friday, aug. 29, 2008 aggressive obama aims at mccain · for president. on the 45th anniversary of...

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By MARK SCHOEFF JR. WASHINGTON-Sen.BarackObamamadehistoryThursdaynightbyacceptingtheDemocraticnominationforpresident.Onthe45thanniversaryofDr.MartinLuther

King’s“IHaveaDream”speech,Obamabecame the first African American to havehisnameplacedatthetopoftheballot. AsexpectedinanObamaspeech,thereweremomentsofsoaringrhetoric.It’snosurprisethatsuchagiftedoratorwouldhithighpointsanddelivermemo-rablelines.Mostofthemcameattheend,withreferencestoKing’sspeechby the man who was fulfilling the dream

“Hillary contributed 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling. It turns out that the women of America aren’tfinished.” - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin

Friday, Aug. 29, 2008

Obama opts for apolitical entreatybeyond DemocratsBy BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS-BarackObama’srhetoricsoaredtotherimofastadiumamilehighThursdaynight,butthecentralmessageandtheimpressivesetweregroundedintherealitiesofthecomingslugfestwithJohnMcCain.Obamaoptedforanac-ceptancespeechwithadistinctpoliticalnature,mentioningMc-Cainadozentimes.Foracandi-datewhohadlongsoldhimselfasbeingabovetraditionalpartisanpolitics,Obamawasontheattackmodebeforemillions of Americans who tuned in for the first time. Obama obviously didn’twanttorepeatthemistakesof2004andJohnKerry,whoattemptedtotakethehighroadandwas“Swift-boated”toanarrowdefeatdespitetheincreasinglyunpopularIraqWar.“Therecord’sclear:JohnMcCainhasvotedwithGeorgeBush90percent See Page 4

Conventional Obama

ofthetime,”Obamasaidabout10minutesintothespeech.“Sen.McCainlikestotalkaboutjudgment,butreally,whatdoesitsayaboutyourjudgmentwhenyouthinkGeorgeBushhasbeenrightmorethan90percentofthetime?Idon’tknowaboutyou,butI’mnotreadytotakea10per-centchanceonchange.” Obamacontinued,“Thetruthis,onissueafter

Aggressive Obama aims at McCain

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beforeoureyes. Forthemostpart,though,Obamabecameaconventionalpoliticianoncehebegantalking.Theamountoftimehedevotedtoattack-ingSen.JohnMcCain,hisRepublicanopponent,wasremarkable. In spite ofthemostfavor-ablepoliticalclimateimaginableforDemocrats,theirstandardbearerfeltcompelledtoconcentratehisspeechonMcCain.Yes,Obamawasdemon-stratingthathecanpunchback.Butheactedasifhewasontheropes. BythetimeObamaconcluded,itwasclearthatMcCainisframingthe fight. One has towonderhowMcCain,whoisrep-resentingadividedpartyweigheddownbyanenor-mouslyunpopularpresident,canbetheonedictatingthetermsofthisrace. ObamawillsurelygetasolidbounceoutofhismasterfullyproducedInvescoFieldconcert.Butwhatmaybringhimbackdowntoearthisthatthemessagevoterstookawayfromtheextrava-ganzaisthatMcCainistheguytobeat. Why would theythinkthat?BecauseObamaseemedtomakethatverypoint.Hegavemuchmorecre-dencetoMcCain’sattacksbyelevatingtheminthemostimportantspeechofhiscampaign.IfObamaisthatworriedaboutMcCain‘sdigs,maybevoterswillplacehighvalueonthemaswell--andbelievethatMcCainhasraisedlegitimatemisgivings. Obamadidn’tsethimselfapartasaonce-in-generation(orlife-time)politicianonThursdaynight.Hesanktothepoliticalnorm,recitingalitanyofgauzy,orthodoxliberalgoalsandshopwornpromiseslikeparsing

thebudgetline-by-linetoeliminatewastefulprograms. He sounded more like a first-termsenatorthanheeverhasduringthecampaign.McCaincan’tbeataphenomenoninaterribleRepublicanyear like this one. But he definitely can competewithajuniorsenatorwhoistotheleftofacenter-right-leaningcountry. Iftheelectioniswagedatgroundlevel,ratherthaninamoreetherealrealm,McCainwillbeinhiselement. He’s the scrapy fighter who is

athisbestgrindingawayintownhallmeetingswhereissuesareparamount. Insuchanatmosphere,Mc-Cainactuallyhasachanceofconvinc-ingvotershecanwin.Suchapercep-tionishisonlyhopeforprevailinginNovember.AsBobDoleknows,ifpeopleneverthinkyoucanwin,youwon’t. OnThursdaynight,ObamacertainlyindicatedthathethinksMc-Caincanwin.Indoingso,heallowedMcCaintolandpuncheswithoutevenenteringthering. But we’re stillintheearlyrounds,andObamahasthecapabilityofthrowingadevastatinghaymakerby rising above the street fight. Mc-CainhadbetterputuphisdukesnextweekinSt.Paul.v Schoeff reports for HPI from Washington.

HOWEY Politics Indiana Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Friday, Aug. 29, 2008


McCain-Palin ticketa big GOP surpriseBy BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS-JohnMcCaintookthebiggestrolloftheveepstakesdicetodaysinceDanQuaylewhenhetabbedAlaskaGov.SarahPalinashisvicepresidentialnominee. TheformermayorofWasilla,sheisthemotherof five with one of her sons preparing for a tour of duty inIraq.SheisanNRAmemberandisapro-life,givingbirthrecentlytoachildwithDownsSyndrome.Sheisamaverickandare-formerwhoreferstoherhusbandToddasthe“FirstDude”whoisaamemberoftheUnitedSteelworkers. “IknowitwilldemandthebestIcangiveandIpromisenothingless,”PalintoldavigorouscrowdinDaytonatmid-daytoday.Shesaidsheranformayorto“cutwastefulspendingandtaxes.” Inhisintroduction,McCainsaid,“SheisexactlywhatweneedinWashingtontoday.She’sexactlywhoIneed,whothiscountryneeds.” McCainnotedthatinthe2006gubernatorialrace,“Shebeatthelongoddstowinatoughelectionontheissuesofreformandpublicintegrity.” TheselectioncomesasMcCaincelebrateshis72ndbirthday.Shouldhewintheelection,hewouldbetheold-est president to take office. At that age andafteraboutwithmelanoma,hischoiceofvicepresi-dentwasseenasacrucial. “Youcouldknockmeoverwithafeather,”saidlongtimeWhiteHouseaideDavidGergenonCNN.“JohnMcCainlovesboldgamblesandthisisthebiggestgamble.” McCain unveiled Palin atanoontimerallyinDayton.At44,Palinisyoungerthanthe47-year-oldObamaand,likeMcCain,shecallsherselfamaverick(As-sociatedPress). TheObamacampaignexultedinthePalinselection,sayingittakesthe“experience”argu-ment“offthetable.”TheObamacampaignalsonotedthatshe is under investigation for the firing of a former state police official who was divorcing the governor’s sister. ButMcCainforcesbelievethatPalin-comingfromasfarofftheDCBeltwayasyoucan-willhelpthecam-paignmoveintothe“change”turfthatObamahasdomi-natedtodate.TheMcCaincampaignnotesthatPalinhasmore“executive”experiencethaneitherBarackObamaor

