate local govern-ment:Indianahasmorethan2,700unitsoflocalgovern-mentwiththeauthoritytolevypropertytaxes.Consolida-

tionwillsimplifylocalgovernment,providetransparencyandgivelocalgovernmentthecapacitytoaddresstheproblemsoftoday.Cut property taxes:Examplesofrea-sonableandrealisticactionsinclude:movingcertainleviesnowsupportedbypropertytaxes–suchascourt,schoolandwelfarecosts–totheStateorrestrictingapropertytaxpayer’smaximumtaxbilltoacertainpercentage–suchas1%-oftheirassessedvalueeachyear. YettoplayoutwillbeHouseSpeakerB.PatrickBauer’srebatescheme,whichHPRbelievesisgoingtobeepicallybadpolitics.Citizensarebrandishingpitchforksandwantlong-termrelief,notpoliticalgames.Theyarepre-paredtolashoutattheballotbox. DemocraticHousesourcestellHPRthatSpeakerBauerisslowlycomingtotermsthatthecurrenttaxsystemcannolongerbesustainedpolitically.Astowhethertheywillhavetheirownplanremainstobeseen. ThequestionHPRhasrepeatedlybeenaskedisonethatwillbediscussedinacomingHoweynewspapercolumn:Hoosiersareexpectingbold,profoundsolutionstheycanunderstandduringthe2008“emergency”shortlegislativesession.Foranymemberoftheexecutiveorleg-islative branch not to understand this is to flirt with political disasterthatwillcutacrossideologicalandpartylines.v

MINOR

Page 8 Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007JoeDonnelly(BrianA.Howey,HPR).HowardCountyRepublicanChairmanCraigDunntoldHPRthatMinor,38,willconductacampaignfrom"thesandsofIraq,"say-ingheispreparingtoreturntoBaghdad.DunnsaidthatMinor has lined up an experienced consulting firm from Chicagotohelpruntherace."Thestrategyistomakethisanationalcampaign,"Dunnsaid.CurrentlytherearenootherRepublicanswhohavedeclaredforthe2ndCDrace.AchallengefromMinorwouldbealongthelinesofU.S.Rep.SteveBuyer,whoreturnedfromthe1991GulfWarandwalkedhisNorthernIndianadistrict,defeat-ingthenU.S.Rep.JimJontz.DunnsaidthatMinorisondisability from the U.S. Army with a fused spine. An offi-cialannouncementisexpectedlaterthisweek.Status: LIKELYDONNELLY Congressional District 3:Republican:U.S.Rep.MarkSouder.Democrat:MichaelMontagano.Geography:FortWayne,Goshen;Kosciusko,Whitley,LaGrange,Steuben,DeKalbandpartsofElkhartandAllencounties.Media Market: SouthBend-Elkhart,FortWayne.People: Urban/rural65/35%;medianincome$44,013;Race:87%white,6%black,4.5%Hispanic;Blue/whitecollar:36/52%2000 Presidential: Bush66%,Gore33%.Cook Partisan Voting Index: R+17.2002results:Souder92,566(63%),Rigdon50,509(34%).2004 Result: Souder,Parra2004Results:Souder171,389(69%),Parra76,232(31%). 2006 Result: Souder95,421,Hayhurst(D)80,357.2008 Forecast: Montaganohaspostedanimpressivewebsiteat:www.montaganoforcongress.comStatus:LIKELYSOUDER Congressional District 9:Republican:Open.Democrat:U.S.Rep.BaronHill.Media Market: Evansville(11%),Indianapolis(23%),Louisville(55%),Dayton,Cincinnati(10percent).People: urban/rural52/48%,medianincome$39,011;racewhite94%,2.3%black,1.5%Hispanic;blue/whitecollar:34/50%;2000 Presidential:Bush56%,Gore42%;CookPartisanVotingIndex:R+8.2004 Presidential: Bush59%,Kerry40%.2002 Results:Hill96,654(51%),Sodrel87,169(46%).2006 Results:Hill110455,Sodrel100,469,Schansburg9,893.2008 Forecast: SeveralinformedandreliablesourcestellHPRthatSodrelispreparingtoenterthisrace,possiblyasearlyasnextweek.Status:LEANSHILL.

