raging river runs through inraging river runs through in have an eerie ring today even though the...

Politics Indiana V15 N8

Polls all over the map, bailout, & Obama vote add to dramatic October By BRIAN A. HOWEY InRussiaadecadeago,ayoungbureaucratwhoheadedthefuelandenergyministrynamedSergeiKiriyenkowasstunnedwhenPresidentBorisYeltsinpluckedhimoutofrelativeobscuritytobecomeprimeminister.Thiscameasstormcloudsgatheredaroundthethen-aspiringdemocracy’s financial markets and banking systems. AsourdelegationaccompanyingSen.RichardLugarandSamNunnap-proachedtheMoscowstepsofRosatomayearago-theRussiannuclearagencythatKiriyenkonowheads-WashingtonPostforeigneditorDavidE.Hoffmanrecalledthe1998crisis.Kiriyenkodescribedhimselfas“inthemiddleofaragingriver”andhesimplywantedtoget“totheotherside.”Hoffmandescribestheeventsinhisbook“The Oli-garchs: Wealth and Power in the New Russia”that

“Um, all of them, any of them that have been in front of me all these years.” - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, asked by CBS anchor Katie Couric on what news sources she reads

Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008

See Page 3

JLT & Lazarus

Raging river runs through IN

haveaneerieringtodayeventhoughtheRussianeconomythenandtheU.S.economyoftodayareworldsapartinmagnitude.Thereare,however,similarities.In1998,there

By JACK COLWELL SOUTHBEND-Lazarusdidit,thoughittookamiracle.CanJillLongThompson,asdeadasLazarus,ac-cordingtosomeanalyses,alsocometolifetowintheraceforgovernor? IfLongThompson,theDemo-craticchallenger,upsetsRepublicanGov.MitchDaniels,itwon’tbeamiracleinBiblicalterms.Butitwouldbeamazingforacandidatewhobeganthegeneralelectioneffortwithnaryacentincampaigncoffers.DanielshasbeenonTVdayafterday,weekafterweek,monthaftermonth,withadsenhancinghisimageasourmanMitch,

Gov. Daniels surveys Southerrn Indiana flooding last June. (Access Indiana Photo)

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HOWEY Politics Indiana Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008

workingforustomakeIndianabet-ter.LongThompsonhaslackedfundsto dent the way Daniels has defined himself.Someanalysts,citingnotjustthemoneydisparitybutalsoaflurry of polls showing Daniels with bigdouble-digitleads,haveindeedprettymuchconcludedthatLongThompsoncan’twin. Then,inwhatcouldwellbeLongThompson’sbestdayofthecampaign,theIndianapolisStarcameoutwithafrontpagestoryonSept.19thatrelatedadifferentpoll finding. A statewide professional pollconductedforthenewspapershowedthesepercentages:Daniels,46;LongThompson,42. LongThompsonquicklyusedthatstorytobreathlifeintohercampaignfund-raisingandrallyhersupporterswithanObama-like“yes,wecan”message. The Daniels campaignscoffedatthepoll,sayingtheraceisn’tanywherenearthatclose.May-beitisn’t.Otherpollsnowwillcomealongtomeasurethemargin.And,ofcourse,theonlypollthatreallycountsistheoneinwhichallvoterscanparticipateonelectionday. IfLongThompsonisabletopullanupset,itwillcomewiththehelpofBarackObamaandthenowintensefocusofvotersontheeconomy. BackwhenSen.EvanBayhwasapossiblevicepresidentialrun-ningmateforObama,HoosierDem-ocratswerehopefulthatBayhontheticketwouldenableObamatocarryIndianaandtopullotherDemocrats,includingLongThompson,tovictory. WhenBayhwasn’tpicked,thosehopesfaded. However,Obamastrate-gistsstillconcentratedonIndiana,workingandspendinginthestate,regardingitasabattleground.PollsshowObamawithinstrikingdistanceinIndiana.Intheupsanddownsinthepresidentialcampaign,Obamaseemedtobeslippingaftertheconventions.Now,withthefocuson

theeconomy,Obamahasseemedtobepullingaheadnationally,withatleastachancetocarryIndianaandhelpLongThompson.ThechanceswillimproveifJohnMcCaintakesIndianaforgranted,withonlytokeneffort. Focus on the economyalsoishelpingLongThompsoninherowncampaigningandinthedebateswithDaniels.Amajorthemeofthegov-ernor’scampaignisthathehasdonewondersfortheeconomyinIndiana,helpingtolureindustryandcreatingnewjobsandanimprovedeconomicclimate.Hecancitestatisticsaboutthat. Now,assomefactoriescloseandjoblessnessgrowsinIndiana,LongThompsoncancitestatistics,too,onesthatcountertherosypicturepresentedbyDaniels. Intheirbattleofstatisticsdur-ingtheirdebates,theyclearlyareusingstatisticsfromdifferenttimeperiods.DanielstalksofthegoodeconomicstatisticsinIndianafrombackwhenthenation’seconomywasrobust.LongThompsoncitesthemorecurrentsta-tisticsinIndiananowthatthenation’seconomyisinterribletrouble. Governorsneverdeserveallthecredittheyclaimwhentheecon-omyisboomingoralltheblametheyget when it is floundering. To win, however,LongThompsonwillhavetofocusontheeconomy,the“Bush-Danielseconomy,”andatleasttakeawayanyplusDan-ielshadfromtheearlierjobsstatistics.Also, if she finally gets the finances to hammerawaywithamessage,shewillneedtoremindvotersofsomeofthereasonsmanyofthemweremiffedatMitchearlierinhisadministration.Thingslikethetime,thetollroadandotherprivatization.Someofthosethingsarenotasunpopularnow. AndlikeLazarus,LongThomp-sonwillneedsomeimportanthelptoriseupinsoundpoliticalhealth.NothelpofBiblicalproportions.HelpofObamaproportions,withObamaactu-allycarryingthestateandhissupport-ersvotingforheraswell.v


but came out with a fiery statement just before the Sen-atepassedthepackageWednesdaynight.“Peopleareangry,andtheyhavearighttobe,”Bayhsaid.“Iam,too.Weshouldn’tbeinthismess,butweare.Thequestionis:Whatarewegoingtodo?”

Bayhreasoned,“ChairmanBernankeisanecono-mist,notapolitician.Heisamannotknownforoverstatement.Couldhebewrong?Yes.Isignor-inghisadviceariskworthrunningatthisprecari-oustimeforournation?Idon’tbelieveso.AsdistastefulasitisforCon-gresstotakethisaction,doingnothingwouldlikelymakethingsmuchworse.Thatisthechoicebeforeus.Regretably,therearenogoodoptions.Butthecurrentplanisfarbetterthantheoriginalproposal.Executiveswhohavebroughttheircompaniesto

thebrinkofruinandnowseekpublichelpwillbeprevent-ed from profiting. There will be no golden parachutes or outrageousexecutivepaypackages.Therewillbeindepen-dent oversight to prevent conflicts of interest and outright corruption.Thetaxpayerwillbeprotectedbyreceivinganownershipinterestinanycompanythatreceivesgovern-ment assistance. If after five years the government has lost money, the financial industry will be required to pay it back.” Bayhsaidthecurrentpackage“hasbeenimprovedbecausetaxcutsareincludedtohelpmiddleclassfamilies.Morethan900,000Hoosierhomeownerswillbeeligibleforapropertytaxcut.Tensofthousandsofstudentswillreceivea$4,000collegecredit.ThousandsofmiddleclassHoosierfamilieswillnotseetheirtaxesriseduetothealternativeminimumtax.Mostofall,oncewehavedealtwiththepresentcrisis,wemustchannelourangerintomakingsurethisnever,everhappensagain.”

