Politics Indiana

V15 N15 Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008 The Obama ‘landslide’ impact

entire GOP ticket like a car bomb that created the environ- Bulen Symposium weighs the ment for Bulen, Bill Ruckleshaus, Larry Borst, Noble Pearcy, shifts in demographics, media Beurt SerVaas and others to form the Republican Action Committee the next year in preparation for seizing control By BRIAN A. HOWEY of the Marion County party. It became the footing for the INDIANAPOLIS - In late 1998 I asked L. Keith Indiana Republican machine from 1966 to 1988 that would Bulen what he thought dominate the state. about President Clinton Out of the RAC would and he responded, come names that still “Best candidate I’ve reverberate today: ever thought, heard or Danny Burton, John dreamed of.” Mutz, Richard Lugar, As you read Charlie Bosma, Rex the data and impres- Early and eventually, sions emanating last Mitch Daniels. Monday from the As our analysis re- Bulen Symposium on vealed last week, Dan- American Politics as iels and Obama domi- well as some of our nated 2008 in what own, ponder what the may be seen as one of legendary Republican the transformational operative might have elections in Indiana thought about Barack history. What we don’t Obama. The last time a Democrat carried Indiana was 1964 know is whether this and it was that LBJ blowout of Barry Goldwater that hit the signals a new, broad swing state era, See Page 3 As GM goes .... By BRIAN A. HOWEY CARMEL - The lease on my Ford F-150 is just about up, so I’ve been doing my research. After a summer of $4.19 a gallon gas, I decided on a Ford Escape Hybrid. It gets “I will never apologize for 36-mpg city, 31 highway. It’s American made. I went to the changing the approach and the local Ford dealer for a test drive. The salesman kept telling me strategy when the facts change.” that I better buy it now because it was the only one on the lot - Treasury Secretary and there were only “11 in the entire state of Indiana.” 11 in Henry M. Paulson Jr. the entire state! If you wonder why the American auto industry is in HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 2 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008

precarious shape, ponder that. Or dent-elect Barack Obama pushed for a Howey Politics think back to the General Motors, federal bailout of the Big 3 (GM, Ford Indiana totally electrically powered EV1 of and Chrysler), explaining he recog- the 1990s that established a loyal nizes “the hardship it faces, hardship is a nonpartisan news- consumer base in California, only to that goes far beyond individual auto have the auto maker pull them all off companies to the countless suppliers, letter based in Indianapolis the market and destroy them. Until small businesses and communities and published by NewsLink recently, GM was pushing the Misha- throughout our nation who depend on waka-made Hummer product line. a vibrant American auto industry. The Inc. It was founded in As GM goes, so goes the auto industry is the backbone of Ameri- 1994 in Fort Wayne. nation. And so goes the Hoosier can manufacturing and a critical part of state. Twenty percent of the Indiana our attempt to reduce our dependence workforce is in automotive related on foreign oil.” Brian A. Howey, publisher businesses. It goes well beyond Obama called on Congress to Mark Schoeff Jr. Washington those plants making windshields and “accelerate the retooling assistance” to transmissions. In the old days, GM help Detroit “succeed in producing fuel- writer had vertical integration, but now it efficient cars here in the United States Jack E. Howey, editor essentially has a design and manu- of America.” Beverly Phillips, associate facturing core, having out-sourced While the Bush administration’s not only the supply chain, but also federal bailout flounders, there are editor things like information technology. many of us who wonder whether we GM stock was trading at should throw more good money after Subscriptions: $2.92 just after its 100th birthday bad to the very same people who have this past week, the lowest point in made bad decisions and give us the $350 annually HPI via e-mail; 65 years. Next month GM’s cash wrong products. Might a collapse of $550 annually HPI & HPI Daily reserves will fall below the minimum the Big 3 pave the way for innovative Wire. $10 billion it needs to run its global companies with progressive manage- operations. ment to fill the idled plants with assem- Call 317-631-9450. “The dynamics here are mul- bly lines for revolutionized cars? Howey Politics Indiana tiple,” said Patrick Kiely, president of Kiely saw the storm clouds PO Box 40265 the Indiana Manufacturers Associa- gathering 18 months ago on the specu- tion. Back in 1982, he was Indiana lation that whiplashed Wall Street this Indianapolis, IN 46240-0265. House Ways & Means chairman for summer. “What we’re seeing is an eco- three weeks when Gov. Robert Orr nomic cycle that normally would play in Contact Us called a special session that dealt over 20 years coming in three months,” www.howeypolitics.com with that severe recession and posi- he said. Gas has gone from $147 a tioned Indiana to become part of the barrel last summer ($3 short of Osama [email protected] Chrysler bailout. bin Laden’s goal) to $57 a barrel this Main Office: 317-202-0210. I asked Kiely what would past week. Howey’s Mobile: 317-506-0883. happen if GM files for bankruptcy Back in 1982, with unemploy- and, after that, collapses into oblivi- ment in Anderson at 26 percent, Kiely Indianapolis Fax: 317-254-0535. on. He couldn’t tell me exactly how participated in the Chrysler bailout Washington: 202-256-5822. many companies or workers toil for designed in part by U.S. Sen. Richard Business Office: 317-631-9450. or supply GM. “What we do know Lugar. The state was repaid with 12 ©2008, Howey Politics is that 20 percent is transportation percent interest within five years and related, second only to Michigan,” he subsequent Chrysler innovation brought Indiana. All rights reserved. said. “It’s huge for us. An automo- us the mini-van. Photocopying, Internet forwarding, tive calamity would certainly impact The danger in allowing a col- faxing or reproducing in any form, us.” lapse of the Big 3 is anywhere from 2 In his victory speech on to 5 million jobs lost nationally and a in whole or part, is a violation of Election Night, Gov. Mitch Daniels shudder through the economy. Retailer federal law without permission from understated that Indiana was in for Circuit City is bankrupt. Best Buy saw the publisher. a “rough patch.” At his first press its stock plunge 13 percent. “Since mid- conference three days later, Presi- September, rapid, seismic changes in HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 3 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008

consumer behavior have created the most difficult climate ticipate in a Chamber of Commerce panel with State Sen. we’ve ever seen,” said Best Buy CEO Brad Anderson. Jim Merritt and State Rep. Greg Porter. They talked about Kiely asks, “Is Best Buy the beginning of a trend the need to fund health care, education and a murky bien- or a collapse?” He noted a recent radio interview with an nial budget. exotic dancer named “Danica” in Indianapolis who said she I reminded them that they didn’t start calling the was working twice the hours for the same amount of tips Great Depression by name on Oct. 30, 1929. That moniker last month. But once gas dropped to $1.80 a gallon, “the took awhile to sink in. The world we’re seeing now as op- guys are back.” posed to what we’ll see next April or May is unfathomable. On Tuesday morning, I drove my F-150 downtown v - burning through a couple of gallons of $1.79 gas - to par-