2008 Indiana Legislative House District 63:Republican:MarkMessmer.Democrat:DuBoisCountyAuditorJohnBurger.2004Results:Crooks(D)12,246,McFeators(R)11,687. 2008 Forecast: Rep.DaveCrookswon’tseekaseventhterm.DuBoisCountyAuditorJohnBurger,aformercoun-

Speaker Bauer’snightmare weekBy BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS-Inthespaceof24hours,HouseSpeakerB.PatrickBauerlearnedhehadtwomoreseatstodefendin2008-thoseofStateRep.DaveCrooksandJoeMicon,bothwhodecidedtoforegore-electionin2008. ThrowintheresignationsofStateReps.BobKuz-

manandDuaneCheney,andStateRep.JerryDenbo’spendingelec-tiontotheFrenchLickTownBoard,andrightthere are five seats he willdefend.Ofthose,onlytheCheneyseatisaDemocraticmajority. StatehousesourcestellHPRthatthebleedingisprobablynotover.TheysaythatStateRep.JohnDayisleaningtowardretirement.Othersources

saythatonesouthernIndianaDemocratisexperiencingsignificant health problems and may not run in ‘08. StateRep.PaulRobertson,D-Depauw,hastoldanHPRsourcethatifHillaryClintonisthenominee,hewon’trunin2008.Robertson’sdistrictis56.1percentRepublican.RepublicanTimHuntisalreadypreparingachallengethere.RepublicanJohnWarrenispreparinganotherchallengeagainstRep.Dayinadistrictthathasseen significant voter decline. “WhatthatmeansforPatBauerwithHillaryClin-tonandMitchDanielsontheballotisthatitisalldefense.Itwillbelikestretchingagnat’sassoveradrumhead,”saidalongtimeStatehouseoperative. There are 25 Houseseatswheretherepresen-tativeservesadistrictthatisamajorityintheotherparty. OftheseatsvacatedbyDemocraticincumbents,BobKuzman’sisthebesthopeforDemocraticreten-tionwithitbeinga52.9percentRepublicandistrict.TheCrooksseatis58.4percentRepublican;Denbohasrunina59.1percentRepublicandistrict;Miconina62percentGOPdistrict.StateRep.VernTincher,whocouldfaceIndianaStateUniversitybasketballheroBobHeaton(anex-teammateofLarryBird’sonthe1979NCAArunner-up),isina57percentRepublicandistrict.FreshmanStateRep.DaveCheathamisina58.3percentGOPdistrict.StateRep.NancyDembowski’sdistrictis56.7percentRepublican.v

Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007 Page 9

unequivocallypledgingIwillserveafullfour-yeartermifI’melectedNovember6th,”Petersonsaid(Indianapolis Star).BallardhadspeculatedthatPetersoncouldendupinWashington,notingPetersonworkedforSen.EvanBayhwhenBayhwasgovernor.Bayh’sendorsementofSen.Hill-aryRodhamClinton,D-N.Y.,forpresidenthasfueledtalkthatBayhcouldenduponanationalticketwithClinton.BallardtoldHPRonWednesdaythathewillhaveenoughmoney to run a TV ad campaign in the final three weeks of thecampaign.Status: LEANS PETERSON. South Bend:Republican:JuanManigault.

Democrat:MayorStephenLuecke.2003 General Results:Luecke(D)10,598,Schmidt(R)4,188. 2007 Forecast: NoRepublicanhasbeenelectedmayorofSouthBendsince1967(Colwell,South Bend Tri-bune).NoRepublicanhaswagedatrulycompetitiveraceinthemayoralcontestssincethen,exceptforCarlBaxmeyer,wholostbyonlyabout2,000votestoJoeKernanin1987.Therewillbeacompetitiveracethistime.RepublicannomineeJuanManigaultisaseriouscandidate,notajoke,likesomeofthepastGOPchallengers.Andhewillhavefund-

ingandanactualorganization.Howcompetitive?ThatwilldependonhowwellMayorSteveLueckerespondstoManigault’saggressivecampaignoncrime,taxandeco-nomicdevelopmentissuesandthen,ultimately,onhowDemocraticvotersrespondtoManigault’sefforttopryawaydefectorsfromtheDemocraticbase.AnyRepublicanmust sway a significant number of Democrats in order to wininthestronglyDemocraticcity.ThelastRepublicanmayoralwinner,LloydM.Allenbackin1963and1967,wonwithdefectionsafterabigDemocraticsplitinthe‘63pri-mary.BaxmeyercameclosethankstoanotherDemocraticprimarysplit.PoliticalconsultantChrisFaulkner,aformerSt.JosephCountyRepublicanchairman,hascalculatedavictoryformulabasedonpastelectionstatistics,adeter-mined voter identification and get-out-the vote effort and getting2,500usualDemocraticvotersincityelectionstoswitchthistimetoManigault.MaryDowns,whowasKernan’schiefofstaffwhenhewasgovernor,hastakenoverascampaignmanagerforLuecke.SheandSt.JosephCountyDemocraticChairmanOwenD.“Butch”MorgansaytheytakenothingforgrantedandhaveasolidcampaigneffortunderwayintraditionalDemocraticneighborhoods.“IfRepublicansreallycareaboutthewestside,whydon’ttheyhavecandidatesforthecouncilinthe1st,2ndand6thdistricts?”Morganasks.MorgansaysDemocratswillnotbeoutdonebyaRepublicanmayoralcandidatewhoforoncehas an ambitious voter identification and get-out-the-vote effort.Status:LEANSLUECKEv