Pragmatic Lugar Sen.DickLugar,headingintoWednesdayevening’sSenatevoteonthesamepackage,explainedinhisprag-matic fashion, “The financial rescue legislation will restore credit flow to homeowners, businesses, farmers and all the peoplewho,bytheverynatureoftheirbusinesses,needtoborrowmoneytomaintaintheiractivityandkeepemploy-ees.Failuretopasssuchlegislationwouldleadtomassiveunemploymentandfailureofsmallbusinessandfarming

was a fiscal meltdown, currency devaluation, steep stock market slides, bank failures, a crisis of confidence and weakleadership.Inthisstory,therewasGoldmanSachs,feedingthenation’sdebtaddiction,bailingoutthecash-strappedgovern-mentwithalmost$3billioninbridgeloans.ThereareBushes and Soros who flit intothepicture. Hoffmanwritesofanembattledprimeminis-ter:ThedoomedKiriyenkocoulddolittletosalvethewrathofthemarkets.Hetriedtodrawuprespon-sible,long-termplans,buttheywereuselessinthefaceofabrutal,immediatecrisis,andnoamountofpromisescouldsoothethepanic.“Themarketspro-claimedtheirownverdict,”Kiriyenkolamentedlater. AdecadelaterintheUnitedStates,theriveranal-ogyisanaptmetaphor.ThepoliticalriversinIndianaareoutoftheirbanks.Therearehintsofapopulistrevolt.Protesters huddled outside of Rep. Brad Ellsowrth’s office inEvansvilleonWednesdayafterhevotedyes.StateRep.ScottReskeisactivelycampaigninginhisPendleton/Ander-sonareaseat,tryingtofendoffachallengefromRepub-licanKellyGaskill,whothispastweeksentoutdirectmailaccusingReskeofvotingagainstreferendums,thustakingawaytherightsofpeopleindeterminingtheirowngovern-ments. “IfIputatennisballinacalmriver,Icanprettymuch figure out where it’s going to go,” Reske said earlier thisweek.“IfIputthattennisballinaragingriver,Ihavenoideawhereitwillendup.”

But, where is it now? ThereisnodoubtthattheUnitedStatesandIndi-anaareinthemiddleoftheragingpoliticalriver.Itinten-sified when the U.S. House rejected the financial bailout. Hoosiercongressmaninrelativelysafeseats-DemocratsBradEllsworthandJoeDonnellyandRepublicanMarkSouder-votedyes.Theideologues:MikePence,DanBur-ton,SteveBuyerontherightandAndreCarsonandPeteViscloskyontheleft,votedthemeasuredown. Sen.EvanBayhwashiscustomarilycautiousself,

Raging river,from page 1

Lugar and Nunn with Kiriyenko in Moscow in August 2007. (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey)


operationsinIndiana.Thatisunacceptable.Thislegislationprovidesequityforthetaxpayerandthebusinessesthatwillbeassistedbythelegislation.Thisismostlikelytoleadtothetax-payer’smoneybeingrepaidovertimeandthosefundswouldgotowardpayingdownthenationaldebt.Whilebusinessesandcreditmarketsarebeingrestoredandrejuvenated,thelegislationwillstopexcessesinexecutivecom-pensation.Thebillwillcontainsufficient monitoring and over-sightbysupervisoryboardstoensureitswisestuse.”

Nihilist revolt ConservativeNewYorkTimescolumnistDavidBrookscalledMonday’sHousevotea“revoltofthenihilists”andsaid,“Sofar,theyhavefailedutterlyandcatastrophicallytoprojectanysenseofauthority,togivetheworldanyreasontobelievethatthiscountryisbeinggoverned.Withthisvote,they’vetakenresponsibilityforthiseconomy,andtheywillbeheldaccountable.Theshort-termblowswillfallonJohnMcCain,thelong-termstressontheexistenceoftheG.O.P.asweknowit.I’vespokenwithseveralHouseRepublicansoverthepastfewdaysandmostadmirablybelieveinfree-marketprinciples.What’ssadisthattheystillthinkit’s1984.TheystillthinkthebiggestthreatcomesfromsocialismandWalterMon-daleliberalism.Theyseemnottohavenoticedhowglobalcapital flows have transformed our political economy.”

McCain poll swoon This view appeared to be reflected in the polls. In Indiana,thelatestSurveyUSApollshowedJohnMcCainwithatiny48-45percentleadoverBarackObamaandanewSouthBendTribune/WSBT-TVpollhasMcCainlead-ing46-45percent.ButinaspateofpollsreleasedTuesdayandWednesday,Obamaappearedtobeburstingoutofthepicketline.InCNNpolling,ObamaledinFlorida51-47percent,Nevada51-47percent,Viriginia53-44percent,Minnesota54-43percent,andMissouri49-48percent.InQuinnipiacPollsreleasedonTuesday,Obamahada54-39percentleadinPennsylvania,a50-42percentleadinOhio,and51-43percentinFlorida.Ifthesetrendscontinue,we’rebeginningtoseeatidalwavedevelopfortheIllinoissenator. ThesecameafteraweekoferraticactionsbyMc-

CaininwhichhesuspendedhiscampaigninthewakeoftheWallStreetmeltdown,threatenedtoskipFriday’spresidentialdebate(whereheshowedupandheldhisown),wasmostlymutedur-inglastThursday’sWhiteHousesummitwithPresidentBushandBarackObama(theDemocratfinally had to ask him where he stood),madethecasethathehadgatheredabout60HouseRe-publicanvotes,andthenwatchedthatwholesequenceblowupinhisfaceonMonday.OverlayingthatsequencewasrunningmateSarahPalin,whocontinuedtobombduringtheongoingseriesofKatieCouricinterviewsonCBS.Amonthago,Palinwasseenasakeytothepreviouslyunin-spiredsocialconservativeshereinIndianaandinotherbattlegroundstates.ACBSpollearlierthisweekshowedherapprovalrating

dropfrom47percentto30percent. Severalnationalobservers,CQ.PoliticsandMSN-BC’sFirstReadamongthem,didwhatHPIhasbeensayingformonths:thatIndianaisapresidentialbattlegroundstatefullyinplay.

Shifting Hoosier landscape HereinIndiana,thisvolatilityposesanumberofinconsistentandunknownscenarios: 1. The polls are now all over the map.ASouthBendTribune/WSBT-TVpolltakenMondayandTuesdayhasDanielswitha47-46percentleadoverThompson.ItalsohasMcCainwitha46-45percentleadoverObama.Duringthesametimeperiod,SurveyUSAhadDanielsup53-37withLibertarianAndyHorningat6percent.APublicOpin-ionStrategiesPollhasasimilarmargin:Danielsup54-32percent.Sotherearenowtwopolls(IndianapolisStar/WTHR-TV)thathavethegovernor’sracewithinthemarginoferror,butatleasttheTribune/22pollwastakenduringavolatileperiodthatcouldreasonableimpacttherace.Butneitherofthosepollssuppliesanysupportinformation,suchasallthreecandidates’favorable/unfavorables,nameID,gender,raceandregionalbreakdowns.Star/13andTribune/22alsodidn’tincludeHorningintheirsurveys.Poll-sterDelAliofResearch2000explained,“Danielsstillhastheupperhandintherace.Idon’tthinkthesenumbersarereallythatbad(forDaniels).It’sstillhisracetolose.”AlitoldtheSouthBendTribunereportedtheracecould

Jill Long Thompson was off the air most of September, but now two polls have her within margin of error. (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey)


beclosebecauseRepublicansare“takingabeating”fromthe public on the national financial crisis, and that anger is hittingGOPpoliticiansatthestatelevel,too.“Itdoesnottake a rocket scientist to figure that out,” Ali said. “A lot of what’sgoingonnationallyhasaneffectonRepublicans.That’smyexplanation,andIthinkit’savalidone.He’llhaveaneasiertimerecoveringthan,let’ssay,JohnMcCain,becausethisismoreofafederalissue.He’llgetmoreofabenefit of the doubt from the undecided voters than Mc-Cainwould.” 2. How will the newly registered Obama voters behave? Willtheyvotejustforpresident?WilltheypulltheDemocraticlever?Willtheycherrypick?Gov.MitchDaniels’campaigncontinuestobelievethat it will capture a significant percentageofthenewObamavoters.TheThompsoncam-paignexpectsmuchofthatsupporttogoherway. 3. Will Jill Long Thompson be able to ride the Obama coattails with these new voters? We’veenteredOctoberandsheisstillofftheairwaves.Italmostappearsasifsheisfollow-ing the Ballard Rules: despite a huge money deficit, if she canmusterenoughmoneyforalateTVbuyacrossthestate,shecouldpositionherselftorideawave.Thediffer-encebetweenthisscenarioandBallard’sstunningupsetofIndianapolisMayorBartPetersonin2007,isshehasyettorevealthesilverbulletissuethatBallardhadwithpropertytaxesandgovernmentalhubris.Still,iftherearefurtherspikesinthejoblessrateandotherbigplantclosings,thelandscapecouldbeinfordramaticchanges,justasa

ragingrivercan.AtleastoneDemocraticsourceexpectstheThompsoncampaigntobebackontheairwavesthisweekend. 4. Can Democrats tie Daniels to the discred-ited Bush administration? Aswe’venotedbefore,ifDanielscanstayoutoftheriver(andthisisseriouslyindoubtnow,particularlyifHoosierDemocratscaneffectivelytie his OMB tenure to the current financial meltdown), can hiscoattailstrumpObama’sindownballotracesforat-torneygeneral,superintendentofpublicinstruction(which

usuallyfollowthegovernor)andIndianaHouseraces? 5. Will a prairie fire-storm - a throw the bums out wave - hit the state? Thusfar,Hoosiersaretend-ingtoseetheMikePenceideologicalviewthatcapital-ismneedstocontinueunfet-tered;thatfailurecannotbeboughtoffbygovernment.Orwilltherealityofevaporat-ing credit finally sink in with