Sen.JoeBiden. JillHazelbaker,McCain’scommunicationsdirec-tor,onontheCBSTheEarlyShow,“JohnMcCainisgoingtomakethechoicefromhisheart.He’sgoingtochoosesomeonewhocanbeapartneringoverning.He’sgoingtochoosesomeonewhobringscharacterandprincipletothetable and who shares his priorities. And I’m confident that he’sgoingtomakeagreatpick.” The choice gives theRepublicansaWesternticketatatimewhenDemocratsweretakingaimatstateslikeColorado,NewMexicoandNevada-statesthatPresi-dentGeorgeW.Bushcommandedinhis2004re-electionbid.Palin’sselectionaccentuatesageographicaltwistaway

fromtheSouth,whichhassuppliedLyndonJohnson,JimmyCarter,thetwoPresidentBushes,BillClinton,AlGore,andLloydBentsentothenationaltickets.Instead,thetwomajorpartiesoptedforthemostuniquediversityinU.S. history with the first African-Ameri-canpresidentialnomineeandnowthefirst Republican female vice president nominee. Palinsaidshe“signedmajorethicsreforms”andappointedbothRepubli-cansandDemocrats.“ItoldCongressthanksbutnothankstothatbridgetonowhere.,”Palinsaid.“Ifourstatewantedthatbridge,we’dbuilditour-selves.”Sheaddedthatshehad“takenonthegoodoldboys.” “ThepeopleofAmericaexpectusto seek public office and serve for therightreasons,”Palinsaid.“Andtherightreasonistochallengethe

statusquoandservethecommongood.” “Thisisamomentwhereprincipleandindepen-dencematterbeyondpartylines,”Palinsaid.“Thisisamomentthatrequiresresolve,toughnessandstrengthofheartintheAmericanpresident.”ShesaidthatMcCainhadshownthequalities“inthedarkestofplacesintheser-viceofhiscountry.I’mgoingtomakesurenooneforgetsthatduringthiscampaign.Thereisonlyonemanwhohasfoughtforthisduringthiscampaignandit’sJohnMcCain.” “As the mother of oneofthosetroopsandascommanderoftheAlaskaNationalGuard,that’sthekindofmanIwantcommandingourtroops.”Palinsaid. And,Palinnoted,herselectioncomes88years“almosttotheday”thatAmericanwomengottherighttovote.ShepaidhomagetoDemocratsGeraldineFerraroandHillaryClinton.“ItwasnotedthatHillarycontributed18millioncracksintheglassceiling.Itturnsoutthatthewomen of America aren’t finished,” she said. v


Obama,from page 1

issuethatwouldmakeadifferenceinyourlives--onhealthcareandeducationandtheeconomy--Sen.Mc-Cainhasbeenanythingbutindependent.Hesaidthatoureconomyhasmade‘greatprogress’underthispresident.Hesaidthatthefundamentalsoftheeconomyarestrong.Andwhenoneofhischiefadvisers--themanwhowrotehiseconomicplan--wastalkingabouttheanxietiesthatAmericansarefeeling,hesaidthatwewerejustsufferingfroma‘mentalrecession,’andthatwe’vebecome,andIquote,‘anationofwhiners.’” ObamatalkedofaHoosier.“We’reabettercountrythanonewhereamaninIndianahastopackuptheequipmenthe’sworkedonfor20yearsandwatchitshippedofftoChina,andthenchokesupasheex-plainshowhefeltlikeafailurewhenhewenthometotellhisfamilythenews.” ObamachallengedMcCaintodebatehimonforeignpolicy,saying,“IfJohnMcCainwantstohaveadebateaboutwhohasthetemperament,andjudgment,toserveasthenextcom-manderinchief,that’sadebateI’mreadytohave.ForwhileSen.McCainwasturninghissightstoIraqjustdaysafter9/11,Istoodupandopposedthiswar,knowingthatitwoulddistractusfromtherealthreatsthatweface.WhenJohnMcCainsaidwecouldjust‘muddlethrough’inAfghanistan,Iarguedformore resources and more troops to finish the fight against theterroristswhoactuallyattackeduson9/11,andmadeclearthatwemusttakeoutOsamabinLadenandhislieutenantsifwehavetheminoursights.Youknow,JohnMcCainlikestosaythathe’llfollowbinLadentotheGatesofHell--buthewon’tevengotothecavewherehelives.

Earthtones & Barack NASCAR WhilemostoftheDemocraticNationalConven-tionhadbeenhuedinblue,andshotsfromabovehadObamawalkingatopabluecarpetinfrontofGreekRe-vivalcolumns,thenetworkcameraangleshadaredhued,earthtonemonochromaticbackdropthatlenttotheheavypayloadofthespeech.WhilemanyexpectedBruceSpring-steen’s“TheRising”tocapoffthenight,thecampaignoptedformoderncountrymusic,andthensubduedstringsastheObamaandBidenfamilieswavedtothecrowd.ThiswasBarackNASCAR.Clearly,withtheClintons’emphaticendorsements,theyouthfulDemocraticbaseunitedwiththeparty’straditionalspecialinterestsnowatarm’slength,thiswasacampaignlookingtoconnecttoindependentand

Republicanvoters. Withintheseearthtones,ObamawantedtoruboffthecelebritysheenofthecampaignthatallowedMcCaintoshaveawayhisleadinthepolls.Pickingupthefamilybiog-raphythatwifeMichellehadarticulatedonMonday,Obamatalkedofhisabsentfather,hiswanderingmotherandhisstaunchgrandparentswhorolledwithPatton’s3rdArmyandbuiltFlyingFortresses,saying,“Now,Idon’tknowwhatkindoflivesJohnMcCainthinksthatcelebritieslead,butthishasbeenmine.Thesearemyheroes.Theirsarethestoriesthatshapedmylife.AnditisonbehalfofthemthatIintendtowinthiselectionandkeepourpromisealiveaspresidentoftheUnitedStates.”

Fleeting reference to King Obama made only fleeting references to Dr. Martin LutherKing,whose“IHaveaDream”speechtookplaceonAug.28,1963.“Anditisthatpromisethat45yearsagotoday,broughtAmericansfromeverycornerofthislandtostandtogetheronamallinWashington,beforeLincoln’sMemorial,andhearayoungpreacherfromGeor-giaspeakofhisdream,”Obamasaidtowardtheendofhisspeech.”Wecannotwalkalone,”thepreachercried.“Andaswewalk,wemustmakethepledgethatweshallalwaysmarchahead.Wecannotturnback.” ItwashereinthepenultimatesectionofthespeechthatObamawovetheaggressiverhetoricintothesettingandcalleduponKing’slegendaryaddressinfrontoftheLincolnMemorial. Instead,Obamainitializedhisspeechwithrecog-nitionofanationonthewrongtrack,asmanypollshaverevealed. “We meet at one of those defining moments --amomentwhenournationisatwar,oureconomyisinturmoil,andtheAmericanpromisehasbeenthreatenedoncemore,”Obamasaid.“Tonight,moreAmericansareout


ofworkandmoreareworkingharderforless.Moreofyouhavelostyourhomesandevenmorearewatchingyourhomevaluesplummet.Moreofyouhavecarsyoucan’taffordtodrive,creditcardbillsyoucan’taffordtopay,andtuitionthat’sbeyondyourreach.Thesechallengesarenotallofgovernment’smaking.ButthefailuretorespondisadirectresultofabrokenpoliticsinWashingtonandthefailedpoliciesofGeorgeW.Bush.America,wearebetterthantheselasteightyears.Weareabettercountrythanthis.”

Details & Energy ManycriticshavetargetedObamaforlackofdetail.Herespondedtothembysayinghewillforgeataxcutfor95percentofthepeople,endthecapitalgainstax,respon-siblyendthewarinIraqwhileissuinga10-yearchallengetobreakAmerica’sdependencyonforeignoil. “Andforthesakeofoureconomy,oursecurityandthefutureofourplanet,Iwillsetacleargoalaspresident:In 10 years, we will finally end our dependence on oil from theMiddleEast.Wewilldothis,”Obamasaidwhileblam-ingintertiaandMcCain.“Washington’sbeentalkingaboutouroiladdictionforthelast30years,andbytheway,JohnMcCain’sbeentherefor26ofthem.Andinthattime,he’ssaidnotohigherfuel-ef-ficiency standards for cars, no toinvestmentsinrenewableenergy,notorenewablefuels.Andtoday,weimporttripletheamountofoilthatwehadonthedaythatSen.McCaintook office.” Specifically, Obama said,“Aspresident,Iwilltapournaturalgasreserves,in-vestincleancoaltechnology,and find ways to safely har-nessnuclearpower.I’llhelpourautocompaniesretool,sothat the fuel-efficient cars of the future are built right here inAmerica.I’llmakeiteasierfortheAmericanpeopletoaffordthesenewcars.AndI’llinvest$150billionoverthenextdecadeinaffordable,renewablesourcesofenergy--windpowerandsolarpowerandthenextgenerationofbiofuels;aninvestmentthatwillleadtonewindustriesand5millionnewjobsthatpaywellandcan’tbeoutsourced.”

