EVANSVILLE, Ind., March 25, 2008
A Fair Fight In Indiana
Washington Post: Hoosier State Shapes Up As Key Battle Where Clinton And Obama Each Have Equal Shot Of Victory
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Something unusual appears to be developing in the Democratic presidential race in this state: a fair fight.
Wedged between Illinois, which is Sen. Barack Obama's home state, and Ohio, which Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton dominated on March 4, Indiana may be the one state remaining on the primary calendar where both candidates begin with a roughly equal chance of coming out ahead.
That fact alone makes it stand out from states such as Pennsylvania, where the playing field for the April 22 contest offers big advantages to Clinton (N.Y.), or the Oregon race a month later, which clearly tilts toward Obama.
In Indiana, Obama has a home-field advantage, while Clinton has the backing of the popular Sen. Evan Bayh and may have an edge on the kind of economic issues that are likely to dominate the discussion before the state's Democrats vote on May 6.
"If I had to pick -- and I'm not usually shy about saying who's going to win -- I couldn't tell you today," said Rep. Joe Donnelly, a Democrat who represents Indiana's 2nd District and has not committed to either candidate. Others entrenched in Indiana politics put Clinton ahead, if only slightly.
The state's Democrats have reacted to their sudden relevance with enthusiasm -- thousands waited in the cold to see Clinton at several stops last week -- and the campaigns have responded by pouring resources into the state. Obama arrived here first, making an appearance March 15 in Plainfield, and the Clinton campaign is launching an attempt to limit his following on campuses with its own blitz on the numerous colleges and universities around the state. On Monday, Chelsea Clinton is set to help kick off the effort, appearing with her father, former president Bill Clinton, in South Bend before traveling to Bloomington.
Obama's bases of operation are likely to revolve around the Hoosier State's three major universities -- Notre Dame in the north and Indiana University and Purdue University farther south -- and build out into their respective host cities of South Bend, Bloomington and West Lafayette. The African American populations that spill over from Chicago are expected to favor Obama, as is Indianapolis, the state's largest city.
Former congrssman and 9/11 Commission member Timothy J. Roemer is among a long list of Democrats slated to begin working the state aggressively for Obama.
While both campaigns grudgingly admit that the race here is competitive, each is seeking to portray the other as starting with a lead in pursuit of Indiana's 72 pledged delegates.
"We think he has some advantages starting out," Bayh said, referring to Obama, in an interview after spending the day traveling around the state with Clinton. "Twenty percent of Indiana households watch Chicago TV. The city of East Chicago is actually in Indiana."
As a result, Bayh said, a big swath of Indiana is already very familiar with Obama's message and the messenger himself.
But demographics and some of the state's similarities to Ohio, where Clinton won big on March 4, suggest that the senator from New York has a leg up. In southern Indiana, factory towns and areas around Evansville look like prime targets for her economic message aimed at blue-collar voters. Her allies also see strong potential for her in the Indianapolis suburbs.Campaign Calendar
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Clinton already has a 5 to 2 lead among Indiana's 12 superdelegates (her supporters include Bayh, former Democratic National Committee chairman Joe Andrew and Indiana Democratic Party Chairman Dan Parker). The five Democrats who represent Indiana in the House -- several of them locked in tough races of their own -- remain uncommitted.
"Clinton would probably have an upper hand," said Jay Howser, who was campaign manager for Rep. Brad Ellsworth in 2006 and who is not aligned with either presidential campaign. "Although there's probably a heavy base of African American support for Obama in Indianapolis, it's a state that responds well to Clinton."
Clinton's alliance with Bayh, son of Indiana legend Birch Bayh, is already paying off. She hitched herself to the senator and former governor Thursday for a "Hoosiers for Hillary" tour that began in his birthplace, Terre Haute, a working-class and culturally conservative pocket of the state.