cent margin; 66 percent of 18-29-year-olds (+34 percent Bulen Symposium margin); Hispanics with 67 percent percent (+36 percent); and Asians with 62 percent (+27 percent). African-Ameri- or a blip on the screen of history. cans supported Obama with 95 percent, a record. Obama No matter where this path leads us, won independents by 52-44 percent, moderates by 60-39 its trail head is an extraordinary one percent, and suburbanites by 50-48 percent. that will draw great scrutiny in the Obama made significant encroachments in the months and years ahead. Electoral College by taking Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio The Bulen Symposium of and Florida. “That’s pretty remarkable,” said Halperin. What 2008 is the fountainhead of this is scaring Republicans (or should) is that Obama won three stream of analysis: of the most rapidly growing demographic groups: young L. KEITH BULEN voters, Hispanics and single women. “Ronald Reagan did GOP Meltdown very well with young voters,” Halperin said. “George W. The demographic inroad and Bush with Hispanics. All of the movement is toward the GOP meltdown Democratic Party. If (Obama) increases with these three Barack Obama received 53 percent of the vote, groups he will win South Carolina. which has been described by some as a “landslide.” In the Halperin said that the Republicans “have to be past, the definition of a “landslide” is plurality above, say, spooked” about the Hispanic voter, who helped President 12 percent. For a Democrat, however, this year was a land- Bush to two terms. In 2006, Indiana was home to then slide. TIME magazine’s U.S. Reps. John Hostet- Mark Halperin at the tler, Mike Sodrel and Bulen Sympoisum on Chris Chocola who rallied American Politics Mon- around strict immigration day noted that Jimmy proposals. Hostettler spent Carter won with just 50 much of that August and percent of the vote in September holding field 1976, Bill Clinton “nev- hearings around the coun- er got there” in 1992 try while ignoring his own and 1996. You have doomed re-election. All to go back to Lyndon three lost that November. Johnson’s epic landslide The fruits of their labor in 1964 to find a true were apparent in Indiana Democratic blow out. this past Nov. 4 when Halperin Obama captured 77 per- explained that in just cent of Hoosier Hispanics, about every demo- compared to 23 percent graphic group, Obama for McCain. This is a de- made significant in- mographic that expanded roads. National Election from 3 percent in 2004 to Pool Data reveals that 4 percent this year. Obama won 56 percent John McCain took a wrong turn after his debate with Barack Obama at Should the Hispan- of females, a 13 per- Nashville while the Democrat remained cool and collected. (Reuters Photo) ic vote continue to head HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 4 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008

into the Democratic column, it Michigan,” Halperin said of the McCain cam- will be the dominant party. A New paign in a state many observers felt would be America’s Voice Report found that competitive to the wire. pro-forma immigration candidates And good news for the GOP? “The Republi- defeated hard-liners in 19 of 21 cans didn’t lose a single Republican governor,” battleground House and Senate Halperin said. While Gov. Mitch Daniels is races. “Clearly, the Republican receiving some early play for 2012, Halperin wedge strategy around immigra- discounted the notion that former Speaker tion has proved a spectacular Newt Gingrich or Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will failure,” said Frank Sharry, execu- be serious candidates. tive director of America’s Voice. “In both 2006 and now 2008, Obama and race Americans responded to candi- The headline in the Nov. 5 edition of the dates who offered practical fixes New York Times read: “Obama: Racial Barrier to our broken immigration sys- Falls in Heavy Turnout.” The NYT lead stated tem, instead of those who tried that Obama swept “away the last racial barrier to exploit the issue for political in American politics with ease as the country gain.” chose him as its first black chief executive.” It Then there were the called the victory a “strikingly symbolic mo- evangelicals. According to David ment in the evolution of the nation’s racial his- Campbell, associate professor of tory, a breakthrough that would have seemed political science at the University unthinkable just two years ago.” of Notre Dame, Obama carried But Marc Lamont Hill, assistant professor 32 percent of young evangelical of urban education at Temple University and a voters, compared to 16 percent Fox News analyst (as well as a self-described for John Kerry in 2004. “That’s “far leftist”), said that race had everything one in three of young evan- to do with Obama’s victory. “I went into the gelicals who voted for Obama. If voting booth, held my nose and voted for there is a change, we’ve begun Barack Obama,” said Hill, an African-American. to see whispers of it in the 2008 In 1984, “Jesse Jackson ran a black election” election.” And Catholics? “Four in to leverage power. “Jesse Jackson became 10 Catholics are Latinos,” Camp- president of the black folk. Barack Obama did bell said. “Latinos are the face of the exact opposite. He reached out to white the Catholic population going for- liberals.” He believed “blacks will vote for me ward. Latinos swung to Obama.” ‘just cuz.’” Barack Obama “went to extrava- In 2004, President Bush carried gant lengths of avoiding the troupes of a black Hoosier Catholics over John Kerry candidacy,” Hill said. 56-43 percent. It was the Rev. Jeremiah Wright contro- Republicans woke up versy that played out as Obama was bat- on Wednesday without a single tling Hillary Clinton in the Indiana and North House member from New Eng- Carolina primaries that brought the unspoken land, following the defeat of U.S. to the forefront. “It’s only in that moment, Rep. Christopher Shays. that his back was to the wall, only then did he Halperin explained that Bulen Symposium speakers include talk about it,” Hill said. Obama’s subsequent without the “October surprise” (from top) Halperin, Hill, Crowley and speech in Philadelphia was the “black com- in September - the financial Evans. (HPI Photos) promise,” Hill charged. “At some level white meltdown on Wall Street - John supremacy is left off the hook.” Yet, he called McCain probably would have it the “best speech on race ... by a politician. won. “McCain handled it badly,” Halperin said. “Without That’s a pretty low bar.” that economic crisis, I don’t know if we would be talking In past elections, Bill Clinton wore shades and about a win at all” for Obama. “It was rare in history: one played the saxophone and lectured Sister Souljah. Hill said big event, one external event that set the parameters.” The that Obama talked to blacks with “tough love” and said that immediate political impact was felt in Michigan on Sept. 15 his fatherhood speech was basically a critique of a con- when McCain pulled out. “You saw the bottom drop out in HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 5 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008

