V26, N2 Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020

Biden’s agenda and Indiana needs to evolve, too, with HPI analyzes Dem’s additional steps to come so that we agenda; Harris’s meet the growing economic shocks. idealogical moorings We must prepare By BRIAN A. HOWEY now to take further INDIANAPOLIS – With Joe decisive action, in- Biden accepting the Democratic cluding direct relief, presidential nomination tonight, that will be large in Howey Politics Indiana reviewed his scale and focused campaign’s policy positions. We will on the broader do the same with President Trump health and stability and Vice President Pence next week of our economy.” during the virtual Republican Na- He added, “The tional Convention. American people Two areas that could have deserve an urgent, a major impact in Indiana are his robust, and profes- proposed pandemic response, and sional response to how the former vice president and the growing public senator will approach the epidemic health and economic that has receded from public view crisis caused by the over the past six months, the one coronavirus (CO- dealing with opioids. VID-19) outbreak.

On the pandemic, Biden Continued on page 3 said, “This is an evolving crisis and the response will need Holcomb and race By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS – By any measure, Gov. Eric Holcomb’s mid-day address on Tuesday was extraordinary. Stating that Indiana stands at an “inflection point” and promising Hoosiers that he is prepared to become a racial “Donald Trump hasn’t grown “barrier buster,” the governor traced the nation’s racially charged lineage from Thomas Jefferson’s “Declaration of into the job because he can’t. Independence” to the Civil War, the Jim Crow era leading up to the civil This president and those in rights movement, and the current power - those who benefit from Black Lives Matter movement. That it came a week be- keeping the things the way they fore the virtual Republican National are - they are counting on your Convention with President Trump emanating a series of racial dog cynicism.” whistles ranging from his defense - Former President Obama, of Confederate statues to equat- ing a Black Lives Matter mural as a addressing the DNC last night Page 2 “symbol of hate,” to Patricia and Mark minating in an officer kneeling on McCloskey (the St. Louis couple point- the neck of Mr. George Floyd for 8 ing guns at a group of black protest- minutes and 46 seconds until his last ers) receiving invitation to address the breath was snuffed out,” Holcomb RNC, is fascinating timing. said. “I admit, I can’t put myself in By Wednesday, Holcomb’s a Black person’s shoes, can’t fully Howey Politics Indiana bold move brought criticism from his appreciate the everyday indignities WWWHowey Media, LLC right and left flanks. While most of and slights our friends and associates c/o Business Office the Indiana press equated Holcomb’s have had to deal with, let alone the PO Box 6553 address to simple policy – Indiana fear of some things I’ve never had State Police to be equipped with body to think about. So, I’ve spent consid- Kokomo, IN, 46904 cameras – there was something far erable time since Mr. Floyd’s death www.howeypolitics.com deeper here. connecting with and listening to Holcomb Brian A. Howey, Publisher began with a state- Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington ment, saying racism is “another kind of virus Mary Lou Howey, Editor that is equally vora- Susan E. Joiner, Editor cious and it’s in turn forcing us to a reckon- Subscriptions ing as a state and na- tion – one that’s built HPI, HPI Daily Wire $599 on ‘equality for all.’” HPI Weekly, $350 “Our country Lisa Hounchell, Account Manager is unique in that we (765) 452-3936 telephone were founded on the (765) 452-3973 fax promise that all men [email protected] were created equal – as our Founders Black leaders and stakeholders, one wrote: ‘endowed by their Creator with conversation leading to the next, and Contact HPI certain unalienable Rights ... among the next and the next.” [email protected] them Life, Liberty and the pursuit of It took a good several min- Howey’s cell: 317.506.0883 Happiness,’” he continued. “And yet, utes before Holcomb delivered policy. it’s just a fact, the concept wasn’t put He announced he was creating a Washington: 202.256.5822 into practice even before the ink was cabinet level chief equity, inclusion Business Office: 765.452.3936 dry. Quite the contrary. Laws were and opportunity officer; would outfit established that classified African all “front line” Indiana State Police © 2020, Howey Politics Americans as ‘property’ and prevented troopers with body cameras by next Indiana. All rights reserved. women from voting. There’s nothing spring; and directed the State of equal about that.” Indiana’s Management Performance Photocopying, Internet forward- Holcomb mentioned the Hub to create a Public Disparity Data ing, faxing or reproducing in any Civil War which cost the lives of Portal to show how state programs form, whole or part, is a violation 24,000 Hoosiers, then said, “Over the are working. Holcomb will require a of federal law without permission ensuing decades, anti-slavery states third-party review of state police and from the publisher. like Indiana still attracted those who law enforcement academy curricu- thought their birthright gave them the lum and training at the Indiana Law right to carry out heinous acts of vio- Enforcement Academy (ILEA). He Jack E. Howey lence against those who didn’t look or also committed to working with the editor emeritus pray the way they did. Lynching and state legislature to add more civilian 1926-2019 burning down houses of worship were representation to the ILEA Training their means of sending messages of Board. ‘how it would be.’ Jim Crow laws kept “To those who feel impa- people of color separate, prevented tient and that we’re not moving fast them from voting and denied them enough on this journey, I get it,” Hol- equal treatment under the law. comb said. “Protesting is a cherished “It’s in this environment that right that Americans have fought and we’ve seen a number of unarmed died for. To those who subscribe to Black men and women killed, cul- the late John Lewis’s, ‘Getting into Page 3 some good trouble’, I get it. But John Lewis also knew the Democratic gubernatorial nominee Woody Myers key to driving change was nonviolence. reacted with six words: “Much too little, much too late.” “So, I say, if you want change, don’t throw a Conservative activist Monica Boyer posted on brick; use a brick to lay a foundation for something better,” Facebook, “I am sitting here getting my hair done watching Holcomb said. He quoted Martin University President Sean Facebook light up with vile ANGER against the stupidity of Huddleston: “While Black lives matter, Black livelihoods our Governor!!!!!! VERY STUPID MOVE Governor. You don’t matter, too.” lecture these Hoosiers about things you literally have no “I agree, on both accounts,” Holcomb said. idea about. A Democrat Governor is about to be elected in “Another theme I heard is best captured by what Martin November.” Luther King called ‘the fierce urgency of NOW’ – that we Brad Rataike, a long-time Holcomb ally who worked need to use this moment as an opportunity to forge a new, for two years in the Trump White House, told HPI, “There is more inclusive future. We cannot lose this opportunity to definitely something broader than just the body cams. This act constructively. Dennis Bland, president of the Center is the first time in my lifetime that I remember a sitting for Leadership Development, told me, ‘Change is going to governor tackling the issue of race head on. We’ve seen happen. The key is to shape change.’ candidates in elected office talk about ‘Black agendas’ but “That’s what I and my team intend to do: Shape this is not a Black agenda, this is an attempt to shift how change,” Holcomb said. Indiana looks at workforce development and Black employ- The skepticism came from all sides. Indianapolis ment. You don’t make a statewide address about some- Councillor Ali Brown called the “sudden policy rollout about thing like this and forget about it two weeks later. ending systemic racism is welcoming,” but added Holcomb “It would have been easy for Eric to have just resorted to closed-door meetings “when Hoosiers needed waited this year out and never done anything to rock the to see unity on all sides.” boat, but the guy who gave the speech today isn’t a guy State Rep. Cherish Pryor of the Indiana Black running for reelection, it’s a guy who has already started Legislative Caucus added, “It’s a start. I’m pleased to see governing in his second term,” Rataike continued. “The him publicly commit to bettering the lives of Black and conversations he has had in order to develop this speech brown Hoosiers, but words cannot stand without action. are with some people who may never have spoken with the Bill after bill has been filed in the General Assembly with governor’s office before.” the hopes of improving the lives of Black Hoosiers and My take? addressing the root cause of the challenges facing our Holcomb is a student of history. He realized the community. Sadly, they have either failed or received little Trump reelection campaign will likely be incendiary. He took to no support from the Republican Party.” seriously the need to begin a conversation on a subject Democrat operative Brandon Evans observed, that has become a searing topic across his state; his na- “Quoting John Lewis while actively suppressing the Black tion. He also wanted to set his own tone. And he’s willing vote in Indiana is rich ... real rich.” to spend part of his accrued political capital to do so. v