At every stop, the two talked about their long friendship, their seats next to each other on the Senate Armed Services Committee, their joint trips to Iraq and Afghanistan, and their late-night political discussions. Recalling a recent conversation on the Senate floor, Bayh said: "I told her, I said, 'Many of our families are facing challenges.' . . . You know what she said to me? She said, 'Those are the people I want to fight for. And if you will stand with me, I will stand with you to build a better America.' "
The handicapping in other state contests also makes Indiana uniquely important. Its primary falls on the same day as voting in North Carolina, where Obama is widely considered to have the advantage. If Clinton wins Pennsylvania, as expected, she hopes to ride that momentum into the remaining contests, including those in Indiana, WestVirginia, Kentucky and Puerto Rico. Losses in Indiana and North Carolina would quickly blunt any claim to momentum for her.
The Obama campaign has been careful to play down the significance of any single contest now that it holds the lead in pledged delegates. But in a nod to Indiana's symbolic importance, the campaign has put it in the hands of Mitch Stewart, the former caucus director for Obama in Iowa.
David Axelrod, Obama's chief strategist, said Friday: "Pennsylvania is an uphill battle for us. West Virginia is an uphill battle for us. Kentucky is an uphill battle for us." But he added: "Indiana is going to be a real fight."
By Anne E. Kornblut
© 2008 The Washington Post Company
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See all 114 CommentsShe won Ohio so big in Ohio because of Limbaugh''s "OPERATION CHAOS". Why would blue collar workers support the very person that gave us NAFTA...sold American jobs up the river. Come on workers... Obama is one of YOU! Clinton is NY elitist giving you lip service.
From the Cleveland, Ohio Plain Dealer on 3/19:
The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections has launched an investigation that could lead to criminal charges against voters who maliciously switched parties for the March 4 presidential primary. Elections workers will look for evidence that voters lied when they signed affidavits pledging allegiance to their new party.The investigation comes 10 days after The Plain Dealer reported that more than 16,000 Cuyahoga County Republicans changed parties before voting March 4. After the election, some local Republicans admitted they changed parties only to influence which Democrat would face presumed Republican nominee John McCain in November.
Lying on the signed statement is a fifth-degree felony, punishable by six to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine.The board has the power to issue subpoenas, forcing voters to testify about their intent on election day.
That''s a lotta felonies folks. And all at the direction of Limpbaugh. Thanks Rush, you''re a great American, Sir. Question is, can these felonies be prevented in the remaining primaries??? SUPER DELEGATES ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION ?
No intelligent person thought that was going to last long.
You had to be born yesterday to think that any undecided voter was going to make up his or her mind by watching Youtube snippets.
"Here we have a real instance of spurring people on to engage in illegal election activities with a real intent to affect the outcome," Slater said. "That is voter fraud. People were encouraged to break the law. They had to declare allegiance to a political party and sign a document under penalty of perjury. Intent is what matters in voter fraud." "I think this is Rush and others inspiring people to commit voter fraud," Slater said. "They should be brought under investigation."
Thanks Rush ! You''re a great American, Sir. Maybe Ohio''s Democratic primary results should be set aside in light of felonious, fraudulent, election-rigging. 16,000 potential felonies committed in one county alone !!!!!!!!! There must be tens of thousands more in the rest of the state. And then there''s Texas! Where is Howard Dean, how can you stand for this. SUPERDELEGATES ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION ?????????????????????? This should make any patriotic Amercan sick to their stomach. Can these crimes be stopped before the remaining primaries?
(McCain finished 894 out of 899 at the Naval Academy. I bet economics was his worst subject.)
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"Democrats Trusted More on Top Issue of Economy
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
In the midst of an economic decline and a dramatic presidential election season, the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey found that 81% of Likely Voters think the economy is Very Important as an electoral issue. Government ethics and corruption comes in second with 72% who say that issue is very important.
When it comes to the economy, nearly half of voters (49%) trust the Democrats more than Republicans. Thirty-eight percent (38%) trust the GOP"s more. This advantage could have an impact on the general election, given the high level of concern over the economy. Consumer and investor confidence, as measured in the Rasmussen Consumer Index, have been at their lowest levels in seven years recently.
On the second most important issue, government ethics and corruption, the Democrats have a sixteen-point advantage over the Republicans."
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http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/trust_on_issues/trust_on_issues
John Kerry was leading George W. Bush by 7 points at this time in 2004.
You made some good points, but are threatening to run a good thing into the ground. Back off and let people absorb the information and the importance of your posting, instead of trying to batter them with your viewpoint. Repost your point after a few pages of other comments, and people who might not have scrolled through previous screens will have the benefit of your information.