AmericansnotmakingthesamemistaketheJapanesedidinthe1990swhenacreditcrisisthereusheredinadecadeofeconomicstagnation?InthePublicOpinionStrategiesPoll,thememostates,“Further,bya49%to22%margin,HoosiersbelieveIndiana’seconomicsituationwillbebetterthanworse.ThebottomlineisthatIndianalackstheanti-incumbenttideneededtothreatenDaniels’incumbency.” In15yearsofpublishing,HoweyPoliticsIndianahasneverseenamorevolatileclimatethanitisnowwithmore conflicting and obscured polling data. Withalittleover30daysleft,onegetsthefeelinganythingcanhappen.v

Barack and Michelle Obama with Hoosiers at Garfield Park in Indianapolis last April. (HPI Photo by A. Walker Shaw)


Profiles in courage?By JACK COLWELL SOUTHBEND-JohnF.KennedywroteaPulitzerPrize-winning book titled “Profiles in Courage,” relating bravery of eight legislators who defied public opinion in thecourseofthenation’shistory,despitepoliticalriskandridicule,todowhatwasright.

No author today could find verymanyexamplesofsuchcour-ageinthewaytheHousevoteddowntheeconomicrescueplanonMonday.NoristherelikelyinanybooktobeachapterhailingtheleadershipoftheHouseorofPresidentBushindealingwiththethreatofeconomiccollapseandrecessionorevenanothergreatdepression. TheSenatelookedbetterinprotectingthenationWednes-daynight.

IfsomeHouseRepublicansreallyvotedtokillthebill,knowingtheplummetingofstockvaluesanddam-agetotheshakyeconomythatwouldresult,justbecauseofhurtfeelingsoverpartisanremarksofHouseSpeakerNancyPelosi,theiractionwasnotcourageousbutinexcus-able. Asinappropriateasthespeaker’scommentsmayhavebeen,thissurelywasnottherealreasonformostRepublican“no”votes.Herremarkswereanexcuse. AnumberofDemocratsalsohadanexcuse.WithRepublicansnotdeliveringthepercentageofvotesexpect-ed,someDemocratsshiftedto“no”sotheirpartywouldn’tbeblamedforpassageofanunpopular“bailout.” Excusesabound. A large percentage of Housemembersinhighlycompetitivebattlegrounddistricts,DemocratsaswellasRepublicans,voted“no.”Sincetheeconomicrescueplanwasn’tpopularatthattime,membersfacingtoughracesfearedtryingtoexplaintotheirconstituentswhythiswasn’treallya“WallStreetbailout”butinsteadadoseofterrible-tastingmedicinetowardoffwoesforsmallbusi-nesses,andtoprotectpensionplans,savingsin401(k)accountsormoneyinthebank. One can sympathize, even if not finding them cou-rageous. Housemembersfromsafedistrictswhovoted“no”didsooutofprinciple. Liketheprincipleofnothelpingsomebodywhocaused the problem. You know, don’t put out the fire that threatensthewholeneighborhoodbecauseitallstartedinthehomeofanastyneighborwhosecarelessnesscaused

the conflagration. LiketheprincipleofdoinguntoBushashehasdoneuntoyou.Youknow,lettheeconomycrashtoshowhim.OrtoshowPelosiorthetreasurysecretaryorthefatcatsorJohnMcCainorthesocialistschemersorsomebody. Like the principle of defeating a flawed ap-proach to find a better one or to let the economy do as it will.Youknow,infairness,therearememberswithsincerebeliefthatthereisnoneedforthisaction. While the final vote was close, the vote of Indiana’s delegationwasnot.OnlythreeofnineHousemembersvotedfortherescue. DemocratsJoeDonnellyandBradEllsworthandRepublicanMarkSoudervoted“yes.”Therewassomecour-agethere,althougheachisfavoredtowinre-election.Still,DonnellyandEllsworthareinswingdistrictsandSouderfaces a determined challenger with campaign financing. Givethemcredit. Voting“no”wereDemocratsPeteVisclosky,BaronHillandAndreCarsonandRepublicansDanBurton,SteveBuyerandMikePence.OnlyHillisinacloseracewherea“yes”votemightwelltipthescalestodefeat. The others are in districts ratedas“solid”forthem-totallysafeforsome. Theirmotives?Theynodoubtvary.Courageous?Courageisintheeyeofthebeholder.Orintheeyeoftheauthor.JFKwroteaboutcourageindaringtogoagainstpublicopinioninordertodowhatisright.v

Answers, not charm By MARK CURRY TAIPEI-SupportersofSarahPalinanswerhercriticsbyassertingthat“thiscountryhasbecomegreatbecauseoftheordinarypeoplewhoarewillingtostandup for what is right and fight for it,” as one poster wrote at

Lucianne.com. Onlya“Beltwayinsider”oranelitistwouldfailtoseethevalueshebringstotheMcCainticket,thelogicgoes.Infact,conservativepunditKathleenParkerwashoundedforarecentcolumnthat,inherownwords,suggested“SarahPalinisoutofherleagueandshouldstepdown.” “Iamatraitorandanidi-

ot,”Parkerwroteyesterdayindescribingthegistofreaderresponsetohercriticalcolumn.“Also,mymothershould

Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008Page7

haveabortedmeandleftmeinadumpster,butsinceshedidn’t,Ishould‘off’myself.” I’mcurious,then,howPalinsupporterswouldex-plainapollreleasedintoday’sWashingtonPostthatfound60percentofregisteredvotersbelievetheAlaskangov-ernordoesnotpossess“thekindofexperienceittakestoserveeffectivelyaspresident,ifthatbecamenecessary?”Further,onethirdstatedtheywerelesslikelytovotefortheMcCainticketbecauseofhischoiceforvicepresident.Thepollsurveyed1,271registeredvotersrepresentingabroadspectrumofoursociety.ArethoseopposedtoPalintraitorsandidiots,too? The fact is Sarah Palin is qualifiedtobevicepresidentundertheConstitution.Sheisanative-bornAmerican,35yearsoldorolder,andhasresidedintheU.S.foratleast14years.Butdowewanthertobeoneheart-beatawayfromrunningtheFreeWorld?Sofarherperfor-manceinandoutsidethemediahasbeenunpersuasivetothepointofbeingrepulsive.Heranswersforthemostparthavebeenincompleteandsometimesnon-existent.I’mbeginningtowonderifshewilldeliveranysortofthoroughandintellectuallysatisfyingnon-telepromptedstatementonpoliciesconcerninganyofthemajorissuesfacingustoday.I’mnotsayingshecan’t.I’monlysayingshehasnotdelivered.Yet. Tonightisheropportunity.Theconventionalwis-domconcerningthisdebateisPalinsupporterswillbeabletoconsideritasmallvictoryshouldshestringtogethermorethanafewpersuasivesentences.ButI’mdemandingmore.AndI’mnottalkingaboutpablumofthesortshedeliveredwhiledebatingwithAndrewHalcroduringtheAlaskangubernatorialcontest.Halcro,whoranasanIndependent,wroteinyesterday’sChristianScienceMoni-torthatGov.Palinis“amaster,notof facts, figures, or insightful policy recommendations, but at the fine artofthenonanswer,theglitter-inggenerality.AgainstsuchcharmsthereislittleSenatorBiden,oranyone,cando.” No. If Sarah Palin ever expects togetmyvotesheneedstoconvincemetonightwiththedetailsofherplanforsolvingthemyriadissuesconfrontingallofus,whetherwebeIvyLeagueelitistsorHoosierhomemakers.We’reallAmericansandwedeservenothinglessfromourwould-beleaders.v Curry previously covered politics for Howey Politics Indiana out of Washington. He now lives in Taipai, Taiwan where his wife, Kathy, is stationed with the U.S. Embassy.