establishing daily, expert-led press briefings. This communi- Biden/Harris, from page 1 cation is essential to combating the dangerous epidemic of fear, chaos, and stigmati- Public health emergencies require disciplined, trust- zation that can overtake worthy leadership grounded in science. In a moment communities faster than of crisis, leadership requires listening to experts and the virus. communicating credible information to the American Restore the public. We must move boldly, smartly, and swiftly.” White House Na- “Biden understands that this is a dynamic tional Security Coun- situation,” the campaign said. “The steps proposed cil Directorate for are a start. As the crisis unfolds, Biden will build on Global Health Security this policy to address new challenges.” and Biodefense: This was established by the The Biden pandemic plan calls for: Obama-Biden Administra- n Restoring trust, credibility, and tion and eliminated by the common purpose: Biden believes the U.S. must Trump Administration in immediately put scientists and public health leaders 2018. front and center in communication with the American Testing: Make people in order to provide regular guidance and deliver testing widely available and free. Ensure that every person timely public health updates, including by immediately who needs a test can get one, and that testing for those Page 4 who need it is free. Establish at least 10 mobile testing remote education or remote activities normally done after sites and drive-through facilities per state to speed test- school. ing and protect health care workers. Starting in large n State and local emergency fund: In addi- cities and rapidly expanding beyond, the CDC must work tion to these federal initiatives, governors and mayors can with private labs and manufacturers to ensure adequate access funds through the State and Local Emergency Fund production capacity, quality control, training, and technical to cushion the economic impacts in their communities. assistance. The number of tests must be in the millions, n International engagement: Biden calls for not the thousands. the creation of a permanent facilitator within the Office n Communication: Provide a daily public White of the United Nations Secretary-General for response to House report on how many tests have been done by the high consequence biological events, as recommended CDC, state and local health authorities, and private labo- by experts, to facilitate crisis coordination among health, ratories. Expand CDC sentinel surveillance programs and security, and humanitarian organizations. He also calls for other surveillance programs so that we can offer tests not fully resourcing the World Health Organization, especially to those who ask, but also to those who may not know to its Contingency Fund for Emergencies. President Trump ask, especially vulnerable populations like nursing home announced last spring he was pulling the U.S. out of WHO. patients and people with underlying medical conditions. n Cost barriers: The Biden Plan calls for an Opioid crisis emergency paid leave program that will ensure that all Indiana has been hard hit by the opioid crisis, workers can take paid leave during the COVID-19 crisis. It which has faded from public view during the pandemic. In calls for passage of the Healthy Families Act with the ad- Indiana, there were 1,104 drug overdose deaths involving dition of an emergency plan that opioids in 2018. Indiana providers wrote 65.8 will require 14 days of paid leave opioid prescriptions for every 100 persons for those who are sick, exposed, compared to the average U.S. rate of 51.4 or subject to quaratines – while prescriptions during 2018. also ensuring that employers will Biden’s approach is centered on protecting not bear any additional costs for the Affordable Care Act. “Biden will tackle this such additional leave in the midst crisis by making sure people have access to of this crisis. This emergency plan high quality health care – including substance will provide reimbursement to em- use disorder treatment and mental health ployers or, when necessary, direct services,” the campaign says. “That’s what payment to workers for up to 14 Obamacare did by designating substance use days of paid sick leave or for the disorder treatment and mental health services duration of mandatory quarantine as essential benefits that insurers must cover, or isolation. and by expanding Medicaid, the nation’s larg- n Unemployment est payer for mental health services which insurance: The Biden Plan calls also plays an increasingly growing role as a for expanded and broadened un- payer for substance use disorder services.” employment benefits that ensure His plan will: our unemployment benefit policies n Hold accountable big pharmaceutical are responsive to the depth and nature of this health and companies, executives, and others responsible for their economic crisis. That means more support for state offices role in triggering the opioid crisis. that will face far higher demand. Current UI rules rightly n Make effective prevention, treatment, and require recipients to be actively looking for work. The recovery services available to all, including through a $125 nature of the COVID-19 crisis means, however, that many billion federal investment. who lose their jobs will be prevented from looking for work n Stop overprescribing while improving access to due to public health rules related to containing community effective and needed pain management. spread. The Biden Plan will ensure that workers who lose n Reform the criminal justice system so that no jobs but cannot meet search requirements due to this one is incarcerated for drug use alone. public health crisis are not denied benefits. n Stem the flow of illicit drugs, like fentanyl and n Support for child