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At least he picked a great author.
"Greenspan Is Critical Of Bush in Memoir; Former Fed Chairman Has Praise for Clinton
September 15, 2007
The former president [Bill Clinton] emerges as the political hero of "The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World," Greenspan''s 531-page memoir, which is being published Monday.
Greenspan, who had an eight-year alliance with Clinton and Democratic Treasury secretaries in the 1990s, praises Clinton"s mind and his tough anti-deficit policies, calling the former president"s 1993 economic plan "an act of political courage."
But he expresses deep disappointment with Bush. "My biggest frustration remained the president"s unwillingness to wield his veto against out-of-control spending," Greenspan writes. "Not exercising the veto power became a hallmark of the Bush presidency. To my mind, Bush"s collaborate-don"t-confront approach was a major mistake."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/14/AR2007091402451_pf.html
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Posted by tawpdawg1 at 10:05 AM : Mar 25, 2008
+ report abuse
I agree it''s dirty but it''s all they have. They can''t win fair and square and they know it so this is desperation for sure. But those kinds of things rarely if ever work. I doubt they will this time and even if they did what have they won? McCain would enter the White House with a public as divided as it could possibably be and certainly moving left. He''s a lame duck the minute he enters the door.
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Come November, McCain isn"t going to do nearly as well as Kerry did.
The economy and Iraq are both stacked against him.
Kerry made a respectable fight of it, but McCain is going to be beaten badly in the general election.
In a failing economy, a dumb, elderly Republican won"t wash with the voters.
The nasty Democratic primary battle right now is THE ONLY REASON for his John Kerry-like lead.
Posted by Palsgraaf
I truly don''t doubt Hillary''s commitment. I started out ambivalent about whom to support. But the Clintons stooped to neocon tactics, abandoning their espoused principles in pursuit of power. In the process, Hillary lost my support.
There are no perfect candidates, but Obama has at least tried to keep the dialogue somewhat civil. Desperation is unbecoming on both Hillary and Bill.
Posted by redlipsahead
If it wouldn''t constitute on-line gambling, I''d be tempted to challenge you to put your money where your redlips are.
Not wanting to call a spade a spade and having just starred in Kombat Kerry''s latest movie "The Sands of Bosnia" co-starring Kombat wearing his hair helmet ...
the **** tries to disremember the group grope in Bosnia following her award ceremony for saving the life of the king of Bosnia from a crazed Darfurian on the tarmac.
Posted by redlipsahead at 10:44 AM : Mar 25, 2008
You''d have to be very DUMB to insinuate that Rev. Wright is running for presidency ..... ever thought about how Obama has never been shown to have embraced any negative influences, even from his pastor - At least, you''re no longer talking about Obama being Muslim - Now, it''s just got to be something. A lot more Repugs are starting to express how really scared they are with the numbers being pulled by Dems and very rightly so. Cheers!
is it useful for someone who lost his girl friend?
Posted by bronte20086 at 10:59 AM : Mar 25, 2008
Nope, sorry but losers like you who have to go to these websites to get girlfriends are destined to remain virgins forever.
Posted by BarbJC1 at 11:08 AM : Mar 25, 2008
But you needn''t worry yourself - you could have easily admitted that you weren''t voting Dem anyways at the beginning of your post. The Dems already have the numbers and it keeps climbing - your post is an insult to every American that''s currently participating in this elections as it don''t reflect the true demographs for these 3 candidates - most of us have seen more middle aged people at some Obama speeches and wonder why repugs keep portraying us as being unexperienced college students ..... But then Repugs like to put everything they don''t understand in a little box, label it and then attack with everything even though they''ve been wrong now for 5years. Cheers!
Posted by redlipsahead at 10:44 AM : Mar 25, 2008
Obviously, you''ve never lived in Indiana before. Most Hoosiers are not that bright. That''s why they''ll vote for Hillary, just as they voted for Bush in the previous election.
You''ve been having to hear about Obama for about 6 monthes. Americans have been having to hear about the Clintons for 15 years, so we are exponentially more sick of them.
Plenty of "regular" Americans support Obama and plenty of elite support Clinton, so that''s a silly argument.