tycommissoner,announcedonTuesdayhewillseektheseat.Burgerenteredcountygovernmentbyupsettingaverypopularcommissioner15yearsago.CrookssaidthathewilllikelyendorseBurgerbuthewantedtoletthefieldtotakeshapefirst.Crookssaidhisdecisiontoretire“hadnothingtodowiththefearoflosing;ithadeverythingtodowiththefearofwinning.”CrooksdefeatedRonArnoldwith63percentofthevotein2006despitethefactthatitisa46percentDemocraticdistrict.Hesaidthathewantedtoretirefromthelegislaturein2004toconcentrateonbusiness,butHouseSpeakerJohnGreggtalkedhimoutofitjusthoursbeforeGreggannouncedhisownretirement.Messmer,whoannouncedinAugust,isalicensedprofes-sionalengineerandco-ownerofMessmerMechanicalinJasper.Status: TOSSUP

2007 Mayoral Anderson: Republican:MayorKevinSmith.Democrat:KrisOckomon.2003 General Results: Smith(R)8,947,Rock(D)7,821.2007 Forecast: Thiswasexpectedtobeatightracebutithasbeenrelativelyquietthusfar.IndianaDemocratChairmanDanParkercharac-terizeditasa“challenge”forOckomon.SmithjoinedGov.DanielsonTuesdayforanannouncementbyACSthatwillbring500jobstoAnderson,thoughtheydon’tpaynearlyasmuchastheUAWjobsthathaveleftthecity.ButwiththenewNestleplantcomingonline,Smithwillhavesometangibleeconomicgainstocampaignon,includingtheracinoexpansionatHoosierPark. Status: LEANSSMITH. Fort Wayne:Republican:MatthewKelty.Democrat:TomHenry.2003 Results:Richard(D)27,251,Buskirk(R)19,701.2007 Forecast: KeltyhopestohaveFort Wayne firefighters take over city ambulance services andwantstocombinecityandcountyemergencydispatch-ersbygivingcontroltothesheriff(Fort Wayne Journal Gazette).KeltyonTuesdayannouncedhispublicsafetyplatform,whichincludeshisplansforambulanceservice,emergencycommunicationsandcommunity-orientedpolicing. Henry previously said he wants to find a way for firefighters to become certified paramedics, but declined to commentonwhetherthecityshouldtakeoverambulanceservice.KeltyalsosaidhewouldallowAllenCountySheriffKenFriestocompletethelong-discussedmergerofcityandcountyemergencydispatchersbygivingFriesauthor-ityoveritsoperations.Cityandcountydispatchersworkinneighboringrooms,dividedbyaglasswall.Status: LEANS HENRY. Indianapolis:Democrat:MayorBartPeter-son.Republican:GregBallard.2003 Results:Peterson

(D)92,763,Jordan(R)55,354.2007 Forecast: Bal-lardsaidWednesdaythathe’dserveafulltermandchal-lengedDemocraticincumbentMayorBartPetersontomakethesamepledge.Whichhedid.“I’menthusiasticallyand