care and remote stu- heroin, into the United States, especially from China and dent learning: Potential school closings will create Mexico. significant cost issues for parents seeking child care and n Ensure local communities have a sufficient for schools and educators seeking to continue teaching supply of overdose prevention drugs: Biden will expand remotely, including online. The Biden Plan will expand grants to states for the purchase of Naloxone to be distrib- assistance to federal child care centers and assistance uted to local community actors called upon to respond to to schools – particularly Title I schools – for those facing overdoses, including first responders, public health provid- schools facing extra costs, including efforts to continue ers, and the staff at homeless shelters and public libraries. Page 5 Marijuana reform of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, but gun manufacturers Biden is taking a similar stance to that of Gov. successfully lobbied Congress to secure its passage. This Holcomb on marijuana reforms. “As science ends up with law protects these manufacturers from being held civilly more conclusive evidence regarding the impact of mari- liable for their products – a protection granted to no other juana, I think he would look at that data. But he’s being industry. Biden will prioritize repealing this protection. asked to make a decision right now. This is where the n Ban the manufacture and sale of assault science guides him,” Stef Feldman, Biden’s policy direc- weapons and high-capacity magazines. tor, told The Atlantic. “When he looked to put down his n Regulate possession of existing assault position on marijuana in writing for the purposes of the weapons under the National Firearms Act: Biden will campaign, he asked for an update on where science was pursue legislation to regulate possession of existing assault today. He didn’t ask for an update on what views and sci- weapons. ence said 20 years ago. He wanted to know what was the n Buy back the assault weapons and high- best information we know now. And that is what he made capacity magazines already in our communities: his decision on.” Biden will also institute a program to buy back weapons of The Atlantic reported that Biden would likely de- war currently on our streets. This will give individuals who criminalize personal use and would move marijuana off the now possess assault weapons or high-capacity magazines Schedule 1 narcotic list. two options: Sell the weapons to the government, or regis- ter them under the National Firearms Act. Health care Require background checks for all gun sales: Biden lists the March 2010 passage of the Afford- Today, an estimated one in five firearms are sold or trans- able Care Act as a career highlight. The campaign points ferred without a background check. Biden will enact univer- to 2016 when the number of uninsured Americans fell sal background check legislation, requiring a background 40%, from 44 million to 27 million. Since 2016, the num- check for all gun sales with very limited exceptions, such ber of uninsured Americans has increased by roughly 1.4 as gifts between close family members. million. As president, Biden would stop this reversal of the progress made by Obamacare. “And he won’t stop there,” Immigration the campaign says. “He’ll also build on the Affordable Care In the first 100 days, a Biden Administration Act with a plan to insure more than an estimated 97% of would: Americans.” Here’s how: n Child separations: Immediately reverse n Medicare insurance option: If your insur- the Trump Administration’s “cruel and senseless policies ance company isn’t doing right by you, you should have that separate parents from their children at our border,” another, better choice. Whether you’re covered through including ending the prosecution of parents for minor im- your employer, buying your insurance on your own, or migration violations as an intimidation tactic, and prioritize going without coverage altogether, the Biden Plan will give the reunification of any children still separated from their consumers the choice to purchase a public health insur- families.” ance option like Medicare. n End Trump’s asylum policies: Biden will n Increasing the value of tax credits to end these policies, starting with Trump’s Migrant Protec- lower premiums and extend coverage to more tion Protocols, and restore our asylum laws so that they do working Americans: Today, families that make between what they should be designed to do, protect people fleeing 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level may receive a persecution and who cannot return home safely. tax credit to reduce how much they have to pay for health n Protect Dreamers and their families: insurance on the individual marketplace. The Biden Plan The Obama-Biden Administration created DACA in 2012 will help middle class families by eliminating the 400% to protect “Dreamers,” undocumented immigrants who income cap on tax credit eligibility and lowering the limit were brought to the U.S. as children, obeyed the law once on the cost of coverage from 9.86% of income to 8.5%. here, and stayed in school or enlisted in the