Gubernatorial pollrollercoaster continues Indiana Governor:Republican:Gov.MitchDaniels.Democrat:JillLongThompson.Libertarian:AndyHorning.2008 Outlook:TwonewpollscontinuetoshowGov. Mitch Daniels with a significant lead over Democrat JillLongThompson.Athirdshowsadeadheat.Pickyourpoison. AnewPublicOpinionStrategiespoll(Sept.29-30)showsDanielswitha54-32percentlead.AndaSurveyUSApollconductedonSept.28-29hadDanielswitha53-37percentleadwhileLibertarianAndyHorningcameinwith

6percent.Butanew South Bend Tribune/WSBT-TVpollshowsDanielswitha47-46percentlead IntheSurveyUSApoll,Danielsnowleadsinallre-gionsofthestate:inpreviouspolling,LongThompsonledinNorthernIndiana.25%of

DemocratscrossovertovoteforincumbentRepublicanDaniels;14%ofRepublicanscrossovertovoteforDemo-cratLongThompson.IndependentsfavorDanielsby25points. ThePOSsurvey,commissionedbytheIndianaREALTORS,showedDanielswith58/31percentfav/unfavs,comparedtoThompsonat31/24percent.Daniels’22pointleadontheballotisbackedupbynearstratosphericjobapproval.Morethansix-in-ten(64percent)votersapproveofthejobDanielsisdoingwhileonly30percentdisap-prove.WhileAmericansmaybegroundedineconomicpessimism,thisisnotthecaseforIndiana.Eventhough64percentofthevotersvoiceeconomicworries,47percentbelievethestateisheadedintherightdirection.Further,bya49%to22%margin,HoosiersbelieveIndiana’seconomicsituationwillbebetterthanworse.InthePOSmemo,itstates,“ThebottomlineisthatIndianalackstheanti-incumbenttideneededtothreatenDaniels’incumben-cy.” WhatcontinuestostrikeusabouttheStar/13polllatelastmonthandtheTribune/22pollonWednesdayisalackofsupportingdocumentation:notoplines,nofav/un-favs,nodemograhicbreakdowns.Theydonothingtoleadyouuptohowtheygottothehead-to-head.HPI’scallformediatopublishtheirtoplineshavebeenignored.Whichraisesthequestion,aretheymoreinterestedinshapingtheracethangivingyouacrediblesnapshot?Perhapsit’sbe-causenoone-exceptHPI-actuallymonitorstheirresultsandwhatactuallyhappensonElectionDay? TheThompsonhasdonelittletomakeusbelieve


they’veclosedthegap.She’sbeenofftheairforalmostamonth.TakeMondayforexample.Whiletheeyesoftheworld were on the U.S. House as it voted down the finan-cialbailoutpackageandthenasWallStreettankedtothetuneofa777-pointdrop,inthemidstofallthatcameaThompsoncampaignpressreleasearound3p.m.overDanielsuseofstateaircraft. CampaignmanagerTravisLowesaidinthereleasetitled“PreliminaryReviewRaisesMoreQuestionsAboutDanielsTaxpayerFundedTravel”:“Fromouranalysisoftheinitialsetofdocumentsthatwereceived,itappearsthatGovernorDanielsusedthestateplanesandhelicoptersforpersonalandpoliticalpurposesmuchmorefrequentlythananyonepreviouslythought.Itappearsherepeatedlyusedstate aircraft for non-official business - and that’s poten-tiallyaviolationofstatelaw.” Romewasburning.Itwasobviousthatonthisday’snewscycle,almostalloftheattentionwasrivetedtoCongress,WallStreetandtheimpactonMainStreet.TheThompsoncampaignwassomewhereelseinanalternativeuniversechatteringaboutanissuethathashadandwill

havevirtuallynoimpactonthisrace.EvenmorepatheticisthefactthatHoosiersarealarmedandscaredabouttheeconomy.Atiredstoryofthegovernor’suseofstateaircraftisnotgoingtohelpThompsonmakethecasetoreplacetheincumbent. IndianapolisStarcolumnistMattTullysidedwithThompsononthisparticularissue,writingonWednesday:“MitchDanielshasbungledhisresponsetovalidques-tionsabouthisuseofstateairplanes,andthatresponsehaskepttheissuealiveformorethanamonthnow.WithElectionDayapproaching,Danielsandhiscampaigncon-tinuetoofferdismissiveanswerstothequestionshoveringaroundhim.Thestrategyseemsclear:ignorethisissueandhopeitgoesaway.‘I’mnotgettingintoallthisstuff,’Daniels’campaignmanagerCamSavagesaidwhenIaskedaboutDaniels’travelonastateplanefromhisvacationhomeinWestVirginia.‘AllIcansayis...everythinghasbeendonebythebook.’Ofcourse,that’snotallDanielscouldsay.Hecouldtakethisissueseriouslyandoutlinethedetailsofanytripsthatincludedpersonalorpoliticalside-bars.Hecouldexplainwhythecampaignhasn’treimbursed


thestateforatleastaportionofsuchtrips.AndDanielscouldstopacting--likehedidlastweek--asifquestionsabouttaxpayer-fundedairtravelarepersonalattacks.” Butinreaderresponses,manyreactedlikethisone:“Matthew,wasthisaslownewsday?Findsomethingmoreinterestingtowriteinyournewsspace.” Onthisparticularday,itwouldhavebeenappro-priateforThompsonandGov.DanielstotalkaboutwhatwashappeningtotheU.S.economy.Withallofthefearabounding,thisiswheretrueleadersstepupandreassurepeoplethattheskyisnotfalling.WISH-TVcoveredthisas-pectofthestoryonWednesday.“Idon’tcareifitwerejustaboutthepeopleonWallStreet,letitbe,butit’salreadyhurtingIndiana,”saidDaniels.“I’mnottellingthemwhattodoonlyinasituationthisbad,doingnothingisusuallytheworstoption.”Thompsonsaid,“Iwouldbeinclinedtosup-port only legislation that would help rank and file Hoosier families.”Shesaidsheisalsoleaningtowardthebailout,butwithstrictconditions.“It’simportantthatwhatevergetspassedandsignedintolawthatithelpsMainStreetandisfocusedondoingwhat’sinthebestinterestoffamiliesacrossthecountry,”saidLong-Thompson. Democrats were fishing on this topic and we checked in with the governor’s office on what was happen-ingtoPERFandTRF.ThevolatilityonWallStreethastakenabiteoutofPERFandTRFinvestmentsbythestateofIndiana.Askedaboutthestatusofstateinvestments,Gov.DanielsspokeswomanJaneJankowskitoldHPIonTuesday,“PERFandTRFstartedtoinvestinthestockmarket10yearsagoandoverthepastfewyears,theirstockmarketexposurehasgraduallybeenreduced.Thefundsbothstillinvestinthestockmarketandtheseassetshavealowermarketvaluerightnowthanamonthago;however,PERF/TRFarelong-terminvestors,notmarkettiminginvestors.”Bystatelaw,Jankowskisaid,MajorMovesfundsarenotinvestedinthestockmarket. WatchforthisstorytogetsomelegsinthecomingdaysastheISTAweighsin.Status: LIKELYDANIELS

Congressional 4TH CD: Republican:U.S.Rep.SteveBuyer.Dem-ocrat:NelsAckerson.2008 Outlook: 4THCD:Republican:U.S.Rep.SteveBuyer.Democrat:NelsAckerson.2008Out-look:TheraceforIndiana’s4thDistrictcongressionalseattookanuglyturnthisweekwithcandidatestradingac-cusationsoverafoiledcampaignappearanceataMondayeveningevent.U.S.Rep.SteveBuyer,R-Monticello,who’sheldtheseatforeightterms,saidDemocraticchallengerNelsAckerson“walkedout”onaneventhostedbyClintonCountyFarmBureau.“ThatwasaboutasbrassamoveasI’veeverseenfromsomeone,”BuyersaidinaTuesdayinterview.ButtheAckersoncampaignaccusedBuyer’scampaignofdistortingthetruthofwhathappened.Peter