stituency group telling them backed Obama specifically because he repre- “what is wrong with them sented a breakthrough. Crowley said what many and how to fix themselves.” Hoosier reporters and observers saw: Obama CNN reporter Candy attracted the most diverse crowds at huge ral- Crowley recalled covering lies. People “never saw him as running as an Af- Obama in North Carolina on rican-America,” Crowley said. Yet, she recalled the day Obama announced attending a rally at Jackson State University and he was cutting ties with Rev. talking to an on-duty black cop who insisted Wright. “He was known as that he was there simply to “work my quadrant.” ‘No Drama Obama,’” Crowley During Obama’s speech, Crowley happened to said. “He was really angry glance at the policeman and saw “tears stream- that day.” Howey Politics ing down his face.” Indiana interviewed Obama “We’re at an amazing time in American about 90 minutes after the history,” Crowley said. “We always pick the denouncing press confer- right person for the time. They didn’t vote for ence and found the candidate Barack Obama at the American Legion Mall him as an African-American but as someone for calm and collected. “When on May 5. He would Indiana lose to Hillary change.” you run for president, one of Clinton the next day, but the groundwork the things you sign on to is was in place for his winning Indiana’s 11 Clinton vs. Obama & change the fact the American people Electoral College votes on Nov. 4. (Photo by CNN’s Crowley believes that Obama out- want to know who you are A. Walker Shaw) flanked Hillary Clinton in the primary on the and all aspects of you,” change dynamic. She entered the race as the Obama explained. “Some of prohibitive favorite and had Bill Clinton’s “plati- them get blown out of proportion. Some of them get mag- num Rolodex.” While older women rallied around the New nified. You have to take it as it comes. I think I was very York senator and former first lady, “Younger women were clear about today. My former pastor doesn’t speak for me less enthralled. It was not a bad idea, just not a new idea.” and doesn’t reflect my views. It was sad to see what hap- Crowley began to understand how the dynamic pened yesterday (at the National Press Club), yet I don’t was changing at Obama’s campaign kickoff at Springfield want that to be a distraction about what this campaign is in February 2007. “It was freezing and every street around about. The American people are struggling and they need the Old State Capitol ... you couldn’t see the end of the help.” people.” She began hearing people saying they really want- HPI’s analysis was that the Rev. Wright issue was ed change, that they were tired of what was happening in a significant factor in Obama’s 1 percent loss to Hillary Washington. “Not just for eight years, but for a long time,” Clinton in Indiana. Yet, he easily won North Carolina on the Crowley said. Another rally in Austin, Texas, found 17,000 same night and would come back and win both states on people. “It Nov. 4. was right Was the 2008 presidential race a “post-racial there for us moment?” Hill asked. “I say no. Race is very much at the to see. By center of American politics. Lay them on the table and deal the time Hill- with them squarely.” ary realized The race issue worked both ways. Many whites it, he had claimed the change mantle. She couldn’t change that.” Obama, she said, “saw Ronald Reagan as a transforma- Hillary Clinton is photographed with a fan at tional mo- the Indiana Democratic Jefferson-Jackson Day ment. People Dinner. (HPI Photo by A. Walker Shaw) HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 6 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008

Norm Cox, Jim Shella and Kevin Rader doing standups at Indiana University prior to the final debate between Gov. Daniels, Jill Long Thompson and Andy Horning. (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey)

always vote their hopes. He saw it a lot earlier than Hillary wayside. Clinton.” The coverage of the 2008 election went beyond the blogs. When Palin went on NBC’s Saturday Night Live, it The news media was the third highest rated show. Another 50 million view- Which news source had the greatest impact on the ers watched the Tina Fey/Palin parodies on the Internet. 2008 election? MSNBC with 58 million viewers? Fox News Comedy Central’s John Stewart and Steve Corbert attracted with 61 million? CNN with 80 million? 200 million viewers a night while CNN’s Anderson Cooper Or the blogs? They had 180 million readers, ac- and Fox’s Bill O’Reilly “do not get 200 million viewers.” cording to Jason Evans, a former CNN senior executive Evans did note that Stewart does “a terrific job and he does producer. It is a new phenomena. The Huffington Post has deal mostly in facts.” been around three years; The Politico 18 months and Five- Evans showed Stewart’s coverage of John McCain’s ThroughEight came on line eight months ago but attracted “new stump speech” that was covered by the networks and 3.6 million unique visitors in October. the New York Times as brealomg news. The Washington Evans pointed to liberal blogs that began writing Post would report what Stewart did: there was really noth- about Gov. Sarah Palin as a “secret grandmother” and then ing new. showed the Bulen Symposium a Reuters news clip that “The media’s biggest problem is feeding the beast,” mentioned the “rumors by liberal bloggers.” Evans said. “There’s so much demand for new. When cam- “It’s a huge problem for mainstream media,” Evans paigns say something is new, we take it as new. We are a said. “At CNN it was an every day problem.” He found slave to our ratings,” saying viewers won’t stick around for himself using news resources to track down rumors on the same headlines at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. the Drudge Report and the Daily Kos. “You’re substituting Then there was campaign propaganda. The Obama their judgment for your own. I felt dirty at the end of many campaign produced 28 new ads but 11 were rarely rotated days.” As HPI analyzed in its Sept. 11 “Midnight in the Me- on TV, and were covered by news organizations. The Mc- dia Garden” cover story, the atrophy in Hoosier media (the Cain campaign had 25 new ads and 12 were rarely rotated. South Bend Tribune just announced a 14 percent job cut on Many of these ads were created for news media intake. It’s Wednesday, following deep cuts at the Evansville Courier & the new sucking sound in American politics. Press and Indianapolis Star) and shift to the blogs is a dan- Were there any good trends? Evans said that many gerous trend. Blogs do little reporting at professional jour- negative ads - except those during the economic melt- nalistic standards, while propagating rumors and innuendo. down - backfired. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole’s “Godless” ad The newspapers - mostly nonpartisan sources that provide was “the worst ever.” But he added, “I don’t know if that fact checking and a free market of ideas - are falling by the holds past this election.” It was a trend we witnessed here in Indiana. While Jill Long Thompson won the Democratic Page 7 Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008