military. Biden will remove the uncertainty for Dreamers by reinstating Gun violence the DACA program, and he will explore all legal options Sen. Biden shepherded the Brady Handgun Vio- to protect their families from inhumane separation. Biden lence Prevention Act, which established the background will also ensure Dreamers are eligible for federal student check system that has since kept more than 3 million aid (loans, Pell grants) and are included in his proposals firearms out of dangerous hands. In 1994, Biden helped to provide access to community college without debt and secure the passage of 10-year bans on assault weapons invest in HBCU/Hispanic Serving Institution/Minority Serv- and high-capacity magazines. “As president, Joe Biden will ing Institutions, which will help Dreamers contribute even defeat the NRA again,” the campaign says. more to our economy. He proposes: n Rescind the Muslim bans: Biden will im- n Hold gun manufacturers accountable: mediately rescind the “Muslim bans,” with the campaign In 2005, then-Senator Biden voted against the Protection saying, “The Trump Administration’s anti-Muslim bias hurts Page 6 our economy, betrays our values, and can serve as a power- ful terrorist recruiting tool.” n Restore and defend the naturalization pro- The Lincoln Project cess for green card holders: A Biden Administration will streamline and improve the naturalization process to make it is everything they hate more accessible to qualified green card holders. By PETE SEAT INDIANAPOLIS – Have you heard of The Lin- Sen. Harris ideology coln Project? If the answer is no, I envy you. While this The Lugar Center ranks Sen. Harris 93rd on its 2019 super PAC is all the rage in the Beltway and within Never bipartisan activity list. GovTrack.org reports that of the 471 Trump circles for trolling the president with a series of bills that Harris cosponsored, 15% were introduced by a cartoonish videos and viral social media posts, they’ve legislator who was not a Democrat. made little headway in the Gov.Track ranked Sen. Harris 100th on the ideologi- Heartland. cal spectrum (1 means most conservative; 100 most liberal). And why would they? U.S. Sen. Mike Braun ranked third and Todd Young 35th. An electoral sideshow, The Harris missed 61.9% of votes (265 of 428 votes) in 2019, Lincoln Project, whose mis- when she spent much of her time campaigning for president. sion is to “defeat Trump and Americans for Democratic Action, a liberal advocacy Trumpism at the ballot box,” group that compiles ratings based on major votes, gave Sen. is an indignant, vitriolic, self- Harris perfect scores in 2017 and 2018. “Her liberal profile is righteous group of absolutists a split tale,” ADA National Director Don Kusler told the Sac- hellbent on annihilating the ramento Bee. As an attorney general and city prosecutor, her Republican Party and ushering record was one “that would have many liberals, particularly in a new era of ruinous social our California colleagues, angered or at least rolling their and fiscal policy. eyes.” As if my laundry list of mean-spirited words GovTrack.org founder Josh Tauberer added, “Our weren’t enough (all used for effect, mind you), this analysis is at odds with her documented pre-Congress career group has been called “loathsome” by syndicated colum- of being pragmatic or moderate, and it remains to be seen nist Rich Lowry, a bunch of “grifters” by the Republican which part of her career – her actions as a district attorney National Committee and a “Democratic scam PAC” by and attorney the National Republican Senatorial Committee. All true. general or her But here’s the real kicker: Although perched on a pedes- policy propos- tal of moral certitude, The Lincoln Project is everything als in Congress they hate. – would be re- They whine about our nation being divided – flected greater spoiler, it is – but engage in divisive campaign tactics in a Biden and employ divisive rhetoric. Look, I get fighting fire administration.” with fire. You are reading a column written by the guy Digging who hosted Ann Coulter on the campus of the University into Harris’s of Arizona after the student government brought Michael long and com- Moore to town. But I also understand – thankfully not plex record as from personal experience – being blinded by personal district attorney hatred to the point of seeing every slight and every of San Francisco grievance through that particular lens. and attorney This is the space The Lincoln Project now oc- general of Cali- cupies. They stand for nothing of substance and against fornia, University of San Francisco associate law professor everything even tangentially related to Trump. Go Lara Bazelon took central aim at Harris’ contention that she ahead, search their site and see for yourself their vapid was a “progressive prosecutor,” who sought to right injustice platform filled only with personal animosity toward a and change the criminal justice system from within. “Time single person. after time, when progressives urged her to embrace crimi- Blinded by this hate, this group of former nal justice reforms as district attorney and then the state’s “Republican strategists” – purposely placed in