Ackerson,Nels’sonandaspokesmanforthecampaign,saidNelsAckersonwasn’tallowedtospeakatthetimehe’dplannedonandhadtoleavetheClintonCountyeventforanothercommitment.WhenAckersonlearnedoftheschedulechangehearrangedforasupportertospeakinhisabsenceandvisitedwiththeattendeesuntilhehadtoleave,PeterAckersonsaid.MikeBeard,presidentofClintonCountyFarmBureau,expressedfrustrationovertheback-and-forththatensuedfromhisevent.Hesaidwhenhelearned of Ackerson’s time conflict he promised to try and havethecandidatespeakearlieriftheprogramallowed.However,theagendawasnotfarenoughalongbythetimeAckersonhadtoleave--6:45p.m.--andsoBearddidnotallowit.Status:LIKELYBUYER 3RD CD:Republican:U.S.Rep.MarkSouder.Democrat:MichaelMontagano.2008 Outlook:TheDCCCMontaganotoitsRedtoBlueProgram.Candidatesnamedtothisprogramareconsideredtobeamongstthetopcan-didatesacrossthecountry,havingskillfullydemonstratedthattheystandforchangeandwillrepresentnewpriori-tieswhenelectedtoCongress.“MikeMontagano’sappointmenttotheRedtoBlueprogramisfurtherproofthatHoosiersaretiredoftheeconomicmesswe’reinandareclamoringforchange.HeissettounseatMarkSouderanddeliverresultsfortheThirdDistrict,”saidDanParker,ChairoftheIndianaDemocraticParty. Status:LEANSSOUDER 9TH CD:Republican:MikeSodrel.Democrat:U.S.Rep.BaronHill.2008 Outlook:Hillhasgonenegativeforthe first time, coming on the heels of his no vote on the bailout.Thesearesignsthatthisracemaybetightening.HillisrunningthegenericDemocraticad,justlikeAndreCarsonraninhisspecialelectionraceagainstJonElrod,attackingformerU.S.Rep.MikeSodrelforsupportingtheprivatizationofsocialsecurity(AdvanceIndiana).AYou-TubeclipofHillatatownhallmeetingin2004makesclearthathelikestheideaofprivatizingsocialsecurity,notingthatheworkedforMerrillLynchbeforebeingelectedtoCongress.Moreimportantly,theadcompletelymisrep-resentsSodrel’spositionontheissueasHoosierPunditpointsout:TheadrepeatsanoldanddiscreditedassertionthatMikeSodrelsupportsthetheprivatizationofSocialSecurity.Anadin2006claimingjustthiswassodiscreditedanduntruethattherewerecallsforittobepulledfromtheair.TheveryCourier-JournalarticlecitedintheadasthesourceofSodrel’spositionsaysthatthisisuntrue.Status: LEANSHILL

Legislature TheObama-McCainpresidentialracecontinuestocastalongshadowoverIndianaHouseraces.HPI’sHorseRacecontinuestokeepeightracesinitsTossupzoneonemonthout,withthespecterofthebigObamavoter


Indiana House Horse Race Democrats Republicans 51 49 TossupsHD26(Open)Pollesvs.Truitt HD15Lehevs.SuttonHD63(Open)Messmervs.BurgerHD31Harrisvs.PearsonHD46Tinchervs.Heaton HD44Thomasvs.Michael HD89(Open)Swattsvs.Barnes HD97Elrodvs.Sullivan Leans HD5Fryvs.Miller HD20Dermodyvs.CooleyHD17Demobowskivs.MacKillop HD35Lutzvs.Mengelt HD4Solidayvs.Chubb HD92 Hinkle vs. DeKemper LikelyHD36Austinvs.Burrows HD38Clementsvs.SnowHD68Bischolffvs.McMillin HD37Reskevs.Gaskill HD62 Blanton vs. Tarr HD52 (Open)Yarde vs. Papai-HD70Robertsonvs.Hunt HD48 Neese vs. Hardy

SafeDemocrats:Lawson,Harris,C.Brown,Bauer,Cheatham,Niezgod-ski,Dvorak,Pelath,Stevenson,Reardon,Dobis,V.Smith,VanDenburgh,Bardon, Klinker, Herrell, 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,Summers,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

registration drive influencing almost them all.Inaddition,we’vemovedHD92heldbyStateRep.PhilHinklefroma“likely”intoa“leans”statusduetotheObamaregistra-tiondrive. HouseRepublicancampaigncoordinatorMikeGentrytriedtoconvinceusthattwoopenseats-HD26and63-shouldnolongerbeinthetossupcategory.“Theybothlookveryfavorabletous,”GentrysaidoftheRandyTruitt/JohnPollesraceinHD26andtheMarkMessmer/JohnBurgerraceinHD63.ButtemperinganyinternalpollleadsforRepublicansTruittandAmosThomasaretheObamaregistra-tiondrivesoncollegecampusesinthosedistricts,particularlyPurdue.TheMessmer/BurgerraceisonethatmaybeimpactedmorebythegubernatorialracethantheObama/McCainshowdown. InHD44,formerGreencastlemayorNancyMichaelispressingStateRep.Thomas.Bothpartiesbelievethatracewillbeclose.Couldgreaterstudentparticipa-tionatDePauwUniversity’s2,600studentsimpactthatrace. Inanotherhistoricallycloserace-HD31whereStateRep.TimHarrisisbe-ingchallengedbyDemocratJoePearson-African-AmericanprecinctsinthecityofMarionwhereturnoutisexpectedtoex-ceed90percentduetoObama,couldaltertheoutcomethere. ObserversinbothpartiestellHPIthatthreeIndianapolisdistricts-HD89,HD97andHinkle’sHD92-couldalsobeimpactedbyhighAfrican-AmericanturnoutforObama.“MarionCounty,fordiffer-entreasons,isfertilegroundforObamaimpact,”saidHouseDemocraticcampaigncoordinatorJ.D.Lux. DespitethepotentialObamaimpact,GentrysaidthattheatmosphereforRepublicanHousecandidatesthisyear,comparedto2006,ismuchbetter.“TheRepublicangenericballothasimproved,”Gentrysaid.“After2006,I’lltakewhatwe’redealingwiththisyear.” Hereisarace-by-racelookatthemostcompetitiveHouseseats: HD5:Democrat:StateRep.CraigFry.Republican:DaveMiller.2008 Out-look:Miller,theformertwo-termElkhartmayor,hasdroppedsomenastymailers

thathadFrycomplainingaboutisolatingamendmentvotes.GentrysaidthatlastGOPpollhadFryleadingby11percent,butthatFry’sre-electnumberswereproblematic.ButGentryalsosaid,“Ican’tsithereandsaywe’llbethereattheend.”Status: LeansFry HD15:Democrat:MyronSutton.Republican:StateRep.DonLehe. 2008 Outlook: Thiswasoneofthreerecountracesin2006.LuxsaidthatitwilllikelybecloseagainwithabigObamapushinPortercounty.“Myronisabettercandidateasecondtimearound,”Luxsaid.“He’scampaignedlongerandwiserthisyear.” Status: TOSSUP HD26: Democrat:JohnPolles.Republican:WestLafayetteCouncilmanRandyTruitt.2008 Outlook: Gentry said that in five GOP pollssincelatespring,Truitthashadleadsoutsidethemarginoferror.HeisnowdroppingmailandrunningTV.“Obamaandregistrationwillbeafactorwhichplaystoourfavor,”Luxpredicted,dueinparttomorethan4,000newPurdueUniversitystudentregistrations.Status: Tossup HD31:Democrat:JoePearson.Republican:StateRep.TimHar-ris.2008 Outlook:DemocratsaresendingoutattackmailersonHarris,


whowonthelasttwoelectionsbyrazorthinmargins.Gen-tryacknowledgesthatObamadidwellinMarion’sAfrican-Americanprecincts,butadded,“Harrishasdoneadecentjobinthoseprecincts.”The$64,0000questionnoonecananswerishowwillthesenewObamavotersact?WilltheyvotestraightDemocrat?WilltheyjustvoteforObama?“WereallylikeJoePearson’sopportunitythere,”saidLux.“Ascloseasit’sbeen,itmayonlytakeafewextravotes.”HesaidtheObamaturnoutwon’tebeonthescaleofIndia-napolisorPurdue,butadded,“Ifthey’rethereinMarion,itwillbepositiveforDemocrats.”Status:Tossup HD37:Democrat:StateRep.ScottReske.Re-publican:KellyGaskill.2008 Outlook: TheRepublicansdroppednastynailersagainstReskeonwhathecalls“ob-scureamendmentvotes”onsentencingtimeoffforgoodbehaviorandthereferendumportionofHB1001.Onfea-turedalobbyistwithabigcigar.Therehavebeentwoposi-tivemailersforGaskillandthreenegativemailersagainstReske.Luxcallsita“trashtheincumbentcampaign”andadds,“They’retryingtomakethiscompetitive.”GentrysaidthatrecentpollingshowsGaskillhasashot.“Themes-sageseemstobeworkingprettywellonScott’sbadvotes,”Gentrysaid.“We’veputsomefolksonthegroundupthere.Thatracecamealivejustrecently.”WesuspectthisisaGOPmaneuvertodrawcaucusresourcesintowhatislikelyablackhole.Atthispoint,wethinkReskewillreturn,thoughheappearstobetakingnothingforgrantedandiswalkinghisdistrict.Status:LikelyReske. HD44: Democrat:NancyMichael.Republican:StateRep.AmosThomas.2008 Outlook:Bothsidespre-dictthiswillbeacliffhanger.“OurpollinghadAmosupbutbarelyoutsideofthemargin,”Gentrysaid.“She’sgotgoodnameID.Amosisrunninganall-outcampaign,mostlymail.”AheavyDePauwturnoutforObamacouldmakethedifference.Status: Tossup HD46:Democrat:StateRep.VernTincher.Re-publican:BobHeaton.2008 Outlook:DemocratsaredroppingnegativemailersonHeaton,suggestingtheyareconcerned.“Bobwasdownbythemarginoferror,”Gentrysaid.LuxsaidthatTincher’sroleinthe2007legislativeses-sionontheimmigrationissuewillhelphim.“Theyrespondwelltohisroleontheimmigrationissueandtheleadhetook,”Luxsaid.“He’ssincereaboutitanditcutsacrosseconomiclines.”Status:Tossup HD63:Democrat:DuBoisCountyCommissionerJohnBurger.Republican:MarkMessmer.2008 Outlook: MessmerpickedupkeyendorsementsfromtheIndianaChamberandtheIndianaManufacturers.GentrysaidthatMessmer has maintained a significant lead in Republican polling.BurgerisrunningTVinEvansvilleandTerreHaute.LuxsaidthatBurgeris“uniquelysitatuated”towintherace,thoughhecallsthisdistrictmoreRepublicanleaningthatitscompanionopenseatinHD26.Status:Tossup HD89:Democrat:JohnBarnes.Republican:Chris-