gubernatorial primary by attacking Jim Schellinger, during about Daniels on today’s Morning Joe. the general election, when Linda Pence used them against Don’t expect to see a “Mitch for President” cam- Greg Zoeller she lost. Gov. Daniels never did run a negative paign surface in 2010. “I’m not surprised people around ad. The 9th CD Hill/Sodrel race wasn’t nearly as negative the country are talking about it,” Holcomb said. “They saw as it had been in 2006 and 2004. what happened here on Nov. 4. They can look and see how Indiana Democratic Chairman Dan Parker dis- it happened here and how it can be applied.” But a presi- agreed, saying that Pence lost “because the person ahead dential race would take the governor away from Indiana of her on the ballot (Thompson) got 40 percent of the during what looks like a recovery period from an awful vote.” economic crisis we hardly understand the magnitude of at this point. President Daniels? “He’ll be laser-focused on Indiana,” Holcomb said. On a ride back from Kokomo in October, we asked And don’t think too much about a “lame duck” Gov. Gov. Daniels if he would ever consider the presidency. No, Daniels between 2010-2012. “That’s the conventional way he said without hesitation. He considered himself too blunt to look at it, but this guy is far from conventional,” Holcomb for the national media. The governor has repeatedly said said. “He’ll be working as hard on the last day as he did 2008 was his last election. Aides tell HPI that the governor on his first day. If folks think he’ll coast into the final day, works in arenas he can impact and that the White House they’re wrong.” might be too big of a “sandbox.” What The Dan & Mur- is inescap- ray Show able is this: in Lunching with a year when Indiana Republican Obama carried Chairman J. Murray Clark Indiana for found him in good humor the Demo- and actually contemplat- crats, Daniels ing a reign beyond next set a record March. Gov. Daniels as the state’s placed Clark at the GOP top vote get- helm to ensure the party ter at 1.542 was in sync behind his re- million votes, elect. Clark now sees an out-perform- opportunity to help Re- ing Dick Lugar, publicans refind their soul Evan Bayh and and message. It came even Ronald after the Indianapolis Reagan. Dan- Star’s Matt Tully wrote iels out-polled that Clark was embar- Barack Obama rassed by Obama’s win, by 190,000 the first for a Democrat in votes. 44 years. “It was a classical match-up between the con- The problem with that assessment is that Clark had ventional vs. the unconventional,” said Daniels campaign urged the McCain campaign to come into the state long manager Eric Holcomb of the Daniels-Thompson race. “He before he did on the eve of the election. Chairman Parker spent years on the road, spent nights in people’s homes. noted that if McCain had come to Indiana during the Clin- He was authentic and real. The writings on his TV ads and ton/Obama race last April or May to inject the Republican scripts were his own words.” message, that might have saved the state from the blues. Despite Obama on the ticket, Daniels raised his “There was six weeks of unanswered Democratic message,” support among African-Americans from 7 percent in 2004 Parker said as he defended Clark. “He shouldn’t take the to 20 percent in 2008. It’s those kinds of statistics that led blame of John McCain not carrying Indiana.” U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez to tout Daniels on NBC’s Meet the Clark called the Obama campaign “a very good one Press as the “bright star of the party,” and certainly a more from a grassroots perspective.” The Democrat outspent knowledgeable and disciplined voice than Newt Gingrich or McCain “5 to 1, 6 to 1” and the message was “of very high Sarah Palin. NBC’s Chuck Todd was talking the same way quality.” Throw in the Wall Street meltdown (“not McCain’s HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 8 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008

strong point”) and the GOP damentals of his party.” had “lost its brand.” The Parker, who tried to early voting strategy of the forge a united front in Obama campaign was the late 2007 and earlier this “difference maker.” year, watched Thompson Parker said that defeat the establishment Indiana’s tilt toward blue choice Jim Schellinger by began in 2006 when the 1 percent in the primary. state was the only one While there was a Demo- in the union to see three cratic facade of support for congressional seats flip Thompson, it never mate- from Republican to Demo- rialized in much hard cash. crat (with Obama’s help Chairmen Parker and Clark at the Bulen Symposium. (HPI Photo by Throughout the summer in October of that year). Brian A. Howey) and fall, union and local “That was the first sign party sources repeatedly that something was com- told HPI how mismanaged ing.” He pointed to three statistics from Democratic internal the Thompson campaign was. Thompson never connected polling: in 2004 President Bush had a 61 percent approval herself to Obama in ads; she barely connected Daniels to rating; in 2008 it stood at 32 percent. In 2004, 47 percent President Bush. In LaPorte County, local Democrats ran said the economy was doing well; in 2008 it was 9 percent. a “Punch 10” newspaper ad in the Michigan City News- The party breakdown in 2004 stood 46 percent Republican Dispatch and LaPorte Herald-Argus that featured a White and 32 percent Democrat or a +14. In 2008 it stood at 41 House photo of OMB Director Daniels and President Bush. percent Republican and 36 percent Democrat. Thompson carried LaPorte County by 13,000 votes. “The “Those three numbers really tell the story,” Parker JLT margin here was no accident,” said former county said. In 2004, 17 percent said the economy was the main chairman Shaw Friedman. issue while “moral values” was No. 1. In 2008, 60 percent What if Thompson had had the money to tether said the economy was the top issue “and 52 percent of Daniels to Bush with a slide show of 2001-2002 Bush/ those went to Obama.” Daniels photos statewide? It was something the Daniels There were other key demographics. In 2004, the campaign had braced for, but when Thompson was able to 18-29-year-olds made up 14 percent of the Hoosier elector- come back on the air in the final two weeks of the cam- ate and Bush carried that group 52-47 percent. In 2008, paign, there was only one sentence on the subject, spoken that age group shot up to 19 percent and Obama carried by the candidate in the widely panned ad. them 63-35 percent. Suburban voters made up 45 percent of the electorate and Obama lost there by 9 percent (this Postscript: An Obama Republican is different than the MSNBC exit polling we used earlier in A day after the Bulen Sym- this story). In 2004, John posium, I spoke at a Greater Kerry lost by 30 percent. Indianapolis Chamber of “That’s some significant Commerce panel in which switch,” Parker said. I forecast doom and gloom The gubernato- with the American economy, rial race was completely Secretary Paulson’s bipolar different. “The governor’s Wall Street bailout, and the campaign was almost imminent collapse of General flawless,” Clark said. He Motors, I asked former Sen- had executed “the most ate Finance Chairman Larry controversial things” dur- Borst if I was being “too ing the first two years, alarmist.” Borst, a protege of Some say that cost him the legenday Bulen and ar- the House in 2006. Clark dent admirer of Gov. Daniels’ believes that most of the leadership, said no. He also country and state are told me he had great faith in “center/right” and said the coming leadership. that Daniels has governed “I’m an Obama Republi- “consistent with the fun- HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 9 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008