Guns, God & Gays Inthemostfascinatingsectionofthespeech,Obamatookonguns,Godandgaysinoneparagraph,comingeverclosertotouchingtheculturalrails.“Wemay

notagreeonabortion,butsurelywecanagreeonreduc-ingthenumberofunwantedpregnanciesinthiscountry,”ObamasaidinasectionthatechoedthestanceofformerIndianacongressmanTimRoemer,whoseekstoeliminate90percentofabortionsinadecade. “TherealityofgunownershipmaybedifferentforhuntersinruralOhiothantheyareforthoseplaguedbygang-violenceinCleveland,”Obamasaidofguns.“butdon’ttellmewecan’tupholdtheSecondAmendmentwhilekeepingAK-47soutofthehandsofcriminals.Iknowtherearedifferencesonsame-sexmarriage,butsurelywecanagreethatourgayandlesbianbrothersandsistersdeservetovisitthepersontheyloveinthehospitalandtolivelivesfree of discrimination. You know, passions may fly on im-migration, but I don’t know anyone who benefits when a motherisseparatedfromherinfantchildoranemployerundercutsAmericanwagesbyhiringillegalworkers.”

GOP reaction TheMcCaincampaigncriedfoulonseveralfronts,particularlywhenObamaquestionedhiscommitmentto

trackingdownOsamabinLaden.IndianaRepublicanPartyChair-manMurrayClarkobserved,“Werecognizethisforwhatiswas:awell-deliveredspeechonanhis-toricoccasion.ButBarackObamadidn’twinmyvotetonight,andbasedonthecontentofhisspeech,Ithinkit’sunlikelyhewontheheartsofmanyHoo-siers.However,forfuturegenera-tions,itisimportanttorecognizethattonightwasanimportantmilestoneinournation’shistory.” Thisspeechwasn’tthesmootharcmanyofuswhohaveheardObamaspeakmanytimesexpected.OntheIndianacam-paigntrail,heoftentranscended

thebluntoppositionofHillaryClin-tonandtalkedbeyondthetrenches.OnThursdaynight,Obamaenteredthem.Itwasbyfarthemostaggressivespeechhehasgiven.Thedelegatesinthestadiumweretransfixed by the towering, sprawling setting, it was easy to seehowthetruebelieversandHillaryconvertsmighthavegottensweptupinthemoment. Forthenewviewer,thiswasadifferentObama.HeprowledagainstMcCainandPresidentBushandtookhisglovesoff.Itcreatedsomewhatofajarringcontrasttohisnormalfareandithintsoftheepicpoliticalbattlethatliesjustaroundthecornerandwon’tfullyplayoutuntilNov.4.v

HOWEY Politics Indiana Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Friday, Aug. 29, 2008Page6

Obama’s messageto Hoosiers By JACK COLWELL SOUTHBEND-Amidstirringrhetoriccaptivatingafootballstadiumcrowdof80,000ThursdaynightinaColo-radoRockiessetting,BarackObamaaskedHoosiersback

onthelevelgroundofIndianatovoteforthemselves. No,hewasn’tsuggest-ingthattheywriteintheirownnamesonNov.4ballots.Andhewasn’tspeakingjusttoHoo-siersbutrathertoallintheTVaudienceacrossthenation,theaudiencethatismoreimpor-tantthancheeringpartisansinDenver. “Thiselectionhasneverbeenaboutme,”Obamasaid.“It’saboutyou.” ThiswasanimportantthemeasObamasoughtinhis

nominationacceptancespeechtokeepRepublicansfrommakinghimtheissueandtogetvoterstofocusinsteadonissuessuchastheeconomy,healthcare,breakingdepen-denceonforeignoilandevenontheconductofthewaronterror. Obama promised thatDemocratswoulddoabetterjobonthoseissues,whilecontendingthatJohnMc-CainwouldfollowthecourseofanunpopularBushadmin-istration. PollsshowvotersagreewithDemocraticapproach-esonmostissuesbutthattheyalsoaren’tsureObamaisreadytobepresident,especiallyinservingascommanderinchiefofthemilitaryforces.

Obamahitdirectlyatthat,saying:“IfJohnMcCainwantstohaveadebateaboutwhohasthetemperamentandjudgmenttoserveascommanderinchief,that’sadebateI’mreadytohave.” McCain has had successinridiculingObamaasacelebritywhocandrawacrowd,sameasParisHiltonorBritneySpears,butthatObama,sameasthoseattention-getters,wouldnotbeapresidentwithexperiencetomakesounddecisionsinacrisis. Inhisspeech,ObamadirectedsometoughtalkatMcCain, signaling that he will fight back against any Re-publicanridiculeofthetypethatdoomedthehaplessJohnKerry,the2004Democraticnominee. Hisreferencetotheright“temperament”foracommanderinchiefwasaclearreferencetoquestionsaboutMcCain’stemperorreportedoccasionallossthereof. Obama’s45-minutespeechcoveredissueafteris-sue,offeringablueprintofwhathemeansbychange,evenwithmentionofseekingaccommodationonsuchdivisivesubjectsasabortion,gunownership,immigrationandgaymarriage. Onmostofthemajorissues,ObamalinkedMcCaintothepoliciesofPresidentGeorgeW.BushanddeploredtheresultsofthoseBusheffortsathomeandabroad. If Obama was successfulingettingfolksaroundtheirTVsetsinIndianatolookattheissueshecitedandnottolookathimassomekindofarisk,hecouldputthestateinplayinthepresidentialelection.Hewantsthemtovoteforthemselves,fortheissuesimportanttothem.If voters do, in Indiana and elsewhere, after finding more agreementwithObamathanwithMcCain,theDemocraticnomineecouldwellgoontobeelectedpresident.Iftheylookmoreathimastheissueanddon’tlikewhattheysee,hewon’twin.v

Colwell has covered Indiana politics over five decades for the South Bend Tribune. He is a regular contributor to Howey Politics Indiana.

Friday, Aug. 29, 2008Page7

Bayh talks of his‘surreal’ veepstakesBy BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS-WeconductedthistelephoneinterviewwithU.S.Sen.EvanBayhlateTuesdayafternoonfromDenverattheDemocraticNationalConvention. HPI: DidyougetthetextmessagefromtheObamacampaignat3a.m? Bayh:I’mhappytoreportIwashappilyasleepat3a.m.becauseBarackandIhadspokenThursdayafternoon.Iwasnotawaitinginanticipation.IalreadyknewwhathisdecisionwasandIsupportitwholeheartedly. HPI: HowdidthephonecallwithSen.Obamago?Didyouknowitwascomingorwasitacalloutoftheblue? Bayh:Hecouldn’thavebeennicer.IknewBarackbutIdidn’tknowhimwellbeforeIwentthroughtheprocess.ButIthinkwegottoknoweachotherwellanddevelopedrespectandappreciationforeachotherthatisgeniune.Brian,hesaidalotofthingsverycomplimentary;thingsyouwouldimagineinacalllikethat.ButIthinkhegenuinelybelievedthem.Iknewthateventhough I was in the final three or two,itwasagoodchance,butitwasn’ta50/50chance.SoIwaspreparedforthat.Andhetoldmeheneededmenotonlyinthecampaignbutforthecountry.Itwillgoinanewdirection.ItoldhimIwoulddowhateverIcoulddotoaccomplishthat.IfIwastheonewhocouldhelphimthemost, fine. If it was somebody elseIwouldbefullysupportive ofthat. He also said, Brian, you made it to the final two or three.You’vegotgreatstrengthsandsoitwasaverygoodconversationandIthinkwe’regoingtohaveaverygoodrelationshipgoingforward. HPI:Atwhatpointthissummerdiditbecomeap-parentthatyouwereontheshortlist? Bayh:Iwaskindofanevolutionarything.AsSusanpointsout,Ihadnoexpectationofbeingconsideredbe-causeIwasastrongsupporterofHillaryClinton.Itstarts