topherSwatts.2008 Outlook: BarneshasmaintainedaheavycableTVbuy.Thisdistricthasabout7percentAfrican-AmericanandthoseprecinctswillturnoutheavilyforObama.GentrysaidthatGOPpollinghasGov.Danielswitha30percentleadinthisdistrictoverJillLongThomp-son.SothisisaclassicDanielsvs.Obamacoattailsbattle.Lux flat out states, “John Barnes will be the next state representative”andsaysthisis“fertileground”forObamaimpactdownballot.Status:Tossup HD92:Republican:StateRep.PhilHinkle.Demo-crat:StephanieDeKemper:2008 Outlook:HinklehastobeworriedaboutthemagnitudeoftheObamaturnoutinthisrace.WemovedthisfromlikelytoleansRepublican.Status:LeansHinkle HD97:Democrat:MaryAnnSullivan.Republican:StateRep.JonElrod.2008Outlook:Weexpectthisracetocloseup.Sullivanhittheairwavesearlyandwilllikelyclosethegap.Republicansstilltalkabouta20pointleadElrodhadlatesummer.African-Americanturnoutisexpectedtobeinthe9to10percentrangesaidbothLuxandGentryaswellasformerStateRep.EdMahernwholosttoElrodbyjustahandfullofvote.Again,thisisObamacoattailcountry.Elrodiscanvassingthedistrictatleastfourdaysa week and knows he’s in for a fight. Lux said of the 20 percentElrodlead,“That’sprobablypollingtheyusedtogethimbackintherace.”TheGOPnominationstoodopenuntilElrodresigningfromhis7thCDnomination.Status:Tossup Notes: HorseRacehasreleasedStateRep.DaveCheathamfromcompetitivestatusandnowlistsHD69asa“safe”Democraticseat.He,now,cangobacktohisclass.Severalotherincumbentsinthe“likely”zone-TimNeese,BobBischoff,PaulRobertsonandSandraBlanton-areaweekortwoawayfromreachingsuchacherishedpromiselandaswecontinuetoruminateandcull.

Statewides Attorney General: Republican:GregZoeller.Democrat:LindaPence.2008 Outlook:Zoellerwasen-dorsedbytheIndianaManufacturers.ZoellerannouncedWednesday that he will seek additional authority for fight-ing public corruption by the Office of the Attorney General. “Fighting public corruption will be a priority in the Office of theAttorneyGeneral,”saidZoeller.“Ourgoalwillbetopro-vide greater public confidence in the handling of taxpayers’ money.”ZoellernoteditisthestatutorydutyoftheAttor-ney General to collect public funds following the certifica-tionofanauditbytheStateBoardofAccounts.Status:Tossupv

HOWEY Politics Indiana Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008Page12

Wendell Willkie’s ElwoodBy DAVE KITCHELL ELWOOD-IntheannalsofLIFEmagazine’sclassicphotographyisanimagethatcaneasilybeimaginedonadrivethroughthissmallIndianacityonacountyline. OfallthepicturesthatevergracedthecoverofwhatwasonceAmerica’smostreadphotomagazine,thepicturevotedthebestcampaignphotoofalltimewas

takenhere.WendellWillkie,thelastIndianapresidentialcandi-dateonamajorpartyticket,waspicturedstandingupinaconvert-ible,wavingatcrowdsliningthestreets.Star-spangledbuntingdressedold-fashionedstreetlights,framingablack-and-whiteimageofacandidatecampaigninginmainstreetAmerica. Thatwasmorethan60yearsago.HewasaRepubli-canwhoisrememberedinfewplacesinthisstateasidefromthe

IndianaUniversityresidencehallbearinghisnameandtheoldDurbinHotelinRushvillewherehisnationalcampaignheadquarterswerelocated. Beforethathistoricmomentinthe1940s,Elwoodbecameknownforsomethingelsethatwasn’tpicturedsopridefullybymagazines.ItwasahotbedofKuKluxKlanactivity. Ironically, less thananhourawayintheRus-siavillearea,thousandsofslavesescapedtheSouthontheUndergroundRailroadastheyfollowedaQuakerconnec-tionnorthfromRichmond. Today,thereisnoevidenceoftheKlaninElwood.AttheeastedgeoftownonInd.28,hangingplanterswithoverflowing blossoms grow as tall as bas-ketballplayersandtheyweartheirownschoolcolors.OnthenorthsideoftheroadisMr.HappyBurger,thecousinoftheonlyotherMr.HappyBurgerrestaurantsinmyhometown,Logansport.Bothstartedinthe1960swhendrive-inssprangupineverytownorcityElwood’ssizeorlarger. EverytimeIlookatthatphotoofWillkie,Ithinkhowhopelessataskhehadbeforehim.Heranagainstthemanwhowonmorepresidentialtermsthananyoth-er,FranklinD.Roosevelt.ItwasatatimewhenRooseveltwasenjoyinghisgreatestpopularity.YetWillkiecampaignedonthemainstreetofthistownwherehewasafavoriteson.Evennow,hisnameappears

raisedinconcretefromanarchwaysalvagedfromtheoldhighschool.Itstandsdowntownasamonumenttothepast,andtoatimewhenIndianaanditspoliticiansreallymatteredinnationalpoliticsatmanylevels. Idon’tknowwhenorifapresidentialcandidatewillcometoElwoodagain.Idon’tknowifaphotographerfromTime,NewsweekorUSwillbetheretochroniclethevisitwithaNikon.Idon’tknowthatpresidentialcandidatesevencareabouttheswingvotersintownssosmalltheyprobablywouldforgetthenamesthenextday. What I do know is thatinthisveryuncommonpresidentialelectionyear,IndianaappearsasastateupforgrabswhilemanystatesareleaningRepublicanorDemo-crat.Pollscan’tpaintanaccuratepictureoftheleaderinthisrace,orhowmuchtheyareahead.LiketheweatherinIndiana,ifyoudon’tlikewhatyousee,stickaroundaday.Itwillchange.Thisyear,sodothepolls. WhatIalsoknowisthatifbysomechanceDemo-craticSen.BarrackObamadoeswinIndianaandthepresidency,oneoftheironicplacesnationalcameracrewsandmagazinejournalistsmaycometovisitisthisveryspot.Wouldn’titbeironicifaplacewheretheKlanonceralliedandwhereaRepublicansonranforpresidentoftheUnitedStatesactuallybecamepartofastatethatelectedthe first African-American president who happened to be a Democrat?Insomeways,thatwouldbeabetterAmericanstorythanMilan’supsetofMuncieCentralandabettermovie than “Some Came Running” which was filmed in MadisonandstarredFrankSinatra,DeanMartinandShirleyMacLane. IndianawasthestatewhereLincolngrewupand where a defining moment happened in that future president’slife.AnescapedslaveappealedtoLincolntohelphim,butLincolnwaspowerlessasayoungmantodoanythingaboutit,andsowastheslave.ThestoryoftheEmancipationProclamationmayhaveendedinthe1860sinAppomattox,butitlikelybeganinIndianaintheearly