“From a political standpoint, if a Republican could establish A Republican role model a grassroots presence, we would be successful.” He said that U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee had told him amidst the common man that using the RV “will make you a better campaigner and it will make you a better governor.” By BRIAN A. HOWEY Daniels spent 16 months aboard RV1 during MILAN, Ind. - We had just departed the Reserva- 2003 and 2004 en route to a first term. “It was no bogus tion Restaurant here in the small town that gave America listening tour,” he explained. “We did it every day for 16 the legendary story of “Hoosiers” and boarded Indiana Gov. months.” After defeating Gov. Joe Kernan, he said, “We Mitch Daniels’ decrepit campaign prop - RV1. never stopped doing what we did.” While Obama built a Was it just me, Governor, or did you notice the rapport this year in the reddest of the red states, Daniels man at the table you were talking to just inside the door was in heavily Democratic Lake County, Ind., doing the looked like Dennis Hopper? “A lot of them look like Dennis same thing. Hopper,” Daniels responded without missing a beat. This is a governor who rides Harleys with leather Well, a lot of “them” propelled Republican Mitch Daniels to a second term with a record 1.54 million votes in the Hoosier State because the governor sought “them” out. Despite a GOP bloodbath amidst the Coming of Obama, Daniels had “them” deliver a landslide 58-40 percent vic- tory over hapless Democrat Jill Long Thompson. This is a governor who never ran a negative TV ad during the three times he was on the bal- lot. He completely avoided the wedge issues that found Re- publicans baiting demographic subtargets. During the 2006 Republican self-immolation, then-Indiana Republican con- gressmen John Hostettler and Chris Chocola were targeting “illegal” Latinos, Daniels was recognizing they were just the latest fiber joining the Ameri- can patchwork quilt, speaking Gov. Daniels chats with Bobby Plump outside the Reservation Reaturant in Milan on Oct. 30. (HPI Spanish to “them,” frequently, Photo by Brian A. Howey) “Necesitas aprender ingles” (you must learn English). The governor believes that RV1 signals the end and bearded Hoosiers. At a groundbreaking on U.S. 31 in of “TV and tarmac” campaigns. “I had formed some views Kokomo - part of his $3.8 billion fully-funded 10-year road long before I dreamed of doing this,” Daniels said on the program made possible by the Indiana Toll Road lease - he final leg of the 80,000 mile RV1 saga that journeyed from began talking to a man wearing a Harley top. “Do you ride Milan to the Indiana Statehouse. “I had urged other Re- or just wear the shirt?” Daniels asked (the man rides). publicans to do this, never with any success. Strangely, I Daniels can findcomfort in country club confines became the guinea pig. This is the way politics ought to be where endangered Republicans gather at shrinking water practiced.” He said that Democrats have a “built-in advan- holes. But he fits in perfectly without coat and tie, wear- tage” because of the party’s union and working man roots. ing baseball caps and just showing up in small town cafes and taverns, at roadside produce stands in the heat of the Page 10 Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008

summer, in student even see General sections of college Motors disappear. gridirons among On Wednesday, sophomores in he called a fed- body paint. This is eral bailout of GM a governor with no “throwing good entourage. money after bad.” It puts him There is in a position to a sign near the deliver, which is the cash register of point. This is no the Reservation, style over substance which is filled politician. He has with 1954 Milan dragged Indiana, Indiana state usually kicking and basketball champ screaming, into for- memorabilia that ward looking action. injected this tiny From the apparently town into Ameri- small task of making can sports lore. license branches It reads: “We no drop average service longer accept bad times from 40 minutes to 7, to big issues like property tax checks.” Bobby Plump - the real “Hoosiers” hotshot - laud- and telecom reform, he tackled one thing after another ed Daniels for two balanced budgets and recalled his high regardless of political consequence. And although a born school coach Marvin Wood who brought leadership into activist, his conservative philosophy shines, as with a this little town. “We didn’t have the best talent but we had free-market approach to health care for 130,000 uninsured the best team. And we had Coach Marvin Wood” (the real (paid for with an increase in the cigarette tax). But always life Gene Hackman character). Looking at Daniels, Plump it is jobs first. declared, “Here we have a leader.” About 20 miles up the road from Milan, Daniels It is a commodity post-Bush Republicans need delivered a 2,000 job Honda plant. The timing was impec- to find. Daniels insists he will never seek another elected cable: the first Civics began rolling off the assembly line a office. He believes he’s too blunt. But Republicans ought to month before the Nov. 4 election. In the nearby burgh of be taking notes on the Daniels experience in Indiana, with Versailles (pop. 1,600), Daniels announced one of the first roots running deep to U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar and legendary Honda suppliers beginning to invade job-starved Southeast GOP operative L. Keith Bulen. This Republicanism is inclu- Indiana. Belletech will start making Honda window assem- sive, tolerant, holds a light for the huddled masses and toils blies next year. “This is a big deal for us,” said Republican within “their” midst. v National Committeewoman Dee Dee Benkie, who lives nearby. Barry Lauber of the Ripley County Chamber of Commerce said that with the infrastructure in place for Belletech, they hope other Honda suppliers will come. “We’re shovel ready,” Lauber said, using a phrase of Daniels stemming from the 2004 campaign. “The governor made it happen down here.” While surrounding Midwestern states are dripping in red ink, have exhausted road funds and find rust gathering on their belts, Daniels has delivered two balanced budgets, a surplus, an expanding interstate quality highway system, 800 new child pro- tective service workers, $18 billion in new business investment and 75,000 jobs in the Daniels poses with Milan ‘54 stars Plump and Ray Craft and Reservation wait- pipeline. Despite all of this, Daniels is bracing resses. Above, Daniels chats outside the restaurant as patrons at the table for a savage economic downturn that could where he had just chatted reflect. (HPI Photos by Brian A. Howey) HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 11 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008

elsewhere in the 9th CD. Hill said that he witnessed 20 to Hill coasts on youth vote 30 youthful volunteers working the phones at campaign of- By MARK SCHOEFF JR. fices in Clark and Floyd counties. One week day, he walked WASHINGTON - Rep. Baron Hill made what looked into an office in Columbus in the middle of the afternoon, like a risky decision last spring prior to the Indiana primary. expecting it to be empty. Instead, there were six twenty- While his Hoosier House colleagues remained neutral in the somethings making calls. Democratic presidential contest, Hill decided to endorse “The torch has been passed to these young Sen. Barack Obama. people,” Hill said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.” Obama went on to lose Indiana to Sen. Hillary Rod- In backing Obama, Hill wanted to ensure that his ham Clinton, who had the backing of Democratic establish- own brand appealed to a new generation of voters as well ment--from Sen. Evan as an older swath of the electorate that was inspired by Bayh to party leaders Obama to participate of southern Indiana in politics for the first counties. But Hill was time. looking beyond this “I wanted to em- year when got behind brace those kids and Obama. a whole lot of people He saw some- who have never thing at Brown County been involved in a High School in the fall campaign before,” of 2007 that convinced Hill said. him that supporting In prevailing over Obama would help Hill Republican nominee build a base of support Mike Sodrel for for the future. When the third time in Hill asked the students four elections, Hill about the presidential had more going for race, they erupted in him than a youth cheers for Obama. movement. He also Similar scenes bested Sodrel, who won the seat in occurred time and Barack Obama embraces U.S. Rep. Baron Hill at IU’s Assembly Hall in April. Hill 2004, in traditional again throughout the provided a key endorsement for Obama primary to the May 6 primary. (HPI Photo areas like outreach district, according by Chuck Schisla) to Hill. “There was and money. something flying under Hill’s and Obama’s the radar that no one was seeing,” Hill said in a recent HPI campaigns shared interview. voter information. Obama’s extensive Hoosier office op- Although Obama barely lost the Indiana primary eration helped him win three 9th CD counties--Monroe, to Clinton, he did well enough to essentially end Clinton’s Spencer and Perry. Hill also was strong on the ground. presidential bid. This fall, Obama edged out Republican “Our GOTV effort was as good as I’ve ever seen,” presidential nominee J ohn McCain by 26,000 votes to Hill said. “My staff did a wonderful job. We didn’t make any become the first Democrat to win Indiana in a general elec- mistakes. We had the right message.” tion since President Lyndon Johnson in 1964. Hill raised $2 million and spent $1.5 million through Obama’s showing can be attributed in part to Oct. 15, according to the Federal Election Commission. the youth vote. He built connections to the 18-29 year old Sodrel raised $893,554 and spent $818,792. Sodrel, the voting bloc through assiduous cultivation of online net- owner of a New Albany bus and trucking company, stuck works. His appeal for change and the diversity he embod- to his pledge not to use any of his personal wealth in the ied attracted college students and young adults. race. The results were apparent on Election Day. Hill But this year, the National Republican Congres- says that there was a 45-minute voting line at the polling sional Committee, the campaign arm of the House Repub- place at Assembly Hall at Indiana University in Blooming- licans, wasn’t able to help Sodrel because it had severe ton. Elsewhere on campus, the wait was an hour. fundraising problems. The enthusiasm was evident throughout the fall The financial advantage allowed Hill to go up ear- lier and more often with television ads. Hill’s first spot hit HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 12 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008