withpublicspeculationbypeoplewhoreallydon’tknowwhat’sgoingon.Andthenhewaskindenoughtocallmeandsaid,“Look,we’regoingtocastawidenet.”HesaidhewouldbehonoredifIwouldbewillingtogothroughtheprocessofbeingconsidered.“We’regoingtocastawidenetandlookatanumberofpeople.ButtherewereonlyahandfulthatmeritseriousconsiderationandIthinkyou’reoneofthem.”SoIsaidthatIwouldbehonoredtobecon-sideredthen.Mytakeonthis,Brian,isthattogettothefinal two or three obviously you’ve got to have some pretty goodthingsthatrecommendyouoryoudon’tgetthere.Andobviouslyyoucan’thavetoomanynegativethingsotherwise you don’t get there. I hope it reflected well on

ourstate.Whenyougettothatpointitjustbecomeswhattheparticulardynamicsofthecampaignhappentobe.Wehadtwoorthreereallygoodpeopleanditwasaques-tion of who happened to fit their needs at that particular timebest.That’sthewayitis.DickLugarhasbeeninthispositionandmyfatherhasbeeninthisposition.Theyperformedgreatpublicserviceforourstate.SoI’mprettyphilosophicalaboutit. HPI: Atwhatpointinthesummerddyouknowyouwouldbevetted? Bayh:Ican’tremembertheexactdatebutifHill-ary dropped out in the first week of June or there abouts, it

Sen. Evan Bayh talks to the press at Concord HS in Elkhart earlier this month after campaigning with Barack Obama. (HPI Photo by Ryan Nees)


wasprobablysometimeinJuly. HPI: DidyouhaveconversationswithSen.Clintononceitbecameclearyouwerebeingvetted? Bayh: Ididnottalktoheraboutthatwholepro-cess. That was confidential. Once it was known, I talked to heraboutitandshewishedmewell.ShecalledmeSatur-daynightaftertheannouncementjusttosaywhatastrongcandidateIwouldhavebeen,butshelikesJoeBiden.Ididnottalktoherindetailabouttheprocess.Theywerequiteadamant that it be kept confidential so I didn’t. HPI: Let’stalkaboutthetwoJulyeventswithSen.Obama.HowwereyouinvolvedinthePurdueUniversityforum?ThatobviouslygotusinthemediagoingsinceyouandSamNunnwerethere. Bayh:TheywantedtocometoIndiana.And,bytheway,allthetalkaboutthemnotbeingseriousinIndiana,well,that’snottrue.They’reseriousaboutit,evennow.Andthat’sgood.Sohecameheretocampaign,theywantedtofocusonnationalsecurityandSamNunnandIwerestrongvoicesonnationalsecurityandsotheyaskedifIwouldcomeandintroducehimandparticipateonthepanel.Ididn’thelpplanitbutIwasmorethanhappytointroducehimandparticipate. HPI: AndElkhart? Bayh:TheElkhartthingthateverybodygotallexcitedaboutitwasreallyjustacampaignevent,thereandPortage.Andonthebusbetweenthetwowespentalotofgoodqualitytimebutwedidnotdiscussonewordaboutthevicepresi-dentialsituation.Wetalkedaboutkidsandwetalkedaboutsports.Whichshouldtellyouhe’saprettyregularperson. HPI:AreyouaSoxfanoraCubsfan? Bayh:I’mnotfromChicago.Ikindofrootfortheunderdog.IknowtheowneroftheWhiteSox,JerryReins-dorf,soIkindofhavesomeallegiancethatway.ButsinceI’maDemocratIkindofrootfortheunderdogandhopetheCubbiesgetthecurseofftheirbacks.Ican’tremember...Baracktoldmewhichoneheis, HPI:He’saSoxfan.SouthSider. Bayh:IlovetalkingtoReggieLovebecausehe’saformerDukebasketballplayersowetalkedalotofsportstoo. HPI: Walkmethroughthislastcrazyweek.Whatwasthatlikewithallthespeculationandthemediaonyour

frontporch? Bayh:Itwassurrealattimes,watchingthefrontofyourhouseonTVinrealtimeandliterallynotbeingabletogooutandgetthemorningnewspaperortakeyourkidstocampwithoutapackofpresscomingaround.Andthenthelastdayoneofthenetworksliterallyhadsomeonefollowingmearoundinacar.Butthat’spartofthething,part of the situation. So we accepted all that. We were fine withit.Thelastcoupleofweekswereabitofanemotionalrollercoaster.Iknewwewereunderseriousconsideration,Iknewitwasasmallgroup,Iknewitwaslessthan50/50butstilladecentchance.Sowewerefollowingtheprocessjustlikeeveryoneelse. HPI:Couldyouhavesnuckoutthebackdoorandgottenawayfromthepressifyouhadto? Bayh:Notthewayourhouseisconstructed...well,IguessIcouldhavescaledthefenceandrunthroughtheneighbor’syard,but,Imighthaveimpaledmyself. HPI:WhatwasitliketoseeSusandragged

throughallofthis,particularlywhentheBloombergstorycameoutinthelastweek? Bayh:Hetoldmewhenhecalledmetoinformmeofthedecisionthathisdecisonhadnothingtodowithme.Ithadtodowithsomeofthethingsinthecampaigntheyweretryingtoaccomplish.Hetoldmethatthatwasnotgoingtomakethede-cision. I knew that first

hand,butlook,I’mnotgoingtocharacterizemyconversa-tions. HPI:What’syourviewofthenewsmediathesedaysaftergoingthroughthisrollercoaster? Bayh:Thenewsmediadoestheirjob.It’sanim-portantjobandItrynottosecondguessthem.(BayhrunsintoCBSanchorKatieCouricatthispointintheinterviewandtheychatforacoupleofminutes).Sorry,Brian,thatwasKatieCouric.ShehadbeenpredictingthatitwouldbemeandMittRomney,soshestillhasachancetobat.500. HPI:ObamadidnotrunwellagainstHillaryinIndiana’srivercorridorandyoualwayshave.Canhewinthereandwillyouhelphim? Bayh: ItoldhimIwoulddoeverythingtohelphimoutwhenitcomestocampaigninginIndiana.Iwilltakemydirectionfromhim.Andtheanswerisyes.Acoupleofthings:SouthernIndianaisnodifferentthantherestofourstateintermsofmiddleclassfamiliesstrugglingeconomi-


callywiththehighcostofhealthcareandthehighcostofgasoline.Peopleknowwehavetohaveabettereconomicpolicytocreatebetterpayingjobs.Theyaretiredofspend-ing$10billionamonthinIraqwhentheIraqishavea$79billionsurplus.So,Ithinkhecandowell.It’sgoingtotakesomecampaigningbutthat’swhatacampaignisallabout. HPI:WillitbecloseinIndiana?WillwebeseeingyouinOctober? Bayh: Iamgoingtobehome.I’vegotseveralweeksblockedoffwiththreeorfourdaysaweekhome.Ifhe’sgoingtobethere,I’llbewithhim.Iwillbehome;Iwillbecampaigning.Iliterallytoldhim,Brian,ifyoudecideI’mtheone,I’llgiveyoueverythingI’vegot,andifyoudecideonsomebodyelse,I’llstillgiveeverythingI’vegot.IftheyaskmetocampaignwiththemorforthemI’dbedelightedtodothat.