1800swhenLincolnreallywasarailsplit-terandlivedneartheborderbetweenfreedomandslavery. Indiana was a beaconoffree-domforslavesheadednorthoftheOhioRiver,buttheKlan’sbitterlyracistactivitylivedonwellafterLincoln’sdeathandintothe20thCentury.Infact,historianslinkatleastoneIndianagovernor’selec-tion in the 1920s to the Klan’s influence in Indianapolitics. It’seasytositbackandthinkhowfarthiscountryhascomesincethen.Atleast,it’seasyuntilaKlanrallyhap-pensinplacessuchasRochester,PeruorLafayette.Iknowwhattheylooklike.Iknowwhatthevitriolislike.I’ve

Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008Page13

heardnotonlythehatredinthevoicesoftheKlansmen,buttheprotesterscallingthemdownbehindriotfencesoncourthousesquares.InPeru,I’llneverforgetacourthousesquarecordonedoffwithcitytrashtrucks.Tomydyingday, I’ll wonder if Peru officials weren’t trying to make their ownpoliticalstatementabouttheKlanbyblockingoffac-cesstotheKlanrallythatway.I’llneverforgetthefaceofone African-American officer who wasn’t from Peru. He had eitherbeenassignedtoworktherallyorvolunteered.Hispresence there as a professional law enforcement officer alsospokevolumesabouttheracismthatonceexistedinthecountrythatpreventedAfrican-Americansfromholdingpositionsofauthority. There’s a part of me, asaHoosier,thatwantstothinkthosedaysofracismarefarbehindus.ButtheralliesIjustmentionedwerejustoveradecadeago. Somewhereinheaven,therearepeoplelikeformerstateDemocraticChairmanFrankMcHalewhofoughttheKlan.Asurbanlegendhasit,McHale,aformerUniversityofMichiganlinemanandmemberoftheIndianaFootballHallofFame,stoodinthemiddleofadowntownLogansportstreet,glaringathoodedKlansmenwhodidn’tdaretonudgehimonthewayby.SomeconnectMcHaletothede-structionoftheKlanheadquartersinLogansport.McHale,whosenameisstillprominentinfrontofoneIndianapolislaw firm, was many things to many people, and died a multi-millionaire.ButasidefrombeingaDemocrat,hewasn’tafraidtostandupforbeliefs,valuesandtheidealsuponwhichthecountrywasfounded.Allmen,ithasbeensaid,arecreatedequal.Allmen,McHalewouldbesayingnow,arecreatedequalinpresidentialpolitics.Andtosomedegree,soarewomen,hewouldsay,referringtoHillaryClintonandSarahPalin. In some ways,theElwoodsofourcountryarein-sulatedfromsomanyproblemsthatspanfromWallStreettotheMiddleEastandfromglobalwarmingtotheArcticNationalWildlifeRefuge.ButtheissueofraceisonethatcanresonateintheElwoodsofIndianaandtheworld. I’mnotwishingJohnMcCainbadluck.ButifbychanceObamadoeswinthepresidency,andifhewinsIndiana,I’llbecurioustoseehowElwoodvoted.IflocalresidentsvoteforObama,IthinkWillkiewouldbeproudofthem. Elwood,likesomanyIndianacommunities,isatthe crossroads of America, which makes for a fitting state motto.OnceitwaspartofaburningcrossroadsofAmericawhentheKlanwashere.Somedaysoon,itsresidentsmaybelivinginaplacethat’satacrossroadsofIndiana’spastandAmerica’sfuture.v

Dave Kitchell, a veteran Indiana columnist who was the CNHI columnist of the year in 2007, resides in Logansport and teaches journalism at Ball State .University.

Horning doth protest LibertariangubernatorialcandidateAndrewHorn-ingrespondedtoHPI’sHorseRaceintheSept.25editioninwhichwesaiditwastoughtotakethepartyseriouswhenitdoesn’tdothethingsitneedstodotowin(i.e.raisemoney,recruitcandidates,advertise,etc.) * * *By ANDREW HORNING FREEDOM-Brian,alotofpeoplerespectyouropinions.Whenitcomestotheirrelevant,misleading“horserace”aspectofpolitics,you’regenerallycorrect.Butdisregardingforthemomentthatyoudon’tdiscusstruthversus fiction or, heaven forbid, right versus wrong, you’re factuallywrongaboutthenatureofpoliticalorganizations,andthewayvotersrespondtothem. You talk of Libertarians “organization”and“fundraising”asthoughyoudon’tknowthelawswrittenagainstus,andtheeffectsofmediacoverage.SurelyyouknowthatsinceMcCain/Feingoldtheentrenchedpartiescanaskfortwiceasmuchmoneyascananychallengers.Youknowthatwe’remorelikelytobekickedoffballots,andwe’realmostalwaysexcludedfrommediacoverage;eventothepointwhereabrightguylikeyouthinkswe’veonlyelectedoneLibertarianinIndiana,whenthatjustain’tso! We still do have Libertarians in elected office. In Indi-ana.Butwhoeverhearsaboutthat? IranasaLibertarianforCongressandgot3percent. I ran as a Republican for the same office only two years later, and got 45 percent without any significant fundraisingatall.Ihadnomore“organization,”unlessyouconsider how hard I had to fight against the GOP. Butwait,there’smore.WheneverI’mcalled“prob-ablyirrelevant”(IndyStar),ora“spoiler”(practicallyevery-body),thethousandswho’llvoteformearereallytheonescalledirrelevantspoilers. You are fundamentally wrongaboutwhatelectionsareallabout.Theyarenotaboutorganizations,money,thestringsthatyounevermentiongowiththemoney,oreventhecandidates.Electionsareallaboutvot-ers.Yes,aftertheelection,whencandidatesnolongercareaboutvotersuntilnextElectionDay,candidatesmatter.ButonElectionDay,votersruntheworld.Wecan’tdodgethatbullet.There’snobodytoblameforanyofourgovern-ments’problemsexceptvoters. Andtheytrustpeoplelikeyoutogranttheimpri-maturoflegitimacytocandidates.Ifyouthinkthisisallaboutmoneyandentrenchedpowers,thenyousupportwhatmostvoterssaytheyhatemostaboutpolitics. IfyoucallMitch“theGovernor”andcallJLT“chal-lenger”you(IknowyouadmireMitch)directlysupportincumbencyagainstvoters’feelingsaboutchangeandtermlimits.v


David Brooks, New York Times:Thisgenerationofpoliticalleadersisconfrontingasimilarsitu-ation,and,sofar,theyhavefailedutterlyandcatastrophi-callytoprojectanysenseofauthority,togivetheworldanyreasontobelievethatthiscountryisbeinggoverned.Instead,byrejectingtherescuepackageonMonday,theyhavemadethepsychologicalclimatemuchworse.GeorgeW.Bushiscompletelyoutofjuice,havingsquanderedhisinfluence with Republicans as well as Democrats. Treasury SecretaryHenryPaulsonisasmartmoneyman,butanineptlegislator.HewastoldtimeandtimeagainthatHouseRepublicanswouldnotsupporthisbill,andhisresponsewastogetdownonbendedkneebeforeHouseSpeakerNancyPelosi.Houseleadersofbothpartiesgotwrappedupintheirownnegotiations,butdiditoccurtoanyofthemthatitmightbehardtopassabillfairlydescribedasabailouttoWallStreet?WasthemediadarlingBarneyFranktoobusytonoticethe95Democratswhoopposedhisbill?Pelosi’s fiery speech at the crucial moment didn’t actually kill thisbill,butdidshehavetoactlikeaDemocraticfund-rais-eratthemostimportantmomentofhercareer?Andletusrecognizeaboveallthe228whovotedno—theauthorsofthisrevoltofthenihilists.TheyshowedtheworldhowmuchtheydetesttheirownleadersandthecollectedexpertiseoftheTreasuryandFed.Theydidthemomentarilypopularthing,andifthecountryslidesintoadeeprecession,theywillhavethetimeandleisuretowatchpublicopinionshiftagainstthem.HouseRepublicansledthewayandwillgetmostoftheblame.Ithasbeeninterestingtowatchthemontheirsingle-mindedmissiontodestroytheRepublicanParty.Notlongago,theyledananti-immigrationcrusadethatdroveawayHispanicsupport.Then,too,theylistenedtotheloudestandangriestvoicesintheirparty,oblivioustothecomplicatedanxietiesthatlurkinmostAmericanminds.Nowtheyhaveonceagainconfusedtalkradiowithreality.Ifthiseconomyslides,theywillgodowninhistoryastheSmoot-Hawleysofthe21stcentury.Withthisvote,they’vetakenresponsibilityforthiseconomy,andtheywillbeheldaccountable.Theshort-termblowswillfallonJohnMcCain,thelong-termstressontheexistenceoftheGOPasweknowit.I’vespokenwithseveralHouseRepublicansoverthepastfewdaysandmostadmirablybelieveinfree-mar-ketprinciples.What’ssadisthattheystillthinkit’s1984.TheystillthinkthebiggestthreatcomesfromsocialismandWalterMondaleliberalism.Theyseemnottohavenoticedhow global capital flows have transformed our political economy.