the air in late August. Sodrel didn’t begin advertising until quests. After engaging in close races with Hill the first three Oct. 7. One twist this year was that Hill and Sodrel20ran times, one of which went to a recount, this year’s contest positive spots--something that might be due to the fact was a blowout. Hill won 58 percent to 38 percent. that defining each other is moot when they each have high “I’m very satisfied and humbled by the large mar- name identification throughout the district. gin this time around,” Hill said. Another advantage for Hill was the climate. So- It has convinced Hill that he has the right approach drel, like all Republicans, suffered from voter anger about a to staying in touch with voters. He now travels around the faltering economy and their rejection of the Bush adminis- district differently. When he has an event in North Vernon, tration. for instance, he stays for at least half a day to meet with Even through Hill voted against the $700 billion local leaders and constituents rather than rushing off to the bailout of financial markets and Sodrel opposed it as well, next to wn on his schedule. Sodrel couldn’t overcome the economic downturn. “People had the impression I wasn’t listening,” Sodrel’s predicament probably contributed to one Hill said. “I’ve changed the way I’ve managed my time, and of the farcical moments of the campaign when 9th CD it’s worked.” Republicans tried to get Hill to agree to use a lie detector It also may have closed out Sodrel’s political career. machine during the Jasper debate in late October. He issued an elegiac concession statement Election Night. It was a sign that the campaign was slipping away “I have known victory and I have known defeat,” from Sodrel, who did not respond to two HPI interview re- Sodrel said. “I am at peace with the outcome.” v

legendary pluralities achieved by Brademas, who held The Donnelly juggernaut the record for percentages and margins in a South Bend-based district. By JACK COLWELL Well, the best percentage for Brademas in St. SOUTH BEND - The remarkable vote totals in Joseph County was 68 percent in 1974, now below the 71 Indiana’s 2nd District for Congressman Joe Donnelly, D- percent for Donnelly. The biggest plurality for Brademas in Granger, surpass even the pluralities the county was the 30,500 margin in1964, now below the for former House Democratic Whip 52,000 for Donnelly. John Brademas back when Brademas Donnelly was expected to win big. Puckett won 11 terms in what was then the lacked campaign funding even to get on TV during the 3rd District. fall campaign. But that big? No. A poll shortly before the Election night totals showed Don- election showed Donnelly ahead by 14 percentage points. nelly carrying St. Joseph County with Puckett needed 71 percent and a plurality of more a good showing, than 52,000 votes over Republican maybe something challenger Luke Puckett. like the 44.5 percent In the whole district - a 12-county of the vote Donnelly district regarded as about 50-50 in got in losing in a first its political split - Donnelly received 67 try that left him vi- percent of the vote. able for a successful And this came not long after Donnelly risked the second race. ire of constituents who deluged his office with opposition to In such a what was then called a “Wall Street bailout.” He voted for competitive district, the economic rescue plan. He knew it was the right thing it would seem, as to do, for Main Street, but realized as well that it appeared so often it was in then to be the wrong thing to do politically as he sought the past, that any re-election. nominee of either With realization setting in that something had major party would to be done, fast, and that more will need to be done to get at least 40 per- avert another Great Depression, the vote was to be of no cent even in a bad harm politically. year. Instead, the So, the Donnelly’s landslide topped even the land district percentages U.S. Joe Donnelly at the Indiana Jeffer- that went sliding as Brademas won. St. Joseph County were: Donnelly, 67; son-Jackson Day Dinner on May 4. (HPI Democratic leaders often have looked back longingly at the Puckett, 30. Photo by A. Walker Shaw) HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 13 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008

What happened? and he does, the big Donnelly win won’t exactly have Re- No doubt Donnelly was helped by the turnout publican strategists at the national level looking at the 2nd of voters enthusiastic in support of Barack Obama, even as a district to target next time. If not Puckett, who was a though Donnelly did much better than the Democratic personable campaigner, what other Republican will want to presidential nominee in the district. No doubt Puckett was try against the odds? hurt by lack of enthusiasm among many Republicans for Odds can change. That much? Doesn’t seem the campaign effort of John McCain. No doubt a lot of Re- likely. Nor, of course, did it seem likely that Donnelly could publicans voted for Donnelly. In St. Joseph County, Puckett ever get two-thirds of the vote in a district like the 2nd. v got 17,400 fewer votes than McCain. The remarkable vote totals for Donnelly will help Colwell has covered politics for the South Bend Tri- him in the future. If Puckett wants to try a second time, bune over five decades.