Bayhcalledbackafewminuteslaterandmadeonefinal point: Bayh:ToamplifywhatIsaidacoupleoftimes:whatultimatelymattersisnotme.WhatmattersisthepeopleofcountryandIndiana.That’swhyI’msupportingBarackObama.IwasaskedthismorningbytheIndianadelegationifIwasdisappointed.Well,Iamdisappointed,butit’snotforthepoliticalreasons.Iamdisappointedincostsofhealthcare.I’mdisappointedwiththewarinIraq,andthestateoftheeconomy.I’mreallygoingtobedisap-pointedifwedon’tdowhatwecantochangethat.Can-didatesareimportant,butpeoplearethemostimportant.Ultimatley,politicsisonlyameanstoanend.Sometimesthatgetslostinalltheactivity.v


Post Obama Polls Trendlines: BarackObama’sgaininsupportamongregisteredvotersfromMondaytoWednesdayofthisweekwasinparttheresultofgainsamongconserva-tiveDemocrats--thegroupamongwhomtheDemocraticnomineehadlostgroundlastweekasheslippedtoanoveralltiewithJohnMcCain.GalluphasObamaleadingMcCain48-42percentinthelatestdailytrackingandheimprovedamongconservativeDemocratsfrom63percentto77percent.

2008 Indiana Governor Governor 2008:Republican:Gov.MitchDaniels,.Democrat: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:Ifyou’relookingattrendlines,thereislittlegoodnewsforDemocratJillLongThomp-son.Whileshe’suponTV,it’snotastatewidebuy.Itdoens’tincludeSouthBendandFortWaynemarkets.Thompson’sbackerspointoutthatNorthernIndianaisherhomebase,butGov.MitchDaniels’campaignmanagerEricHolcombobserved,“ShelostherlasttwoelectionsinNorthernIndiana.” IndianaRepublicanstookapartthelastThompsonTVad.Init,anIndianapolistestimonialsays:“Propertytaxesareskyhighandhomeforeclosuresarewayup.”FACT:Gov.DanielsledthechargetocutpropertytaxesandmakethecutspermanentbyplacingthemintheConstitu-tion.JillLongThompsonsaysthecapsshouldn’tbemadepermanent.Onaverage,propertytaxesforhomeownersstatewidearedecreasingbyathird.ACambridgeCityTes-timonialsays:“Layoffsaresoaringandourwagesarefall-ing”FACT:JobsarecomingtoCambridgeCityandtherestofthestateinrecordnumbers.InJuly2006,DotFoodsannounced250jobsinCambridgeCity.InAugust2007,ReallyCoolFoodsannounced1,000jobsinthecity.AndaCarmelTestimonialsays:Highschooldropoutratesareup.SATscoresaredown.FACT:InCarmel,SATscoresareup19pointsfromlastyear,andtheir94.2%graduationrateisoneofthebestinthestate. “It’s clear that Jill LongThompsonisspendingallofthatout-of-statecampaigncashonnegativeadver-tising,”IndianaRepublicanPartyChairmanMurrayClark

said.“Whileit’sgoodtoseeotherstates’moneyspentinIndiana,theincorrectnatureofthechargesisdisappoint-ingandstraightoutoftheDemocraticPartyplaybookofallcynicismallthetime.” Therewasa$50,000donationfromEMILY’SListandanother$100,000fromtheISTA,butwhileDanielsispreparingtopurchasehundredsofthousandsofgrossratingpointsbetweenSept.7andNov.4,theThompsoncampaign’sTVbuysareactuallyscalingback. Shegetsnotailwindfromtheveepstakes.Anomi-nationforSen.EvanBayhwouldhavegivenheraccesstoDemocraticSenatorialCommitteemoney.Thatwon’thap-pennow.AndthepollshaveherdownindoubledigitsatatimewhenacampaignhopestogettoLaborDaywithinsingledigits.ASurveyUSApolllastweekhadDanielslead-ing52-38percent. There is evidence that theDemocraticPartyisstillsplintered.CSOArchitectshostedanAug.15fundraiserforGov.Daniels.JimSchellingerwasn’tthere,buthispart-nerswhocontributedheavilytohislosingcampaignwere.DanielscampaignsourcestellHPIthatthegovernorandSchellingerhavehadseveralfriendlyphoneconversations.AnotherprominentDemocrat,AlphaBlackburn,ishavingafundraiser for Daniels. The Professional Firefighters Union ofIndianaendorsedDanielsanddonated$5,000.TheIAFFunanimouslyendorsedBarackObamaforpresident.It’s worth noting that these fire union endorsmenets come asseveralcitiessuchasGary,SouthBend,KokomoandMuncie are poised to lay off firefighters as a result of the governor’staxreforms-HB1001. AndmanyobserversarestillscratchingtheirheadsattheThompson-Oxleycampaign’sdouble-teamingmosteventsthissummer.Normally,theticketsplitsuptohittwiceasmanyareas,butThompsonandDennieOxleyIIhavespentmostofthesummercampaigningtogether.TheywillsplitupforLaborDayparadesthisweekend. Thompson is tryingtofeedoffthefreshspateofplantclosingsaroundthestate.ShewasinRichmondWednesdaycommiseratingwithabout100ofthe275MasterbrandCabinetsemployeeswhoshowedupforworkandfoundtheirjobsgone.“IcameheretodaytolistentofellowHoosiersandsharewiththemmybeliefthatIndianacandobetter,”saidLongThompson.“TheseworkersandtheirfamiliesarevictimsoftheBush-Danielseconomy.Severalyearsagomyownmotherlostherfactoryjobwhentheplantwheresheworkedcloseditsdoors.Businessesarefailingandpeoplearehurting,yetwehaveagovernorwhorefusestoacknowledgethatthereisevenaproblem.Weneedanewapproachandweneednewleadershiptomakethathappen.”AnothersessionoccurredupinElkhart. Butaswe’vereportedinthepast,foreveryplantclosing,thegovernortrotsoutanewbusiness.Inhiscur-rentTVad,Danielsacknowledgesthejoblosses,butsaysthatforeveryonelost,hisadministrationispavingtheway


fortwonewones. Thompsonsimplyhasn’t-todate-comeclosetopinningtheblameonDanielsforthehighgaspricesthathavegreatlyimpactedtheautoandRVindustries. Comingup:thereleaseofthethirdHowey-GaugePollat5p.m.Thurs-daySept.4attheIndianapolisCham-ber’sAnnualHobnob,whichwillincludefreshstatewidenumbersintheguber-natorialandpresidentialraces. Horse Race Status: LeansDaniels v

Congressional 4RD CD:Republican:U.S.Rep.SteveBuyer.Democrat:NelsAckerson.2008 Outlook: AdebatebetweenthetwocandidatesforIndiana’s4thcongres-sionaldistrictThursdaynighttooksev-eralpersonalturnsbutalsohitonawidevarietyoftopics.Inhisopeningremarks,BuyeraccusedAckersonofviolatingarulesetforthedebateandsaidbecauseofthattherewouldbenomoredebatesbetweenthetwo(LafayetteJournal&Courier).Ackersondidn’trespondtotheclaimuntilhisclosingremarks,whenhesaidhehadnoideawhatBuyerwasreferringto.“It’samysterytome,”hesaid.“IapologizeifImadeamistake.”DaveWyeth,amemberofthehostingHendricksCountyFarmBureau,saidBuyerwasreferringtoanewsreleaseAckersonsentoutWednesdayabouttheevent.Wyethsaidtherewasnowrittenruleaboutnotsendingoutreleases,butsaidtheeventwasintendedforonlyFarmBureaumembersandtheleader-ship. Buyersaidhebaseshispolicydecisionsonprinciplesandvalues.HealsodefendedhispartyallegianceafterAckersoncriticizedhimforbeing“100percentpartisan.”“Idon’twanttogotoaCongresswhereit’sclean,simpleandeasy,”BuyersaidafterstatingthatthefoundingfathersintendedtheretobecontentionintheHouseofRepresenta-tives.Ackersonsaidifelectedhewouldworkonabipartisanbasistotacklesolutionstoproblemsheseesincurrenteducationandenergypolicy.Attheclose