Palsgraaf,
She certainly wasn''t doing her best to keep us out of wars when she voted to authorize this one before the U.N. finished its work. That guaranteed that our soldiers wouldn''t have other nations at their back when they went to battle. She''s as guilty as Bush for this war!
Ain''t gonna happen. She lost this thing last month but she and her suporters still can''t deal with the truth.
The only scenario where she could gain the nomination involves stealing it, not winning it. The fact that she and her supporters are willing to go forward with that shows how much they care about the welfare of the Democratic Party.
Losing gracefully involves class. That''s something the Clintons have consistently shown that they lack.
She won so big in Ohio because of Limbaugh''''s "OPERATION CHAOS". You''re a great American, sir. Also, why would blue collar workers support the very person that gave us NAFTA...sold American jobs up the river. Come on workers... Obama is one of YOU! Clinton is NY elitist giving you lip service. Her flip-flop on NAFTA is detailed in the following piece:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2004198705_sirota25.html
200,000 Ohio blue collar jobs lost to NAFTA. Is that what you want in Indiana, too? Please don''t shaft yourself. Please vote for Obama. Don''t listen to Limbaugh directing voters to engage in election fraud. Please bring good change to America.
We can make our jobs secure. Oh, YES WE CAN!
There may well be little or no learning curve among the deadenders who support people like Bush...or the Bakkers when their petty theft of a few million was discovered...but these ''flat liners'' are matched and raised by the negative learning curve expressed by so called Progressives who continue to trust in the Democrats dispite betrayal after betrayal....looking for their own political eschatological fulfillment in the election of some talking head who speaks of "change"..."hope"...and any other word that allows the listener to interpret in any way that pleases him.
Get a clue, Americans! The Democrats are not your friends! You rejected your only friends--Kucinich and Gravel--just as the Republicans rejected Paul.
You learned nothing from 2004 and 2006.
Vote Third Party!
"You can''t fix Stupid," said Ron White...Americans keep proving it everyday.
Posted by ssskfrancis at 12:02 PM : Mar 25, 2008
Its time people like you go away. The problem is with the states political bosses - blame them, get off your butt and go after them - oust them so it doesn''t happen again. I''ll bet big money if this somehow happened in your life, you wanted something, say a big promotion and were told that doing X wasn''t going to impact your ability to get it - so you didn''t do it and put your energies elsewhere, and then found out that in fact someone else got the job because they did X you''d be screaming at the top of your lungs on the opposite side of this situation.
...or the Supreme Court and voter fraud.
And Hillary is working vigorously to disenfranchise the Democrats in Fla. and Mich. who chose to vote in the Republican Primary since they were told by the DNC, and BOTH candidates that the Democrat primary didn''t count.
No plan offered yet suggests how to let these voters take part. It only allows those who voted in the Democrat beauty contest to vote again.
Do you realize that Florida is one of only THREE states in which more people voted in the Republican primary than the Democrat primary?? This could indicate that SEVERAL thousand, if not hundreds of thousands of Democrats or Independents went and voted in the primary that mattered.
Why does Hillary want to disenfranchise THEM?
But it will be nice to actually think that, for once, my ballot for a Democrat will at least appear to count.
Posted by barefootboy9 at 01:28 PM : Mar 25, 2008
What a laugh. I also live in Florida and Obama has just as many if not more supporters here as Hillary. We did not get a fair oppurtunity to voice opinion and unfortunantly it appears we still will not. If Obama gets the nomination and Florida goes RED in the GE it will not be due to the lack of Obama support but directly due to the lack of Democratic support by you and other Clinton die hards. Unlike you I know this country needs Democratic leadership and will vote Hillary if she is nominated.
Those two, Hillary and Slick Willie, have dishonored every position they have been in since Arkansas.
It is lies that have gotten them where they are. I do not want any more Clintons in the White House, period.
I live in Michigan and it''s much the same here. I''m not sure why everyone thinks Hillary would automatically win a redo primary in Florida or Michigan. Hubris? Stupidity? Not sure. Too bad we won''t get a chance to prove just how many of us in Florida and Michigan are for Obama!
After PA. votes and sends the lil woman packing, your vote in Indiana won''t matter.
Florida had their chance. They blew it.
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