Let’s be honest: Without the white vote, Obama Rushing into the Obama doesn’t win the presidency. Without the African-American vote, he doesn’t win. Without the votes of at least some ‘white guilt’ factor people who voted for George W. Bush in the past two presidential elections, he doesn’t win the Electoral College By DAVE KITCHELL votes he needs to be president. LOGANSPORT - Sea-changing presidential elections Maybe Rush, who comes from the lone state like the one we experienced Nov. 4 aren’t always happy that had a compromise on the slavery issue in the 1860s, developments for everyone. does feel some guilt because his ancestors in Cape Gi- Take Rush Limbaugh, for instance. Those who rardeau, Mo., didn’t live in a place that stood up to the happened to tune in to his afternoon show on Nov. 5 were South. Historically, that’s not something a lot of Missourians not treated to congratulatory testimonials of how well the would be proud to claim, but many of us in other states Obama campaign out-raised John McCain, how the Obama could be even more ashamed of our heritage than those in campaign turned traditionally red states into blue ones, or the Show-Me State. how the rhetoric Obama used worked. Using Rush’s argument, would it be fair to say that Instead, the conservative radio icon voters didn’t have enough sexist guilt to elect Sarah Palin spoke of “white guilt” that elected our vice president, or enough Vietnam veteran guilt to the junior senator from Illinois, the make John McCain or John Kerry our president? Is it safe first African-American president. Rush to say Americans had a Catholic guilt in 1960 when they also said Obama never said what he elected John F. Kennedy president? was going to do if he was elected. I don’t think so. In fact, guilt doesn’t seem to At first, I dismissed much of what matter to many voters. Sen. Ted Stevens in Alaska is a he said like many do - they consider convicted felon, yet voters in his predominantly Republi- the source. Tuning into Rush Lim- can state didn’t care that he faces certain expulsion from baugh and expecting to hear some- the Senate for his conviction. They elected him anyway, thing positive about a Democrat is allowing another Republican, unknown to voters so far, to like turning on the news and expect- take his place rather than the Democratic challenger who ing to see Osama bin Laden buying Girl Scout cookies. campaigned for the position and may still win in a race that Don’t expect either thing to happen soon. involved 90,000 ballots yet to be counted a week after the As for Obama’s platform, if Rush hadn’t watched or election. listened to any of the debates, heard thousands of televi- The guilt card seems to trump very little in poli- sion commercials, or gone to Obama’s web site, he prob- tics. But even if it were the high card in the 2008 presiden- ably didn’t know what Obama said he would do if elected. tial election, the mortgage foreclosure crisis, record corpo- Maybe Rush didn’t do any of those things. rate bailouts, the war in Iraq, the need for alternative fuels, But I also don’t buy the argument that Ameri- health care access and the economy represent a house of cans simply, or indirectly, voted for Barack Obama simply cards that fell on John McCain when he was dealt a hand because of a guilt their forefathers were responsible for without an ace. fostering. Since Obama’s own father was from Africa, it’s He needed a royal flush. Instead, he and the rest hard to argue that he or his family has been persecuted of us just have a loyal Rush. v or faced the kind of discrimination African-Americans have faced in the worst moments over the past 150 years. Kitchell teaches journalism at Ball State University. HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 14 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008

www.HoweyPolitics.com 2009 HPI Power 50

In January 2009, Howey Politics Indiana will pub- 20.) Lee Hamilton lish its 10th HPI Power 50. 21.) Chief Justice John Roberts Our annual list is made up of people we believe will 22.) U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky play a significant role in shaping events. Last year’s list was 23. U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth heavy on those running for office and campaigns. 24. U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly In 2009, the Power 50 will change significantly 25. U.S. Rep. Mark Souder to reflect the biennial budget, government reform and the 26. U.S. Rep. Steve Buyer new realities in Washington. 27. U.S. Rep. Dan Burton As we have every year, we invite Howey Politics 28.) Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman Indiana subscribers to either complete their own lists, or 29.) Chief Justice Randall Shepard and former Gov. Joe nominate individuals. Please send along your suggestions Kernan to: [email protected]. 30.) Democratic Chairman Dan Parker In a new feature, we will feature short lists on: 31.) Ways & Means Chairman William Crawford HPI Power Lobbyists 32.) Chamber President Kevin Brinegar and IMA President HPI Power Staffers Pat Kiely HPI Power Press 33.) John Hammond III The 2009 HPI Power 50 will be published in early 34.) Paul Mannweiller January and will be featured in Brian Howey’s weekly news- 35.) Republican Chairman Murray Clark paper column that reaches more than 250,000 Hoosier 36.) Eric Holcomb readers in 25 publications around the state. 37.) Farm Bureau President Don Villwock Below is our 2008 Power List. 38.) FSSA Commissioner Mitch Roob 1.) Gov. Mitch Daniels 39.) State Rep. Jeff Espich 2.) U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh 40.) State Sen. James Merritt 3.) House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer 41.) Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry 4.) Senate President Pro Tempore David Long 42.) South Bend Mayor Stephen Leucke 5.) State Sen. Luke Kenley 43.) Marty Morris 6.) U.S. Rep. Baron Hill and Mike Sodrel 44.) Tom Sugar 7.) U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar 45.) State Sens. Teresa Lubbers and Connie Lawson 8.) Eric Miller 46.) IEDC Director Nathan Feltman 9.) Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard 47.) Rod Ratcliff 10.) Councilman Andre Carson and State Rep. Jon Elrod 48.) Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizz 11.) Gary Mayor Rudy Clay 49.) Secretary of State Todd Rokita 12.) Jill Long Thompson/Jim Schellinger 50.) Chamber Political Director Michael Davis 13.) Budget Director Ryan Kitchell 14.) Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel 15.) House Minority Leader Brian Bosma 16.) State Sens. Brent Waltz and Mike Young 17.) Betsy Burdick 18.) Bob Grand. 19.) U.S. Rep. Mike Pence HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 15 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008