LUECKE

Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007Page 10

Terrorism expert predictsU.S. school siegeBy BEVERLY PHILLIPS Thenationalpsychicpainandterrorcausedbythenearly3,000Americansmurderedon9/11willpaleincomparisontowhatweexperiencewhenal-Qa-edaattacksourchildren,accordingtoauthorandinternationalterrorismexpertJohn Giduck. Giduck spoke to about 300 police officers thisweekatanICJI-sponsored,statewidelawenforcementconferenceinIndianapolis.Heistheauthorof“Terror at Beslan: A Russian Tragedy with Lessons for America’s Schools.”Hespent20yearsintheSovietUniontrainingwithitsspecialforces.HewantsAmericanschooladministratorsandteacherstolearnfromthe2004Beslantrag-edyandthemistakesRussiansmadewhenIslamicfundamentaliststerrorized,torturedandrapedmorethan1,200childrenandadulthostagesoverthreedays.Intheend,thesiegeleftanestimated334dead,including186children.HesayseducatorscanalsolearnfromdomesticschoolshootingslikeColumbineandVirginiaTech. “Yourworsthasgottobebetterthantheirbest.Anyonewithaterroristmindsetthinksthesameway,”saidGiduck.Hesaystheprimarygoalistobenoticedandthatmeansnewsmediacoverage.“Al-QaedaplaystheWest-ernnewsmedialikeamulti-million-dollaradagency.TheColumbineshooterswantedtobemorefamousthanthepreviousschoolshooters.Anyonewithaterrormindsetunderstandsthenewsmediareportseventsthathavethegreatestpsychologicaldevastation,”hesaid. DuringGiduck’sfour-hourpresentation,heempha-sized that terrorists are constantly refining their techniques. Seung-HuiChooftheVirginiaTechmassacrehadstudiedColumbinewhileinhighschool,evenwritingapaperonit.HewantedtolearnfromHarrisandKlebold’smistakes,including90homemadebombsthatfailedtodetonate,andbetterwaystofortifythebuilding. JustlikeVirginiaTechone-uppingColumbine,al-Qaeda“knowstheyhavetooutdothelastbigscore…theycraveabigbodycount.”Giducksayslawenforcementandschooladministratorsmakethesamestrategicmistakethatthemilitarymakes.They,unliketerrorists,are“always

preparing to fight the last war … all preparing for the last schooltragedy.” Giduckbelievesschool-basedpolicearethebestlineofdefensetothwartaschoolsiege,butnotesAmeri-ca’s cultural resistance to properly outfitting school officers withbodyarmorandweapons.Giduckadvocates,“fulltac-ticalgearwithcombathelmet…500roundsinabackpackthatgoeswithyoueverywhere.” “OsamaBinLadenhaspledgedbeforetheJihadisover,4millionAmericansincluding2millionchildrenwillbekilled.It’sabraghe’smadetotheMuslimworldthathecannotaffordnottotry,”Giducksaid.HenotesthatifBinLadenmakesgoodononly1%ofthisthreat,itrepresents20,000children.Twochildrendiedon9/11. “BinLadenhaspubliclystated,‘EverythingwedoinRussiatoday,wewilldotoAmerica,’”Giducksaid.He

thinksfederallegislationmustbepassedforlawenforce-menttohaveimmunityfromcriminalandcivilprosecutionifinvolvedinaterroristsiege.“Theharshrealityislawenforcementwillhavetodoterriblethings.” HesaysAmericansarenaïveandthat“whencon-frontedwithaninternationalterrorsiegeonoursoil,wewillthinkwecansaveeveryone.It’sagoodthingthatwevaluelife,butwecan’tallowittoparalyzeus.” AccordingtoGiduck,when,notif,aterroristschoolsiegehappensinAmerica,therewillbenopeacefullynego-tiatedresolution. HenotespolicehesitancyintheBeslansiegegaveterroriststimetowirethebuildingwithbombs.Whenal-QaedaattacksaschoolinAmerica,“Theywillmakedemandsthatcannotbemet”suchasPresidentBushresigningorimmediatewithdrawalofallmilitaryinIraqandAfghanistan.Andtheywill“negotiate”onlylongenoughtogetmediaattentionandfullyputtheirplansinplaceformassmurder.Otherwisetheyfacehumiliationifcaptured. “Theyarepredators.Theydonotwantabattle.Theywilldieormakeuskillthem.Copsmustthinklikesoldiers...Thisisthisthesickeningrealityofcounterterror-ism,”Giducksaid.v

Got a tip for the Boar’s Nest? Send it to: phillipsc-group@comcast.net

Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007 Page 11

Democratic frontrunners passon 2013 Iraq pullout deadlineBy MARK CURRY ThequestionfromNBC’sTimRussertduringWednesday’sDemocraticdebateinNewHampshirewassimple:WillyoupulloutU.S.troopsinIraqby2013? “Ithinkit’shardtoprojectfouryearsfromnow,”saidSen.BarackObama. “It is very difficult to know whatwe’regoingtobeinheriting,”addedSen.HillaryClin-ton. “Icannotmakethatcommitment,”saidformerSen.JohnEdwardsofNorthCarolina. U.S.Sen.ChrisDodddiffered.“I’llgetthejobdone,”saidDodd,whileNewMexicoGov.BillRichardsonagreed.