Mark Bennett,Terre Haute Tribune-Star:LocustStreetisalongwayfromWallStreet.ThetroublesinthatNew York financial district so tightly gripped America last

weekthatPresidentBushusedtheword“panic.”Heplead-edwithanadversarialCongresstoaccepthis$700-billionplantorescueteeteringinvestmentandlendingtitans.Heevencompromised.YouknowthingsaredirewhenRepubli-cansandDemocratsinWashingtonworkfast,andtogether.Theyweretryingtoavert“along,painfulrecession,”Bushsaid.TerreHautebeganfeelingthepainlongbeforelastweek.ThecallstotheCatholicCharitiesfoodbankat1356LocustSt.haveincreasedthisyear,swellingafterdisastrousJune floods, layoffs and plant closings. Every day, more

than 100 children turn to the nonprofit agency fortheireveningmeal.“Andtheywouldn’tgetanymealotherwise,”saidPatEtling,directorofthefoodbank.Therequestsforhelparegrow-ing.“Peopleareindire,diresituations,”sheadded.“Peoplearelosingtheirhomes,can’tpaytheirbills,andtheycan’teattheircars.”Astheeconomyworsens,thecommunity’sabilitytorespondwithdonationslessens,too.Etlingcan’trecallagrimmerstretchlocally.“Notto

theextentitisnow,no.Heavensno,”shesaid.

Gary Gerard, Warsaw Times-Union:AlbertEinstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and overwhileexpectingadifferentresult.That’sprettymuchthe way I see this bailout of financial institutions. See, I amabigproponentoffreemarkets.Sothethoughtofthegovernmenthavingsuchahugestakeininvestmentbanksreallyrubsmewrong.AndIreallycan’ttakewhatI’mhearingfromBarackObama.HekeepsblamingJohnMcCain,theGOPandderegulation.Well,yeah,heisade-regulator.He,likeme,believesinfreemarkets.He,likeme,believesthatbaddecisionsarepunishedinthemarketplace.But when you fiddle with the marketplace, the punishment isabated,orasinthismortgagemess,delayed.Itwasn’tgovernmentderegulationthatgotusintothismess,itwasthegovernmentpokingitsnoseintofreemarkets.Backinthe‘90s,governmentgotitinitsheadthateverybodyinAmericashouldownahome.Duringthe‘90s,changesweremadetotheCommunityReinvestmentAct.TheCRA,origi-nallypassedin1977,forcedbanksandotherlenderstoof-fercreditthroughouttheirentiremarketarea.Itprohibitedthemfromservicingonlywealthierneighborhoods.Basically,itgaveloanstopeoplewhoprobablywouldn’tqualifyunderpre-existingnormsintheindustry.Theactwasmanda-tory.Banksareevaluatedandfedslookattheevaluationswhenconsideringapplicationsfordepositfacilities,includingmergersandacquisitions.It’stheclassiccarrot-and-stickapproachthegovernmenttakestomakesureitsrulesgetfollowed.In1995,duringBillClinton’sadministration,theact’sregulationswerestrengthened.Basically,thefedsbecamemorefocusedonmakingsuretheselenderswerelendingtopeoplewhocouldn’taffordtheloans.v

said.“Peopleacrossthestate,we’refinding, are more concerned about the economy.”DemocraticgubernatorialcandidateJillLongThompson’scam-paignspokesman,JeffHarris,workedonstateSen.ViSimpson’scampaignforgovernorin2003.“Fouryearsago,itwasnoticeable,”Harrissaid.“Thistime...wehaven’treallyrunintothat.Jill’sneverreallyrunintothatonthecampaigntrail.”

Jobless rate at7-year high WASHINGTON-Thenum-ber of out-of-work Americans filing newclaimsforunemploymentinsur-anceroselastweektoa7-yearhigh,accordingtoagovernmentreportreleasedThursday(CNN).TheDe-partment of Labor said initial filings for state jobless benefits increased by1,000toaseasonallyadjusted497,000intheweekendedSept.27.

JLT unveils foreclosure plan INDIANAPOLIS-DemocraticgubernatorialhopefulJillLongThomp-sononWednesdayoutlinedseverallegislativechangesshewouldpushtocombatthehome-foreclosurescrisisinIndiana(Kelly,Fort Wayne Journal Gazette).“We’regoingthroughsomeverytoughtimes,andweneedtobedoingeverythingwecanatthestatelevel,”shesaid.“Weneedtohavepoliciesthataregoingtoworkforourfamilies.”Accordingtosecond-quarterstatistics,Indianarankssixthinthenationinnumberofforeclosures.Inrecentyears,thestatesometimeshasledthenation.LongThompsonquotedarecentstudybytheCenterforResponsibleLending,whichestimated48,000homeswillbeforeclosedoninIndianainthenexttwoyears.Toavoidfutureforeclosures,LongThompsonadvocatesthreelegisla-tivechanges:•Requireaface-to-facemeetingbetweentheborrowerand

lenderforallowner-occupiedproper-tiesscheduledforaforeclosuresale.•Extendtheforeclosurenoticeperiodfrom90daysto120days.Indianaallowsthebuyertherightto“redeem”themortgagefromtheforeclosureproceedingsbypayingoffthedebtbeforethecourt-orderedsaleofthehome.LongThompsonwantstoextend the period between the filing oftheforeclosureandthetimethelendercanrequesttheforeclosuresaleto give the owner more time to refi-nancethehomewithanotherlender.•Banpredatorymortgages,includ-ingloansclearlybasedonunrealisticassumptionsaboutincome,loanswithhighratesordeferredrateadjust-ments, and loans based on inflated appraisals.Thelegislaturepassedabillthisyearthatstrengthenssomeofthestate’smortgagelaws,butLongThompsonsaidthemeasuredoesn’tgofarenough.

Curley protestsACORN registrations CROWNPOINT-LakeCountyRepublicanChairmanJohnCurleywantsafederalinvestigationintohundredsofvoterregistrationsbearingfictitious signatures or the names of deadandunderagepeople(TimesofNorthwestIndiana).“Fraudulentap-plicationsaretheworkingsofACORNgroupsoperatingfromMilwaukeeandChicagowhoaregettingoutthevoteforObama.I’mRepublican,butIwanteveryonewhoshouldvotetovote.ButIwantacleanelection,”CurleysaidataWednesdaynewsconference.LakeCounty elections officials acknowl-edgedtheyhavefoundproblemsandhadtorejectalargeportionofthe5,000registrationformsturnedinrecentlybytheAssociationofCom-munityOrganizationsforReformNow,orACORN,anactivistgroupthatconductedregistrationdrivesacrossthecountythissummer.AnACORNspokespersoncouldn’tbereachedWednesdayforcomment.

Poll weighs raceand gender in Indiana SOUTHBEND-Raceandgenderdon’tseemtomattertomostvoters,accordingtoaSouthBendTri-bune/WSBTstatewidepollconduct-edMondayandTuesday(Ronco,South Bend Tri-bune).Of600likelyHoosiervoters,86percentsaidtheywouldvoteforablackpersontobepresident.Fourpercentsaidtheywouldn’tvoteforablackpresident,and10percentweren’tsure.Ongender,89percentsaidtheywouldvoteforawoman.Fourpercentsaidtheywouldn’t;7percentweren’tsure.TheTribune/WSBTpollalsoaskedpeoplehowtheythoughttheirneigh-borswouldvote.About78percentsaidtheirneighborswouldvoteforablackpresidentialcandidate,while85percentsaidtheirneighborswouldvoteforafemalegubernatorialcandi-date.“I’veaskedthisinFlorida,I’veaskedthisinMissouri,I’veaskedthisinWisconsin,”saidDelAli,ofResearch2000,whichconductedthepollfortheTribuneandWSBT.Eventhoughonly4percentofpeoplesaidtheywouldn’tvoteforablackpresidentialcandidate,the number could be significant in acloserace,suchasIndiana’s.“It’salownumber,butnoticehowthenumbergoesupwhenyouask(about)yourneighbor?”hesaid.Some13per-centsaidtheirneighborswouldn’tvoteforablackperson.That’slikelierare-flection on people’s perception of how theyseeothers,Alisaid.Sen.BarackObama’sIndianapresssecretary,JonathanSwain,saidthecampaignhasnotencounteredracialproblemsinIndiana.“Ourconversationsthatwecontinuetohavebyandlargeacrossthestatearereallyfocusedonthebiggerissuesinthecampaign,”he


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