quotes attorney general, Ms. Harris opposed them or stayed silent,” because they no longer deserve to be called either wrote Bazelon in a 2019 New York Times op-ed. “Most Republican or strategists – who claim to be “dedicated troubling, Ms. Harris fought tooth and nail to uphold wrong- Americans protecting Democracy” is, in actuality, a group ful convictions that been secured through official misconduct of disgruntled Americans promoting and protecting that included evidence tampering, false testimony and the Democrats. suppression of crucial information by prosecutors.” v And that’s what remains so baffling about their Page 7 campaign. In hold- ing steadfast in their belief that Republican “enablers” must be defeated for their per- ceived transgressions, The Lincoln Project is enabling a public policy agenda that they have spent entire careers advocating against. Their cries of “burn it all down” may give the messengers campaigns. a short-lived sugar high but put into practice this strategy Rather than spend hundreds of thousands of will result in a generational defining crash. Can The Lin- dollars on ads trying to oust these senators from office, coln Project sleep at night knowing they were responsible what they should be doing is marshaling those resources for abolishing the Electoral College, stacking the Supreme to help these vulnerable Republicans win. After all, these Court and cratering our economy in the name of the Green are the very senators who would help chart the course of New Deal? a post-Trump Republican Party, whether that comes next They also decry loyalty to the president but de- year or four years from now. Why throw them off the ship mand unquestioning fealty to an ideologically amorphous without a life jacket? cause. You are either with them or against them – and in And here I thought these guys were supposed to this case, the grave sin of being against them is in failing be top-notch political strategists. They sound more like to re-tweet one of the foul-mouthed missives of co-found- college-aged Karl Rove wannabes (note: Rove is the gold ers John Weaver and Rick Wilson (and here I promised standard; these guys wish they were him). v myself to not mention their names lest I give them more of the attention they crave). Pete Seat is a former White House spokesman for Among those who have sinned and therefore President George W. Bush and campaign spokes- incurred the damning wrath of The Lincoln Project are man for Dan Coats, former director of national Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Intelligence. Currently he is a vice president with Martha McSally of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Bose Public Affairs Group in Indianapolis. He is Carolina. The first pair are running in two of the most com- also an Atlantic Council Millennium Fellow, Council petitive races in the country, while McSally was appointed on Foreign Relations term member and author of to replace John McCain in the Senate and Graham was the the 2014 book, “The War on Millennials.” late senator’s best friend. Ironically, that’s the very same McCain who made Weaver and another project co-founder, · Steve Schmidt, politically famous when they worked on his Page 8

Protesting and looting are not the same. Todd has been telling people we need to be defending the police, not Weinzapfel envisions defunding the police.” Littlefield added that Rokita backs Holcomb on ISP body cams and supporting diversity. ‘clear path’ to victory In 2011, as mayor of Evansville, Weinzapfel pur- By BRIAN A. HOWEY chased body cameras for the city’s police force, one of the INDIANAPOLIS – Todd Rokita’s pitch to Indiana first cities in Indiana to do so. As attorney general, he is Republican Convention delegates was that he would be committed to promoting the use of body cameras, working more in sync with Gov. Eric Holcomb. Democrat challenger to expand police training to de-escalate violent situations Jonathan Weinzapfel doesn’t and, where needed, rebuilding community trust between believe that is the case. police departments and the communities they serve. “I think folks are look- Weinzapfel believes his campaign is poised for ing for leadership,” Weinzapfel the first Democratic statewide win since Glenda Ritz upset told Howey Politics Indiana on Supt. Tony Bennett in 2012. “We’re raising a lot of en- Tuesday. “Perfect example: The thusiasm. We know there’s a clear path to victory. We’re governor issues a mandatory pumping on all cylinders.” statewide mask order. Curtis Hill issues an advisory say- Asked what his “clear path” is, Weinzapfel said. ing he doesn’t have the authority to do that. Todd Rokita “This is the most political uncertainty I’ve ever witnessed issues some mealy-mouthed statement saying, “Let’s defer in my political career in the past 30-35 years. We have to the legislature.” an endangered Republican president. In all likelihood he’s “I’m the only one, the only Democrat, who steps going to win Indiana, but he’s not going to win by 19%. forward and says I support the governor’s policy, his deci- We’re in the middle of this global pandemic where people sion to get this virus under control,” the former Evansville