Indiana House Horse Race Democrats Republicans 51 49

TossupsHD26(Open)Pollesvs.Truitt HD15Lehevs.SuttonHD63(Open)Messmervs.BurgerHD31Harrisvs.Pearson HD52(Open)Yardevs.Papai HD89(Open)Swattsvs.Barnes HD97Elrodvs.Sullivan

Leans HD5Fryvs.Miller HD20Dermodyvs.CooleyHD17Demobowskivs.MacKillop HD48Neesevs.HardyHD46Tinchervs.Heaton HD35Lutzvs.MengeltHD62Blantonvs.Tarr HD44Thomasvs.Michael HD4Solidayvs.Chubb

LikelyHD36Austinvs.Burrows HD38Clementsvs.SnowHD68Bischolffvs.McMillin HD92Hinklevs.DeKemperHD69Cheathamvs.CoatesHD37Reskevs.GaskillHD70Robertsonvs.Hunt

SafeDemocrats:Lawson,Harris,C.Brown,Bauer,Niezgodski,Dvorak,Pelath,Stevenson,Reardon,Dobis,V.Smith,VanDenburgh,Bardon,Klinker,Her-rell, Tyler, Grubb, Kersey, Pflum, Pierce, Welch, Battles, Goodin, Stemler, Cochran,Oxley,Stilwell,Avery,VanHaaften,Riecken(Open),GiaQuinta,Moses,DeLaney(Open),Pryor(Open),Bartlett,Porter,Crawford,Sum-mers,Day.

Republicans: Borror, Wolkins,Walorski,Ruppel,Friend,McClain,J.Thompson,Richardson,Turner,Davis,Torr,Steuerwald,T.Brown,Bor-ders,Foley,Culver(Open),Leonard,Dodge,Cherry,Saunders,Knollman,Eberhart,Burton,M.Smith,Koch,Duncan,Crouch,Lehman(Open),Espich,Bell,Pond,Noe,Bosma,Murphy,Behning,Frizzell.v

ofthedebate,hecriticizedBuyer’spoorattendanceincongressionalvotes-astatementforwhichBuyercalledonAckersontoissueadirectapologytohiswife.Buyersaidakneeinjuryandafamilymember’sterminalillnesshavecausedhimtobeawayfromWashingtonattimes,butdefendedthoseabsencesas“therightjudgmentcall.” Ackersonsaidhewasn’treferringjusttoBuyer’sattendanceinthepast year but throughout his 16 years in office. Ackerson called health care reformoneofthegreatestissuesfacingmanyresidentsofthedistrict,butsaidhedoesn’twanttogoasfarasuniversalhealthcareyetbecauseofconcernsoverthenationaldebt.Status:LIKELYBUYERv

Friday, Aug. 29, 2008Page12

McCain finds the missing ingredient in PalinBy DAVE KITCHELL LOGANSPORT-ForthosewonderinghowfarJohnMcCainwaswillingtosearchforanidealrunningmate,theanswerhasbecome,“AsfarashecouldgointheUnitedStatesaspossible.” WhenheintroducedAlaskaGov.SarahPalinashischoiceforvicepresidentFriday,McCainturnedsometablesonBarackObama.HestolesomemomentumObamaleft

onthetablewhenHillaryClintonmissedthepresidencyandwasoverlookedintheDemocraticvice-presidentialderby.Hefoundafemale,pro-lifecandidatewhois a mother of five. And he found acandidatewhocanclaim,alongwithherhusband,unionmember-ship. Inshort,McCainfoundaningredientthathadbeenmissinginhiscampaign-thefemalevote.Injustadecade,we’vegonefromanelectionthatwasaboutsoccermomstoonethatincludesaself-

proclaimed “hockey mom” for the first time. Palin’sfreshfaceontheballotalsobalancesoutMcCain’sretirementagewithayouthful44whohasanew-bornathometogowithfourotherchildren,oneofwhomwillbedeployedtoIraq. The question manyhavetobeaskingonbothsidesoftheaisleandinthemediais“CouldMcCainhavedonebetter?”Theanswer,tocuttothechase,is“Notmuchbetter.”HeneededtoseizetheopportunityObamaleftforhim,thoughhelefthimselfsomewhatunguardedbychoosingavirtualunknownwithlittleexperience.IfMcCainthinksObamaisn’treadytogovern,whatwillvotersthinkofGov.Palin’sabilitysinceshe’sonlybeeninthegovernor’soffice for two years? In fact, she’s only been in the gover-nor’s office of one of the states with the smallest populaces forthatlong. HowwillshedoinadebatewithJoeBiden?She’lldoaboutaswellasanyNo.2GOPchoicecouldexpecttodo. AsImentionedinapreviouscolumn,theperfectchoiceforMcCainwasformerNewJerseyGov.ChristieToddWhitman.WhitmanisprobablytheonlycandidatewhocouldhavedeliveredmoreforMcCainbecauseshehadcabinet-levelexperienceandmighthaveturnedNewJerseyintoaredstate.ButPalinbringsanarguablybet-terenergyrecordtotheticketbecauseofhersupportfor

anaturalgaspipelineinAlaska.Whitmanwasmoreofahouseholdname,andPalincouldbearguedtobeoutoftouchwithwhat’shappeninginWashingtonwhichisaboutasfarfromAlaskaasanypointintheunion.Somewillsaythat’sagoodthing. Nonetheless, McCain’s choicereachedouttoyoungervotersinawayObamaalreadyhas.ItmaybetoolatetogetsomeofthembackintimeforaNovemberelection,butitwasacalculatedmoveMcCainhadtomake,evenifhepassedovermanyprominentRepublicanstodoit. Ithasbeen24yearssinceWalterMondaletrottedanunknownNewYorkCongresswomannamedGeraldineFerraroashischoicetobearunningmate.FerrarolackedthestatureofaHillaryClinton,aswellasthepizzazzthatmanywomeninpoliticshave.RepublicanshavewaitedalongtimeforaGOPcandidate,andgiventhevariedanddedicatedrolesRepublicanwomenhaveplayedformanyyearsinsuccessfulcampaigns,it’sabouttimethepartyelevatedawomantooneofthetoptwoslotsontheticket.ElizabethDolehasbeentheirbestshotuntilnow. Palinissonewtothestagetherearemoreques-tionsaboutherthananswersasweentertheweekoftheRepublicanNationalConvention.That’sagoodtimetogiveherallthelimelightshe,McCainandtheRepublicanswillneed.Whetherit’senoughfortheRepublicans,McCainandvoterswon’tbeevidencedforanothertwomonths. The challenge for thepartynowistoelevatePalintotheAmericanpeopleinawaythatshowsshecanrelatetotypicalAmericanfamilies,evenifsheisn’tfromthetypicalAmericanstateanddoesn’thavethetypicalAmericanstory. Fornow,McCainhaslivedbytheaxiomthatwhenitcomestochoosingarunningmate,there’snoplacelikeNome.v Dave Kitchell is a veteran columnist who resides in Logansport and teaches at Ball State Uni-

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Bruises for BayhBy RYAN NEES KOKOMO-Oneofthenot-so-secretsecretsofVicePresidentialvettingisthatmuchofitissimple,oldschoolpatronage:forshow,asafavor,tostokeegos.Comethroughwithanearlyendorsement?Representakeyconstituency?Hailfromacriticalswingstate?It’snotgoingtogetyoutheVicePresidency,butyoumightjustearnacosmeticspotontheshortlist.

