Tuesday, June 15, 2004 Volume 10, Number 43 Page 1 of 9 he Kernan, Democrats T ready for a fight Howey Tew replaces Hogsett as chairman By BRIAN A. HOWEY in Indianapolis As the 1,882 Democratic delegates began filing in the Murat Theatre Saturday afternoon, the venerable Sarge Political Visher looked around and observed, “This is the first time we’ve ever had one of these in a place with carpet on the floor.” Report By the time Hoosier Democrats left, there was little evidence of blood or brew staining the rug, but notice was The Howey Political Report is published by NewsLink served that the Kernan-Davis ticket was not about to go Inc. Founded in 1994, The Howey Political Report is down without a fight, if it goes down at all. an independent, non-partisan newsletter analyzing the political process in Indiana. Every time Hoosier Democrats gathered in the past three years, they found a vastly different gubernatorial sce- Brian A. Howey, publisher nario. At French Lick in August 2002, Lt. Gov. Joe Kernan Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington writer was preparing to assume the mantle of the party (and a soon- Jack E. Howey, editor to-be indicted party chairman). On Dec. 9, 2002 -- 41 years to the day Studebaker Corp. dropped a bombshell on his The Howey Political Report Office: 317-254-1533 PO Box 40265 Fax: 317-254-0535 South Bend when it closed -- Kernan did the same with Indianapolis, IN 46240-0265 Mobile: 317-506-0883 Indiana Democrats, abruptly pulling out of the race. [email protected] That set off a wild merry-go-round that at one www.howeypolitics.com time or another had John Gregg, Evan Bayh, and Baron Hill eyeing the prize, only to be followed by Joe Andrew and Washington office: 202-775-3242; Business office: 317-254-0535. State Sen. Vi Simpson, and then a brief lieutenant governor bid by Bren Simon (of that group, only Bayh was present Subscriptions: $350 annually via e-mail; Saturday). In September 2003, there was the death of Gov. $550 annually including the HPR Daily Frank O’Bannon, Simon’s repudiation of Andrew, the his- Wire. Call 317-254-1533 or 254-0535. toric emergence of Lt. Gov. Kathy Davis, and then Kernan’s © 2004, The Howey Political Report. All rights re-entry. All of this came during months of relentless attack reserved. Photocopying, Internet forwarding, faxing or by Indiana Republican Chairman Jim Kittle Jr. and, in the reproducing in any form, in whole or in part, is a viola- “good cop” role, gubernatorial nominee Mitch Daniels. tion of federal law and is strictly prohibited without On Saturday, Kernan put his foot down and declared consent of the publisher. Ticker: Daniels ‘disciplines’ GOP p. 2 “The only Daniels liked in this state is a Horse Race: Kernan, Daniels ducking Daniels named Jack.” the Con-Con; early line on AG, - House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer Supt; Borst concedes defeat p. 6 Columnists: Colwell, Gerard p. 9 HPR Forum Will Feature Dr. Larry Sabato on Oct. 1 at the Downtown Marriott Tuesday, June 15, 2004 Page 2 of 9 a race -- a fight -- was at hand. we want is a fair fight.” “It’s been 39 days since I sent a Whether it’s fair or not, Hoosiers letter to my opponent offering to sign a are on the brink of a Kernan vs. Daniels fair campaign pledge, to be specific about donnybrook. how we will pay for the programs we pro- pose, and to have three debates,” Kernan Kernan and change DANIELS ‘DISCIPLINES’ said. “The silence is deafening. More than And as with Daniels, who GOP: Marc Lotter, one-tenth of a year has passed, and still no promised a “freight train of change” last spokesman for Republican response. But I think we know why. We gubernatorial nominee week at the GOP convention, Kernan, too, Mitch Daniels, said Daniels have heard the claim that he will run a was talking about the same. has been nothing but posi- clean campaign,” Kernan said of his Kernan began by taking on the tive (Niki Kelly, Fort Wayne Republican opponent, Mitch Daniels, notion that there isn’t much difference Journal Gazette). “They’ve holding up the GOP booklet Legacy of between him and Daniels. “I made the been watching another cam- Neglect. “Then they distribute thousands decision to get in this race for governor paign. Mitch has been of copies of this trash, their version of the because I believe there’s an extraordinary unfailingly positive for 11 National Enquirer, all over Indiana. opportunity to lead Indiana to greatness,” months,” Lotter said. “The Distorted, demeaning and distasteful.” Kernan said. “To build on our successes. Democratic party has put Kernan also took issue with Daniels over out similar things calling To meet our challenges head-on. To work the “irresponsible charge that Indiana is Mitch a liar. Mitch has disci- together and make the changes that matter plined the Republican party. bankrupt.” Kernan said, “I have decided to Hoosiers. To make it clear that there is When is Gov. Kernan going that as we work our way through financial nothing we cannot achieve. That’s why to do the same for his challenges I will not seek advice or coun- I’m running. That’s my mission. You may party?” sel from anyone whose budget lost more hear some people say that ‘it’s fortunate than half a trillion dollars.” that we have two qualified people running McDERMOTT SEEKS While Kernan was jabbing back at for governor. We win either way.’ If I PEACE WITH BAUER: Republicans over the “Legacy of thought that were true, I’d be heading House Democrats seek to Neglect,” Democratic counsel Shaw back to South Bend in January to buy a hold their slim majority, as Friedman was distributing talking points local Democrats vow to baseball team.” work together after a con- about the Daniels record at OMB and Kernan sought to make the case tentious primary. Democrats IPALCO. The South Bend Tribune’s for change, as Daniels did last Monday, are trying to keep control of Martin DeAgostino observed, “The mater- and highlighted his job creation efforts. the House of ial -- available in camera-ready format for “In this time of change for our state, we Representatives, where newspaper ads -- is based on opposition will meet our challenges in the same way. Democrats control the 100- research that combines selected facts, We won’t leave it to chance that better member House by a single quotations and independent reporting on days are ahead; we choose to make it hap- vote. Earlier in the week, at various aspects of Daniels' record. Ironic- pen,” Kernan said. “And that’s exactly the state Republican ally, the materials resemble a Republican what we’ve been doing. Together, we Convention, House Minority Leader Brain Bosma handed compilation of Democratic failures, called have accomplished many great things, out “54 in ’04” buttons, hop- A Legacy of Neglect, that Kernan held with bipartisan leadership from Democrats ing to pick up five seats in aloft during his speech and labeled ‘trash.’ and some enlightened Republicans.” the next election (Steve The moral of the story? With five months That last sentence is key. For Walsh, Post-Tribune). “We left until Election Day, both parties seem while it was Kernan who launched the tax don’t need a catchy slogan. locked and loaded for a long, hard con- restructuring initiative in October 2001, We can run on the issues,” test.” the man who actually crafted the final said House Speaker R. The governor then took aim at deal -- much to the objections of then- Patrick Bauer, D-South Daniels’ Washington career. “Working in House Speaker Gregg and then-Ways & Bend. Bauer said Washington must be like living on Mars,” Means Chairman B. Patrick Bauer -- was Democrats are running on a platform of jobs and educa- Kernan said. “No oxygen. No water. No Republican Senate Finance Chairman signs of intelligent life. Hoosier workers Larry Borst, who, ironically, was finally Continued on page 3 can compete with anyone in the world. All defeated in his primary re-election battle Page 3 of 9 Tuesday, June 15, 2004 the day before Democrats met. thing at once. We cut inventories, we Republicans have been trying to tag made parts to the assembly schedule. We Kernan with the fallout, particularly in implemented statistical process control. Democratic bastion Lake County, even We stopped adjusting fuel systems in test though Borst wrote the final plan and cells. We modernized the paint system House Minority Leader Brian Bosma and shipped to our customers’ schedules. allowed it to pass out of the House when These changes made the difference. tion. In the final week before he instructed State Rep. Mary Kay Budak, Mitsubishi never became a supplier to the May primary, the speak- R-LaPorte, to vote aye. Ford.” er toured Lake County, Kernan continued, “We have She said that Gov. Kernan works where incumbent Reps. proven that when we work together, we in a similar mode. “Joe Kernan looks Chet Dobis, D-Merrillville, get the job done. We took action, by squarely at what needs to be done and Linda Lawson, D-Hammond changing government, cutting waste, and does it. He offers a plan. He brings people and John Aguilera, D-East Chicago, all faced primary controlling spending. We cut property in. He listens. Ideas get better. Joe Kernan challengers. Lawson faced taxes to give homeowners needed relief decides and takes action. The right the closest race against from the effects of court-ordered reassess- changes get made and we get results.