Gingrich, Romneyupset with GOPBothNewtGingrichandMittRomneyareunhappywiththeirownRepublicanParty,itseems.TheAssociatedPressreportedRomney“promisedtoreturnawaywardGOPtoitscoreprinciples”attheMackinacRepublicanLeadershipConference. “Changemustbeginwithus,”Romney,aformerMassachusettsgovernorwhoisrunningastrongcampaignforthepresidentialnomination,said. RomneyarguedthatRepublicanssharetheblamewithDemocratsforthenation’swoes.Hebemoanedexcessivespending,insecurebordersandethicallapses.“WhenRepublicansactlikeDemo-crats,Americaloses,”hesaid. DuringaninterviewwithABC’s“GoodMorningAmerica,”Gingrichsaidthattop-tierRepublicanpresidentialcandidatesaremakingamistakebyskippingaforumfocusedonissuesofimportancetoblackvoters,APreported. “I’mpuzzledbytheirdecision.Ican’tspeakforthem.Ithinkit’samistake.Iwishtheywouldchangetheirminds-theystillhaveafewdays-andIwishtheywouldinfactgotothedebateThurs-daynight,”saidGingrich.ThetopfourcandidatesintheGOPrace-formerNewYorkMayorRudyGiuliani,formerTennes-seeSen.FredThompson,ArizonaSen.

JohnMcCainandRomney-alldeclinedtoparticipateintheforum citing scheduling conflicts and fundraising pressures, accordingtoAP.

Union delays endorsement TheServiceEmployeesInterna-

tionalUnionhaspostponeditspresidentialendorsementuntilnextmonth,underscoringdivisionswithinthepowerfullaborgroupoverHillaryClinton,sentimentalfavoriteJohnEdwards,andlateststarBarackObama,accordingtoa

reportpublishedbytheBostonGlobe. Eachofthetop-tiercandidateshassupportwithinthe1.8-millionmemberunionthatincludesjanitors,hotelworkers,andtruckdrivers,theGlobestated.

Republicans differ on Iran details With the Republicans finding them-selvesmostlyinagreementonIraqpolicy,Iranisturningintoaplacetoshowhow,if elected to office, they would handle the challengesposedbyitsactivitiesinIraq,itscontentiousnuclearprogramanditssupportforterrorism,Wednesday’sWash-ingtonTimesstated. Whileallofthemtakeaget-toughapproach,theydifferonusingmilitarymight.AccordingtotheTimesreport,FredThompsonrecentlycalledfortheU.S.touse its influence to stop World Bank fund-ingtoIran,whileRomneybeganrunningaradioadinearlyprimarystatesthisweekarguingIranianPresidentMahmoudAhmadinejadshouldbeindictedforcrimesundertheGenevaConventions.GiulianisaidmilitaryactionwasinthecardsifIranappearedclosetoachievingnuclearweap-ons,andGingrichhassaidtheU.S.mustpursueadiplomaticstrategy,notamilitaryone.

As I was listening to Rudy, my cellphone rang ...

By BRIAN A. HOWEY LastMarch,highupaboveIndia-napolisinTimDurham’sfancycorporatedigs, I was mortified as I listened to RepublicanpresidentialcandidateRudyGiuliani.Itwasn’tanythinghewassaying.Iforgottoturnmycellphoneoff.Andit

Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani during his NRA speech (above) and at a March fundraiser in Indianapolis, where HPR influenced his campaign.

Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007 Page 12

rang.AsIbegantoturnseveralshadesofcrimson,Giulianistoppedhisremarksandmadeawisecrackatmyexpense:“Goaheadandtakethecallandtellheryou’llbehomefordinner,”aslightlyperturbedGiulianisaid.Everyoneintheroomlaughed.Nowbeetred,Imadeabee-lineforthedoor.SteveGoldsmithrolledhiseyes. WhenIgotoutintoTimDurham’splushlobby,Iansweredthephone.Itwasmymother.“Hello,dear,”Iwhispered.“IwaslisteningtoRudolphGiuliani.Wouldyouliketosayhello?”Mymotherdeclined.ShewasabouttotakeajourneytoLondon,Ohio.Iurgedhertohaveasafetripandsaid,“IloveyouandI‘llgiveyouacallwhenI’mfinished, alrighty? Bye-bye. Talk to you later, Mom. I love you.” AsImademywaybacktoGiuliani’sspeech,oneofhisbodyguards,stoppedme.“Didyouturnthatthingoff?” I sure did, I assured him.Iunderstandthatyoujustcan’thaveerrantcellphonecallsinterruptingspeechesby national political figures, I told the brooding body guard. Henoddedhisheadwarilyandallowedmetore-enter.AsIpassedbyGoldsmith,Imadesuremycellphonewasturnedoff. Thencamethispastweek.InowbelievethatIhave influenced Giuliani’s presidential campaign with my actions. Speaking before the National Rifle Association,