Applysomemakeup,prim,polish-anddeliverthecontendertothenear-esttelevisionstudio.Alittlenationalprominencegoesalongway. ForSenatorEvanBayhthough,isitpossiblehe’semergednotabeautybutratherbruised?Howmanytimescanawould-beshootingstarbeshotdown? HowmanytimesmustEvanweepthroughChersinging“Thisisasong,

forthelonely,Forthebrokenhearted,battlescarred,”wist-fullylip-syncingtoacruelworld,“Whenyourdreamswon’tcometrue,Canyouhearthisprayer?” Itevidentlyhadn’tbeenheardbeforenow.Obama’schoiceofJoeBidenashisrunningmatemakestoday’snewsBayh’sthirddev-astatingveepstakeslossinarow: rejected by first by Gore, thenbyKerry,nowbyObama. PerhapsBayhwouldhaveaneasiergoofthenewsifheweren’tsogoshdarndoggedlyearnestaboutbolt-ingtheSenate.InJunehetoldAndreaMitchellonMS-NBCthatifofferedtheVPjob,“Theanswertothatis‘Yes,’”amarkofenthusiasmrareforthejockeysusedtodeclaringtheirinterestbydisavowingtheirinterest. He’s joked on the samenetworkthatthebuzzhasbeen“goodfor[his]ego,”butperhapsnot.Thepoten-tialityofhiscandidacywasenoughtothrowDemocraticPartyliberalsintoafuroroverBayh’shawkishsupportofthewarinIraq,focusingonhishonoraryco-chairmanshipofTheCommitteefortheLiberationofIraq,a“neo-congroupthatwasformedtopropagandizethecountryintowar,”asthewebsiteTalkingPointsMemo.computit.AFace-bookgroupwithseveralthousandmemberscroppeduptoopposeBayh.Hometownpapers,includingtheCourierPressandNUVO,deridedhimasa“do-nothingSenator.”

He’sbeencriticizedinthenationalsquareas“ag-gressivelywrong,”“boring,”“stiff,”“wimpy,”“corpse-imper-sonating,”“Kerryesque,”“pathetic,”“cowering,”“whiney,”“undistinguished,”“aslapintheface,”“acharismadrain,”“conventional,”“mediocre,”anda“corporatelackey.”Andthatlistisconsiderablyabridged. Last Tuesday’s BloombergarticleairedperhapsBayh’s dirtiest laundry, slamming a number of conflicts of intereststemmingfromhiswife’smanycorporateboarddirectorships.BayhusedhispositioninCongresstohelpsecuretensofmillionsoffederaldollarsforWellPoint,onwhoseboardSusanBayhsits.She’sontheboardofbankwhichfallsundertheregulatoryjurisdictionoftheSenateBankingCommitteeofwhichhe’samember.Andshe’sonEmmis’sboard,thecompanythatpublishedaBayhmemoirthat’shadlacklustersalesseeminglyasafavor. FortheSenatorwhohasmadecautiontheoverrid-ingprincipleofhiscareer,it’sstrikingthatsuchanethicalcloudwouldeverformatall.LastweekHPIreportedthatObamahadassuredBayhthathiswife’scorporateworkwouldn’tbedispositiveinwhatwashisultimaterejection.Perhaps.Butatveryleast,Bayh’stimeinthespotlightdrewnationalattentiontothedirtbeneaththeSenator’sfingernails - dirt that, if not for rampant Vice Presidential speculation,wouldlikelyhavegoneunnoticedorpassively

castasidebythemedia.ByWashington’sstandards,Bayhremainsprettyclean. Yetlatelyyoumightnotknowit.AllofthiscriticismhasbeenmostlyuniquetoBayh;othercontenders,includingJoeBiden,TimKaine,KathleenSebelius,WesClark,andBillRichardsonfacedcomparativelylittlescorn.Withoutwinningtheveepstakes,andenduringsuchsustaineddisdain,Bayh’splayinthe2008presidentialsandboxmayhavelefthimpermanentlyhandicapped.

Billeda“boring”and“safe”choicethisyear,he’llstruggletoshirkthehas-beenlabelinsubsequentveepstakesrounds,andhisperenniallossesasnumbertwohavesurelyunderminedanyambitionshemayholdfornumberone. On his strut downthisyear’scatwalk,Bayh’strippedandmightnotgetbackup.Instead,he’sstuckintheSenate,wherehedoesn’twanttobe,singingasongforthelonely.v

Nees interned for Howey Politics Indiana. He is now a student at Yale.


Matt Tully, Indianapolis Star:Some-how,Democratspulledoffafour-dayconventionthatwasmeticulouslychoreographedbutalsopackedwithmomentsthat so electrified the crowds here, they actually seemed spontaneous.Theatricallyspeaking,theconventionwasaBroadway-likesmashhit--BarackandtheTechnicolorDemocrats.Forinstance,it’shardtoimagineanyone--Democrat,RepublicanorIndependent--whowasn’tmovedbySen.TedKennedy’sslowwalktotheconventionpodiumMonday.Oranyonewhodidn’tsmileatthesightofSen.BarackObama’syoungdaughtersblowinghimkisseswhenheappearedonajumboscreenthatsamenight.Thegirls’giddyreactiontotheirfatherwaspureandunscripted.Presidentialelectionscanbeasmuchaboutpersonalityaspolitics.v

Mark Bennett,Terre Haute Tribune-Star:ThousandsofWabashValleyresidents could’ve qualified as Barack Obama’s runningmate.Asheconsideredpotentialvicepresidentialcandidateslastweek,Obamasaid,“Iwantsomebodywho’smadrightnowthatpeoplearelosingtheirjobs,andismadrightnowthatpeopleareseeingtheirincomesdecline.”Technically,thatcriteriashouldattractmorefolksthanthelinetoridetheSonofBeastatKing’sIsland.TheTerreHauteMetropolitanStatisticalArea—atitleeconomistsusetodescribethecityandsurroundingcommunities—rep-resentsasnapshotofthosetwodilemmas.ThejoblessrateinVigoCountylastmonthhit6.9percent,upfrom5.2percentoneyearago.That’shigherthanthestaterateof6.1percent,andthenationat6.0.Meanwhile,themedianhouseholdincomeingreaterTerreHauteis$36,659.Outof359metroareasintheUnitedStates,TerreHaute’smedianincomeranks37thfromthebottom.Averagepaychecksherehavegrownjust9.8percentsince2000,andthatin-creaseratesamongthesmallestinthecountryatNo.300,accordingtoresearchbytheKiplingerPersonalFinancemagazine’s“2008BestCitiestoLive,WorkandPlay.”Sonofabeast.“It’sabouthigh-endjobs,andtherearenotalotofthoseinTerreHaute,”saidRobertGuell,aneconomicsprofessoratIndianaStateUniversity.Facedwiththerealityofthenumbers,it’stemptingtocompareourlotwiththosearoundus.GazingoverthatfencecouldleaveHauteansbothenviousandrelieved.Ameretwo-hourdrivesouthonU.S.41willleadtoEvansville,whichwasvotedbyKiplinger.comreaderstheNo.1Americancityinwhichtolive,workandplay,wellaheadofrunner-upGreenBay,Wis.That’snotsuchahead-scratcher,basedontheKiplingerstatistics,compiledbyKevinStolarick,researchdirectorattheMartinProsperityInstituteinToronto.Evansvillehassomeadvan-tagesovercities,suchasTerreHaute.Yes,theEvansvillemetroareapopulation(350,172)isnearlytwiceaslargeasTerreHaute’s(167,676).ButEvansvillealsogrewby2per-

centfrom2000to2006,whileTerreHauteareapopulationdwindledby1.6percent.v

Rich James, Post-Tribune:Hey,Rudy,Iknowyou’vegotaproblemoverthereinGary.Heardyou’vegottoeliminate,like,$13millionincostsbytheendoftheyearorthecitygoesbelly-up.That’satoughnuttocrack.Theproblem,Rudy,isthis:You’vegottoomanypeopleonthecitypayroll.Waytoomany.Youdon’tneed20percentpaycuts.Youneedtocut20percentofthecitywork-

ers.Justtheotherday,Iheardyou’vegot1,300peopleonthepayroll.Talkaboutshockandawe.Man,that’sonecityworkerforevery75residents.Mygosh,Rudy,ittakesacolumnandahalfinthetelephonebooktolistallthecitydepartments. And that’s pretty fine print. Of the totalemployees,thereareabout250policeof-ficers and 280 firefighters. That leaves about 770 workersdoing,well,Ican’treallyimaginewhat.