are worried about their jobs. Now there looks like there mayor said. “This is a necessary step. He clearly has the will be little federal support. They’re worried about their legal authority to do this under the public health emer- health care, their kids are going back to school and par- gency. I think that’s an example of the type of leadership ents are worried about whether they are going to be safe. Hoosiers are looking for. Putting You have all kinds of essential employees that are worried politics aside and making the about the work environment. They’ve ploughed their best decisions on behalf of the life savings into their small business and don’t know if people.” they’re going to get anything out of it. I know people A second example came looking to put a loved one in a nursing home. How do on Tuesday, with Gov. Holcomb you tell if it’s safe to stay in those facilities? vowing to take on racial inequity “There’s just so much uncertainty and what seems issues. “I applaud the initia- apparent to me is that people are looking for leader- tives Gov. Holcomb announced ship,” Weinzapfel said. “I’m not sure they care if it’s today,” Weinzapel said. “Indiana Democrat or Republican. They’re looking for leader- needs to have this conversation, ship and looking for people with ideas with a track re- and this is a good start. How- cord for getting things done, a track record of listen- ever, we need to go further. As ing to people and building consensus, and are willing Indiana’s next attorney general, to work across the aisle to get things done. That’s I will push for body cameras what gives me a lot of optimism about our chances to for every police officer across win this attorney general’s race.” the state, establish use-of-force He points to the Obamacare suit that Hill has guidelines that local communities can look to, and work to joined and Rokita has vowed to continue. “What a stark secure more funding so local departments have the train- contrast between the two of us,” Weinzapfel said. “Todd ing and technology they need to keep Hoosiers safe. We Rokita voted more than 60 times to kill the ACA without must create a more fair and just criminal justice system any type of replacement plan. And now if he were to be- and I’ll work with anyone to make that happen. come AG he is expected to participate in the lawsuit Curtis “There’s no difference between Curtis Hill and Hill has filed. This will have a dramatic impact on Hoosiers Todd Rokita,” Weinzapfel said. “As far as their position on if they’re successful. There are 2.7 million Hoosiers who the issues, they are both well to the right of the governor have preexisting conditions and if you’ve tested positive and I don’t think they are in the mainstream of Hoosier for coronavirus, you’ve got a preexisting condition. What voters.” that means, you have to go back 10 years ago at a time Campaign consultant Brent Littlefield said that when insurance companies could discriminate. Why do while Rokita “is a strong constitutionalist on the people’s they want to go back in time to those days? But that is right to protest, he’s been very aggressive on lawlessness. exactly what Todd Rokita would do.” He entered the post-convention sequence with Page 9 a big financial lead over Rokita, though the Republican has ratch- eted up his fundraising with an event featuring Vice President Mike Pence. Weinzapfel added that he expects high Democratic intensity. “Democrats are angry and scared,” President Donald Trump (R), he said. “That’s a combination that Joseph Biden (D), Jo Jorgensen (L) will drive turnout.” Horse Race Sta- tus: Leans Rokita. HPI Horse Race: National: Leans D; Last week: Leans D Governor Indiana: Safe R; Last week: Safe R

Holcomb opposes expanded mail vote Gov. Eric Holcomb (R), Woody My- Democrat gubernatorial ers (D), Donald Rainwater (L) nominee Woody Myers and attorney general nominee Jonathan Weinzap- HPI Horse Race: fel called on Gov. Eric Holcomb and This week: Safe R Secretary of State Connie Lawson Last week: Safe R to ask the Indiana Election Commis- sion to expand vote by mail, a move that was rejected last Friday by the Todd Rokita (R) Indiana Election Commission. “This Jonathan Weinzapfel (D) is failed leadership,” said Myers. “Indiana is one of only eight states that do not allow all voters to vote HPI Horse Race safely by mail in times of a pandem- This week: Leans R ic.” Weinzapfel added, “An over- Last week: Leans R whelming number of Hoosiers have been calling for safer voting options. With the election fast approaching, U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorki (R) our Indiana counties need direction Pat Hackett (D) now.” Holcomb believes expand- ing vote by mail is an issue that HPI Horse Race should be addressed by the Indi- This week: Likely R ana General Assembly next year. “I think that question would be more Last week: Likely R appropriately answered with the General Assembly,” Holcomb said at his weekly COVID press conference Victoria Spartz (R), Christina Hale on Wednesday. “Obviously we were (D), Kenneth Tucker (L) under a stay-at-home order state- wide that was Exhibit A, if you will,” HPI Horse Race he said of