2008 State Presidential PollsIowa (R) Date Romney Giuliani Thompson McCain HuckabeeStrategicVision Sept.21-23 30 17 13 6 8ARG Aug.26-29 27 17 13 5 14

New Hampshire (R)CNN/WMUR Sept.17-24 25 24 13 18 3

South Carolina (R) LAT/Bloomberg Sept.6-10 9 23 26 15 6

Michigan (R)ARG Sept.1-4 39 13 12 9 4

Iowa (D) Date Clinton Edwards Obama RichardsonStrategicVision Sept.21-23 24 22 21 13ARG Aug.26-29 28 20 23 13

N. Hampshire (D)CNN/WMUR Sept.17-24 43 12 20 6

South Carolina (D) LAT/Bloomberg Sept.9-10 45 7 27 1

Michigan (D)ARG Sept.1-4 43 14 21 5

Giuliani’scellphonerang.Hedidn’tsnuffthecalllikeIdid,ormakeabeelineoutoftheroom.Hetookthecall.Itwasfromhiswife.“Hello,dear,”Giulianisaid.“I’mtalkingtothemembersoftheNRArightnow.Wouldyouliketosayhello?”Rudylistenedforaspell,chortled,andthensaid,“I love you, and I’ll give you a call as soon as I’m finished, OK?” Mrs. Giuliani was headed toLondon(England).“OK,haveasafetrip,”thetough-guyformerNewYorkCitymayorsaid.“Bye-bye.Talktoyoulater,dear.Iloveyou.” Wow,whatafamilyman.Whatasyrupymoment.AndbeforeallthoseAK-47toters.MadeyoukindofforgetallthosephotosofMayorGiulianidressingindrag,orlivingwiththatgaycouple,orthathiskidswon’tvoteforhim. Ithinkthemayorwasfollowingmylead.HesawwhatitdidlastMarchinIndianapolis.Acellphonecalldur-ing a big speech breaks the ice, as long as the pontificater isn’theardsayingsomethinglike,“Thecheck’sinthemail,asshole;nevercallmeagain.”Itallowsforhumortointer-vene.Itgivesthespeakerachancetorecalibratehispaceofthespeech.... (HPR’sphoneringstothetuneofBeethoven’s9th). Sorry,Ihavetotakethiscall:“Hello,Barack,how’sitgoin’myman?”v

Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007Page 13

Gary Gerard, Warsaw Times-Union-PresidentialhopefulHillaryClintonwasspeakingata$100-a-platefundraiseratTownHallnearNewYork’sTimesSquare.ShewastalkingaboutVicePresidentDickCheney’svisittotheCapitolearlierintheweektoshoreupsupportamongRepublicansforW’sIraqplans.“VicePresidentCheneycameuptoseetheRepublicansyesterday.YoucanalwaystellwhentheRepublicansaregettingrestless,becausetheVicePresident’smotorcadepullsintotheCapitol,andDarthVaderemerges,”Hillarysaid.Ah,whatabrilliantriposte.Hillaryisaveritableparagonoftheartofcivilpublicdiscourse.Shewenton,“I’mnotinvitedtotheirmeetingsandIdon’tknowwhathesaysordoes,butallthebravetalkaboutbringingourtroopshome,andsettingdeadlines,andgettingoutbyacertaindatejustdissipated.”Shewasreferring specifically to Senator Jim Webb’s legislation to limittroopdeployments,whichfailedWednesdayintheSenatebyavoteof56-44.ItmustbetoughforHillarythesedayswithherpartyhavingamajorityinbothhousesofCongressandall.PerhapsshecanexplainwhytheonlypoliticalentitywithlowerapprovalratingsthanW’sistheU.S.Congress.v

David Brooks,New York Times-InthebeginningofAugust,liberalbloggersmetattheYearlyKosconventionwhilecentristDemocratsmetattheDemocraticLeadershipCouncil’sNationalConversation.AlmosteveryDemocraticpresidentialcandidateattendedYearlyKos,andnonevisitedtheD.L.C.Atthetime,thatseemedasignthattheleftwasgainingtheupperhandinitsperpetualstrugglewiththecenteroverthesouloftheDemocraticParty.Butnowit’sclearthatwasonlycosmetic.Nowit’sevidentthatifyouwanttounderstandthefutureoftheDemocraticPartyyoucanlearnalmostnothingfromthebloggers,billionairesandactivistsontheleftwhomakeupthe“netroots.”Youcanlearnmostofwhatyouneedtoknowbypayingattentiontotwodifferentgroups—highschooleducatedwomenintheMidwest,andtheoldClin-ton establishment in Washington. In the first place, the netrootscandidatesarelosing.InthevariouspollsontheDailyKosWebsite,JohnEdwards,BarackObamaandevenAlGorecrushHillaryClinton,wholimpsinwith2percentto10percentofthevote.MogulslikeDavidGeffenhavefled for Obama. But the party as a whole is going the other way.HillaryClintonhasestablishedacommandinglead.Second,Clintonisdrawinghersupportfromtheotherde-mographicendoftheparty.AsthejournalistRonBrown-steinandothershavenoted,Democraticprimarycontestsfollowageneralpattern.Thereareafewcandidateswhorepresent the affluent, educated intelligentsia (Eugene Mc-Carthy,BillBradley)andtheyusuallyendupgettingbeatenbythecandidateofthelesseducated,lowermiddleclass.