David Brooks, New York Times: It’s only his victory despite it being an environment that favored been a week since the defeat, but the battle lines have Democrats (or at least change) and in the face of nearly $1 already been drawn in the fight over the future of conserva- million in advertising from Montagano and national Demo- tism. In one camp, there are the Traditionalists, the people crats. I expected him to say that the district is, at its core, who believe that conservatives have lost elections because Republican. Instead, he said the voters’ message is that they have strayed from the true creed. George W. Bush was they want a congressman who works on multiple issues and a big-government type who betrayed conservatism. John delivers at least small successes on many of them. Souder McCain was a Republican moderate, and his defeat discred- likened that to a brick wall that’s built brick by brick. No its the moderate wing. To regain power, the Traditional- one brick will withstand a bailout vote, commercials that ists argue, the G.O.P. should return to its core ideas: Cut question his integrity or voter fatigue (or worse) with an government, cut taxes, restrict immigration. Rally behind unpopular president’s party. He suggested that he was also Sarah Palin. Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity are the most well-served by not hewing rigidly to conservative orthodoxy. prominent voices in the Traditionalist camp, but there is “I don’t know if a pure conservative strategy could have also the alliance of Old Guard institutions. For example, a held the district,” he said. That’s exactly the question Re- group of Traditionalists met in Virginia last week- publicans are asking themselves as they regroup in Wash- end to plot strategy, including Grover Norquist ington after losing the presidency, double-digit of Americans for Tax Reform, Leonard Leo of the House seats and a couple of Senate seats. Some, Federalist Society and Tony Perkins of the Fam- like Rep. Mike Pence, will argue that the GOP was ily Research Council. According to reports, the on the skids this year because it strayed too far attendees were pleased that the election wiped from conservative purism and participated in a out some of the party’s remaining moderates. major expansion of government via the economic “There’s a sense that the Republicans on Capitol rescue plan, the creation of a prescription benefit Hill are freer of wobbly-kneed Republicans than for Medicare recipients, nationalizing education they were before the election,” the writer R. Emmett Tyrrell testing, etc. Pence and other return-to-conservatism advo- told a reporter. The other camp, the Reformers, argue that cates will be able to point to the defeat of moderate Repub- the old G.O.P. priorities were fine for the 1970s but need to licans (among them, Rep. Chris Shays in Connecticut and be modernized for new conditions. The reformers tend to Sen. Gordon Smith in Oregon) as evidence. But they were believe that American voters will not support a party whose beaten by Democrats who, presumably, are more liberal. main idea is slashing government. The Reformers propose v new policies to address inequality and middle-class eco- nomic anxiety. They tend to take global warming seriously. Doug Ross, Times of Northwest Indiana: They tend to be intrigued by the way David Cameron has It was disturbing to discover that about 15,000 voters in modernized the British Conservative Party. Moreover, the Lake County apparently cast ballots only in the presidential Reformers say, conservatives need to pay attention to the race. I have to give Barack Obama’s campaign credit for way the country has changed. Conservatives have to appeal being so successful in getting out the vote. But couldn’t more to Hispanics, independents and younger voters. They those voters have shown more interest in other races as cannot continue to insult the sensibilities of the educated well? These local officials affect the lives of everyone in the class and the entire East and West Coasts. Only one thing region in very direct ways. People should care a lot about is for sure: In the near term, the Traditionalists are going who’s making those decisions and what they’re deciding. to win the fight for supremacy in the G.O.P. In short, the Obama was elected as an agent of change. He successfully Republican Party will probably veer right in the years ahead, convinced the voters that voting for John McCain was like and suffer more defeats. Then, finally, some new Reform- voting President Bush in for a third term. So why weren’t ist donors and organizers will emerge. They will build new those people who were sold on change in the White House institutions, new structures and new ideas, and the cycle of more eager for change at the local level?Specifically, why conservative ascendance will begin again. v did Portage Township voters and Lake County voters in five townships keep their township assessor instead of stream- Sylvia Smith, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette: lining government? In North Township and Porter County’s There might have been a case or two of Pepto-Bismol Center Township, voters saw the wisdom of eliminating consumed by Team Souder. Instead, Souder won with a that position, just as the Indiana General Assembly did with bigger percentage than two years ago (55 percent this year smaller townships earlier this year. MySmartGov.org, which compared to 54 percent in 2006) and by a wider margin (15 heavily promoted the campaign to eliminate the 43 town- percentage points more than Michael Montagano compared ship assessors, had good results except in Northwest Indi- with 8 percentage points more than Tom Hayhurst in ’06). ana and a few other urban areas. Lake County is the glaring I asked Souder what lessons he took from this election and exception. v HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 16 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008 Court nullifies 2007 Other Hoosier lawmakers say they are transition team hasn’t identified who not necessarily opposed to helping the car czar would be, but the presi- Terret Haute mayoral the sputtering U.S. automakers, but dent-elect has three auto advisers. TERRE HAUTE - A news they are skeptical. Souder estimated They are economic adviser Jason Fur- conference has been called for 4 p.m. that 75 percent of all manufactur- man, Georgetown University law pro- today in the mayor’s office in city hall, ing in northeast Indiana is tied to the fessor Dan Tarullo and Joshua Steiner, following auto-, truck- and RV-making sector. a former Clinton Treasury official, but an Indiana His support depends on what the none of them have emerged as the Court of Ap- proposal is, Souder said of legislation point person on autos yet. peals ruling the House might be presented next this morning week in a lame-duck session. “But Indiana jobless fund in favor of based on my district, I’m a ‘lean yes,’ ” former Terre he said Wednesday. Rep. Mike Pence, called insolvent Haute Mayor R-6th, said he’s not an absolute “no” INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana is Kevin Burke on a proposal to help the industry, one of five states whose Unemploy- who had “but I don’t believe we can bail our ment Insurance Trust Fund is insol- challenged Republican Duke Bennett’s way out of a failing economy.” He said vent, according to a recent report eligibility in the 2007 election (Terre he would listen to the argument for on the preparedness of the nation Haute Tribune-Star). The court by a loan to GM, Ford and Chrysler, but heading into what could be a severe a 2-to-1 decision stated that Bennett he is “very hesitant” to use any of the recession (Fort Wayne Journal Ga- was ineligible to take office and that $700 billion financial-sector rescue zette). The fund is financed through Burke is not entitled to fill that post as money to help the auto industry. taxes paid by businesses and provides a result of the ruling, because voters unemployment payments to Hoosiers were unaware of Bennett’s ineligibil- Daniels sees ‘good who are out of work through no fault ity. Thus, the votes cannot be counted of their own. The National Employ- and the court ruled the office vacant. money after bad’ ment Law Project examined the trust Burke lost the 2007 election by 107 WASHINGTON - In Washing- fund balances for all 50 states as of votes but claimed Bennett was not ton to accept Governing Magazine’s to Sept. 30 compared with their average eligible citing the federal Hatch Act. governor award, Gov. Mitch Daniels monthly benefit payments over the Bennett had been employed at Hamil- said that with an auto-industry res- past 12 months. ton Center Inc., a mental health facility cue plan, Congress is “in very seri- that receives some federal funding. ous danger of sending good money after bad.” He noted that although Klain to join Biden Burke’s wife, Vicky, told the Tribune- WASHINGTON - In- Star that her husband was enroute to the auto industry is a significant por- tion of Indiana’s manufacturing base, dianapolis native Ron Klain has been Indianapolis to meet with his attor- tapped as chief of staff to Vice Presi- ney. She said Burke will be available more Hoosiers work in the Honda and Toyota assembly plants than in the dent-elect Joe Biden, the Capitol Hill to comment later today after he has newspaper Roll Call reported today. learned more about the ruling. A 59- plants of U.S. automakers. Daniels said it would be “terribly sad” if GM A spokeswoman for Biden did not page court document released today immediately respond to a request for seems to indicate a special election went bankrupt, “but throwing taxpayer money at it won’t make it work.” comment. Klain, a Washington law- may be necessary. yer who served as Vice President Al Gore’s chief of staff, was a top aide to Souder, Pence divided Obama may appoint Biden when Biden headed the Sen- ate Judiciary Committee. The North on auto bailout auto czar Central High School graduate helped WASHINGTON - The auto CHICAGO - President-elect both Biden and President-elect Barack industry, from the General Motors Barack Obama has raised the idea Obama prepare for the campaign Corp. truck plant to the manufacturer of appointing a so-called “auto czar” debates. Klain was Gore’s chief legal that supplies bolts, is such a key part to oversee emergency federal aid to adviser in the 2000 fight over the of the northeast Indiana economy that automakers, exact tough corporate presidential vote in Florida and was Rep. Mark Souder, R-3rd, said he’s reforms and ensure taxpayers earn a the central figure in the HBO movie sympathetic to a government rescue return on any investment in the auto “Recount” where he was played by plan (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette). industry (Detroit News). The Obama Kevin Spacey.