You need some folks to pick up the garbage and fill in the potholesandoverseecityswimmingpools,someofwhicharen’tevenopen.Someofthosedepartmentslistedinthephonebookmakeyouwonder.Forinstance,theCommis-sionoftheStatusofWomen?FarasIknow,theyarestillfemale.ThenthereistheCommunicationsandElectronicsDepartment,whichkindofsoundslikeRadioShack.Andthenthere’stheHousingConservationandHumanRelationsDepartment.Whydowewanttoconservehousing?Therealsoarethreeseparatedepartmentsthatsoundliketheydoprettymuchthesamething--PlanningandCommunityDevelopmentDepartment,PlanningandEco-nomicDevelopmentandtheDepartmentofRedevelopment.v

Leslie Stedman Weidenbener, Louisville Courier-Journal:YoucouldalmosthearthecollectivesighofIndianaDemocratsjustbeforemidnightFriday when news organizations confirmed that Indiana Sen.EvanBayhwasnotBarackObama’schoiceforarun-ningmate.Itwasabigdisappointment.It’snotjustthatHoosierDemocratsthoughtBayh--withhis10yearsintheSenateandtwotermsasgovernor--couldmakeagoodrunningmateandvicepresident.TheyalsobelievedBayhwouldhavebeenabighelptootherDemocraticcandi-dates,particularlytheirgubernatorialnominee,JillLongThompson.FormerIndianaDemocraticChairmanRobinWinstonsaidyesterdaythatBayh’snameontheticketis“invaluable.”Winstonwastheparty’spoliticaldirectorin1988, when Bayh first ran for governor. Bayh’s strong run thatyearhelpedgiveDemocratsthemajorityintheIndianaHouse,Winstonsaid.“Scoresofcandidatesrunningforlessvisible offices statewide owe their initial elections to Evan Bayh,”hesaid.v

after the speech and the fireworks ended.“Itwasapowerfulexperience,”Goldnersaid.“It’ssooverwhelmingtohaveyourbetterselfappealedto.Andthat’swhathisspeechandhiscam-paigndoes.”

Brown, Rogers buoyedby Obama speech DENVER-NorthwestIndi-anaDemocratslookedtowardBarackObama’sThursdaynightconventionspeechwithasensetheywereabouttotakepartinatouchstonemomentinAmericanhistory(Byrne,Post-Tri-bune). “It’s difficult to put into words,” saidstateSen.EarlineRogersofGary.“IlookattonightastheculminationofsomuchworkbyalltheAfrican-Ameri-canswhohavebeeninvolvedinpublicserviceovertheyears.”StateRep.CharlieBrownofGarysaidhestrug-glestowraphisheadaroundObama’smeteoricascenttothispoint.“Afewyearsago,hewasjustanIllinoisstatesenator,andnowthis,”Brownsaid.“It’sbeen‘Whoisthisyoungman?’It’shardtoescapetheimpressionthatthisispartofsomelargerplan.”RogersworriedObamawouldnotbeabletoliveuptothehypesurround-inghisInvescoFieldspeechinfrontofmorethan70,000people.“Hehassetthebarsohigh,andwearesofamiliarwith his speeches, that it will be diffi-culttotopwhathehasdonealready,”shesaid.“Whenyou’reanA-plusstudentandyougetanA,itcanbeadisappointment.”ButstateRep.MaraCandelariaReardonofMunstersaidObamacoulddonowrong.“MaybeI’vejustdrunktheKool-Aid,butIloveeverythinghehastosay,”shesaid.Delegatesdidcomplainaboutthelogisticsofgettingtotheout-doorfootballstadiumwhereObamawould officially accept the nomination andgivehiskeynoteaddress.Busesstartedtransportingdelegatestothesiteearlyintheafternoonforaspeechnotscheduledtobeginuntilafter8p.m.inDenver.“That’salotofhours

sittinginthesun,”Brownsaid.

Gary celebrates GARY-SupportersofSen.BarackObamachattedexcitedlywhiletheywaitedforthedoorstoopenattheGenesisCenterat7p.m.ThursdayinGary(Post-Tribune).Theyweren’tgettingapersonalappearancebytheDemocraticpresidentialnominee,butmanyfeltthattheywereget-tingsomethingbetter:achancetowatch the first black accept a major partynominationforpresident.Theyweren’tgettingapersonalappear-ancebytheDemocraticpresidentialnominee,butmanyfeltthattheyweregettingsomethingbetter:achancetowatch the first black accept a major partynominationforpresident.GaryresidentAngelaJonessaidshewantedtosavortheexperience.“Thisisamomentinhistory,”shesaid.“I’mherebecauseIwanttobeabletosharethiswithmygrandchildrenwhenevermykidsdecidetohavechildren.”

180 Obama partiesacross Indiana DENVER-IndianaSen.EvanBayhjokedaboutpoliticsandfootballas he made his first appearance on “TheDailyShowwithJonStewart.”TheDemocratsaidpresidentialnomi-neeBarackObamais“therealdeal”andtoldanincredulousStewartthatIndianareallycouldbeinplayfortheDemocratsintheNovemberelection.BayhgotboosfromtheComedyCen-tralaudienceinDenverwhenhemen-tionedtheIndianapolisColts.Bayhisnotdoneappearingoncomedyshows.His office says Bayh will make a brief appearanceFridayonHBO’s“RealTime”andonABC’s“JimmyKimmelLive.”

180 Obama partiesacross Indiana TERREHAUTE-“I’vebeenallaroundtheworldandI’veneverseenanythinglikethis,”DarrellShouseremarked(TerreHauteTribune-Star).StandingintheparkinglotatFifthStreetandWabashAve-nueThurs-daynight,withacrowdthatswelledfrom80at9:30p.m.tomorethan150by10:20p.m.,theTerreHautenativeandotherswatchedIllinoisSen.BarackObamaaccepttheDemocraticnominationasitscandidatefortheAmericanpresidency.Hoosiersgath-eredatmorethan180conventionwatchpartiesacrossIndianatowatchtheweek-longDemocraticNationalConventionwrapupwithObama’sac-ceptancespeechThursdaynight.

Richard impressedwith Obama speech FORTWAYNE-BarackObamawaseloquentandinspiring,formerFortWayneMayorGrahamRichardsaidThursday,butmostofallhe“gotbeyondthepoliticsofthepast”inhisacceptancespeechtobetheDemocraticpresidentialnominee(FortWayneJournalGazette).Richard,at-tending his first Democratic National Convention,wasexpectingapower-fulperformancebythecandidatehehasbackedformonthsevenasHillaryRodhamClintonledinIndianapollsandwonthestate’sprimary.Hesaidhegotit.“Ihopedhewouldclosewhatsomesawasagapbetweenrhetoricandreality,”Richardsaid,addingthatObamadid.CityCouncil-womanKarenGoldner,likeRicharda convention first-timer, agreed that Obama’sspeechwaspotentandin-spiring.“Wow,”shesaidafewminutes


HOWEY Politics Indiana Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, July 31, 2008Page 7

friday, aug. 29, 2008 aggressive obama aims at mccain · for president. on the 45th anniversary of...

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