That’swhat’shappeningagain.ObamaandEdwardsgetmost of their support from the educated, affluent liber-als.AccordingtoGalluppolls,Obamagarners33percentsupportfromDemocraticcollegegraduates,28percent

fromthosewithsomecollegeandonly19percentwithahighschooldegreeorless.Hill-aryClinton’scoresupport,ontheotherhand,comesfromthosewithlesseducationandlessincome—moreHarryTrumanthanHowardDean.Third,Clintonhasestablishedthisleadbyrepudiatingthenetrootstheoryofpolitics.AsthejournalistMattBaimakesclearinhissuperbbook,“TheArgument,”thenetroots

emergedinpartinrebellionagainstClintonianpolitics.Theywantedboldcolorsandslashingattacks.Theydidn’twanttheirpoliticianscateringtowhatMarkosMoulitsasZúnigaoftheDailyKoscalls“themythicalmiddle.”ButClintonhasreliedonMarkPenn,theepitomeofthesortofconsultantthenetrootsreject,andPenn’sapproachhasbeenentirelyvindicatedbytheresultssofar.InaseriesofD.L.C.memoswithtitleslike“TheDecisiveCenter,”PennhaspreachedthatwhileRepublicanscanwinbyappealingonlytoconservatives,Democratsmustappealtocentristsaswellasliberals.Inhisnewbook,“Microtrends,”hecastsacausticeyeontheelitesandmega-donorsofbothpartieswhoareoutoftouchwithaveragevoterconcerns.Fourth,thenetrootsarelosingthepolicybattles.AsMattBai’sreportingalsosuggests,thenetrootshavenotbeenabletoturntheirpassionandanimusintoapositivepolicyagenda.DemocraticdomesticpolicyisnowbeingdrivenbyoldClintonhandslikeGeneSperlingandBruceReed.v

Matt Tully,Indianapolis Star-IndianaDemocraticPartyChairmanDanParkerishighlyskilledattheartofputtingonabraveface.HedidsothisweekwhenIcalledtotalkaboutthesomewhatsurprisingdeci-sionbyhismentor--Sen.EvanBayh--toendorseSen.Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential bid. “The first thing I’llsayis,IhavefaithinEvanBayh’sjudgment,”Parkersaid.Bayh,hesaid,“hasthebestinterestsofIndianaandthecountry”inmindanddidnot“cometothisdecisionquickly.”HealsopredictedthatHoosierswhomaynotbeHillaryClintonfans“aregoingtogiveherasecondlook”ifsheclaimstheDemocraticnomination.“SheisreadytodothejobonDayOne,”Parkersaid,echoingwordsBayhusedinhisendorsementstatement.ItoldParkerhewasin fine spin mode, as it’s clear the last thing many Indiana DemocraticPartyinsiderswantisClintonatthetopoftheticketnextyear.Thereasoningis,Clintonwillbeanespecially divisive figure in Republican-leaning Indiana, andatrickle-downeffectcouldhurtDemocraticchancesof reclaiming the governor’s office. I’ve never agreed with thatargument.Democrats,afterall,didwinfourconsecu-tiveracesforgovernor,from1988to2000.v

Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007Page 14

EvansvilleCityCouncilPresidentKeithJarboe,D-at-large,saidthestateshouldlookatotherwaysbesidespropertytaxestofundlocalgovern-mentsandschools.PropertytaxreliefapprovedduringthelastGeneralAs-semblysessionwas“aBand-Aidwhenweneedatourniquet,”Jarboesaid.Averysaidlocalgovernmentsdohaveauthoritytogeneraterevenueinsomeotherways,suchaspassageofalocaloptionincometax.CountyCouncilPresidentMarshaAbell,R-at-large,calledforthestatetopickupthecostsofrunningjailsandcourts.EvansvilleMayorJonathanWeinzapfel,aDemo-crat,toldShepardcitizensoftenhavedifficulty discerning who is responsible for fluctuations in their property taxes, andhecalledfor“acleardelineation”ofsuchresponsibility.

Jury deliberates onex-councilmen’s fates HAMMOND-Jurorsdeliberat-edforalmostsevenhoursWednesdaywithoutreachingaverdictinthetrialof three Lake County political figures chargedinconnectionwithallegedlyfraudulentlanddeals(Post-Tribune).Aweary-lookinggroupofadozenfriendsandrelativesofLakeCountyCouncilmanWillSmithandco-defen-dantsRooseveltPowellandWillieHar-risremainedinthegallerywhenJudgePhilipSimondismissedjurorsaround7:30p.m.

IDEM criticizedfor US Steel permit GARY - Just five days be-foretheircommentperiodexpires,residentsspokeoutWednesdayatthe second and final hearing about U.S.SteelGaryWorks’wastewaterdischargepermitrenewal(TimesofNorthwestIndiana).AttendantscriticizedtheIndianaDepartmentofEnvironmentalManagementforrelaxingenvironmentalguidelinesandU.S.Steelfornotgoingbeyondthoseguidelinesandtryingtoeliminatedis-chargesaltogether.

St. Joe County budgetwill force layoffs SOUTHBEND-TheSt.JosephCountyCommissionersvoted2-1toputthecaponthecountybudgetprocessWednesday,butthefinal package was far from what had beenhopedforwhendeliberationsbeganamonthago.Facedwithde-clining revenues, county officials had tomakeseverecutsinmostcountydepartments(South Bend Tribune).“Itwasnotaneasyprocess,”saidCommissionerRobertKovach,D-3rd.Becauseoftherevenuesituation,Ko-vachsaid,thebudgetmakersstartedbydeterminingwhatwasneededtomaintainanacceptablelevelofservicewhilemeetingrisinghealthcareandothercosts.“Initially,thecouncilandcommissionerswerehopingtogivepayraises,”saidCommissionerPresi-dentSteveRoss,D-2nd,whovotedapprovalalongwithKovach.“Instead,wegavelayoffnotices.”

Bartholomew Countytaxes going up 25-30% COLUMBUS-PropertytaxbillsinBartholomewCountywillgoupanaverage25to30percent-not8or9percent-accordingtoa“rough”predictionbyCountyAuditorNancyMcKinney(Columbus Republic).Tuesday,CountyAssessorTomOwenspredictedan8-to9-percenthikeintheaveragebill.Bothpredictionswerepresentedwiththeunderstandingpropertyowners’billamountswouldvarybetweenneighborhoods.

Website set up forproposed intermodal LaPORTE-Countyeconomic-developmentleaderslaunchedawebsiteMondayoutliningtheeconomicbenefits an intermodal transportation facilitycouldbringtoLaPorteCounty.Thesite,www.lcintermodal.info,alsoinformsresidentsabouttheprocessrequiredtoapproveandbegindevelop-mentofsuchafacility.v

Shepard gauges reformideas in Evansville EVANSVILLE-IndianaChiefJusticeRandallShepardvisitedhisna-tiveEvansvilleonWednesdaytohearideasonhowtoimprovelocalgovern-mentservicesstatewide(Evansville Courier & Press).TheCivicCenter’sCityCouncilchamberswasnearlyfullforShepard’sforum,butmostspeakers were elected officials and candidates.RandallT.ShepardTheco-chairmanoftheLocalGovernmentReform Commission, fielded sugges-tions from local officials and residents Wednesday.Localeffortstomergecityandcountygovernmentshavebeendormantoflate,butsomecom-mentsrevisitedpro-mergerthemes,suchastheargumentthatexistinggovernmentstructureisobtrusiveandhinderseconomicdevelopment.“Havingasinglepointofleadershipinlocalgovernmentisreallycritical,”saidVanderburghCountyCouncilmanLloydWinnecke,R-4thDistrict.Cur-rentlocalgovernmentframework“isconfusingforpeoplecominginwhoaren’tfamiliarwiththisarea,”saidCityCouncilmanJeffKniese,R-1stWard.Shepardisco-chairmanofthestatecommissiononlocalgovernmentwithformerGov.JoeKernan,whowasn’tpresentatWednesday’sforum.TheShepard-Kernancommissionisweighingproposalsto,amongotherthings,paredownlocalgovernmentoffices and consolidate libraries and smallschoolcorporations.StateRep.DennisAvery,D-Evansville,saidtown-ship-levelgovernmentis“athrow-backtohorseandbuggydays,”buteliminatingtownshipswouldmeantheirservicesmustbepickedupelsewhere.Taxationissueswereonseveral officials’ minds.