expanded, no-excuse absentee balloting in the delayed This week: Leans R June 2 primary that drew more than 500,000 Hoosiers. “Exhibit B is we are very open right now in the State of Indiana and so to make that kind U.S. Rep. Trey Hollingsworth (R) of drastic change on the fly while Andy Ruff (D) we are mobile would be inappro- priate. Now that is a discussion HPI Horse Race worth having for all kinds of various This week: Likely R reasons, set aside COVID-19, for all Last week: Likely R Page 10 kinds of other reasons. I look forward to having it in Janu- ary when we have statewide input.” The Election Commission was deadlocked at 2-2, killing the expanded vote by mail proposal last Friday. “We still are dealing with a pandemic…but we’ve come to understand this pandemic a little better, how to protect ourselves,” said Republican Commissioner Zach Klutz. Sen. Mike Bohacek (R) “Case in point, we are now in Stage 4.5 of a five-stage back-on-track plan. Just because something was agreed Gary Davis (D) upon in March because of an emergency doesn’t mean those same factors automatically make this appropriate HPI Horse Race this time.” Klutz and commission Chairman Paul Okeson This week: Tossup both voted against the proposal introduced by Democrats, Last week: Tossup which failed to pass with a 2-2 deadlock. Okeson said he also would not consider holding a public hearing on the issue. Sen. John Ruckelshaus Myers posts web video (R) You won’t often see an Indiana candidate for Fady Qaddoura (D) statewide elected office use the N-word, without bleeping or other niceties, in the first 15 seconds of a three-minute HPI Horse Race video intended to introduce the candidate to Hoosier vot- This week: Tossup ers. But Dr. Woody Myers, the Democratic nominee for Last week: Tossup governor, is not a typical politician (Carden, NWI Times). And, as the former emergency room physician notes in his first campaign ad now running on various social media Rep. Dale Devon (D) channels, these are not typical times. As the video alter- John Westerhausen (R) nates between images of Myers speaking directly into the camera and dressing for surgery – including putting on the mask, gloves, face shield and gown that have become HPI Horse Race commonplace in the COVID-19 era – Indiana’s first Black This week: Tossup gubernatorial nominee of a major political party explains Last week: Tossup how his life experiences have prepared him to lead Indi- ana during a period like no other. “In medical school, they teach you to first do no harm. What they don’t prepare you for is a drunken patient waking up and screaming, ‘N-- ---, what are you doing to me?’’’ Myers says in the video. The ad concludes with Myers describing his opponent, Re- Rep. Ross Deal (D) publican Gov. Eric Holcomb, as “Mike Pence’s hand-picked Jake Teshka (R) replacement,” and suggesting no one is better prepared than Myers to respond as Indiana’s chief executive to the HPI Horse Race issues certain to dominate the next four years. “My life This week: Tossup has led me to this reckoning of a pandemic, an economic Last week: Tossup collapse and a racial awakening,” Myers says. The cash- strapped Myers campaign did not say whether or when the ad, produced by the viral campaign marketing team Putnam Partners, will run on broadcast or cable television in Northwest Indiana, or anywhere in the state. Horse Race Status: Safe Holcomb. Rep. Chris Chyung (D) Congress Hal Slager (R)

DCCC poll has Hale leading 50-45% HPI Horse Race Democrat Christina Hale holds a 5% edge over This week: Tossup Republican Victoria Spartz in the race for the open House Last week: Tossup seat. According to a poll conducted for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and released Page 11 exclusively to The Hill, Hale leads with 50-45%. The DCCC poll, which was conducted by Tulchin Research, surveyed 400 likely voters Aug. 5-10 and has a margin of error of 4.9 percentage points. A Club For Growth poll gave Spartz a 7% lead over Hale (Lange, IndyStar). According to crosstabs provided by Club For Growth, 47% of the 409 voters surveyed Rep. Lisa Beck (D) said they would vote for Spartz if the election were right Julie Olthoff (R) now, compared to 40% who said they would vote for Hale. Another 5% said they would vote for Libertarian HPI Horse Race candidate Ken Tucker. The margin of the error for the poll This week: Tossup conducted by WPA Intelligence on Aug. 4-6 was 4.9%. Joann Saridakis, Hale’s campaign manager, questioned Last week: Tossup why Club For Growth put out these results just after Hale’s campaign released its first general election ad. “Club For Growth spent over half a million dollars to buy the primary for Victoria Spartz, and now they’re panicking that their investment isn’t paying off,” Saridakis said in a statement. Rep. Melanie Wright “If they truly believed she has a ‘significant’ lead, they (D) wouldn’t have waited until we went up on television to re- Elizabeth Rowray (R) lease a week-old poll.” At the end of June, Hale’s campaign released its own poll showing Hale had a 51% to 45% HPI Horse Race lead over Spartz. Unlike Club For Growth, Hale’s campaign This week: Tossup declined to share the crosstabs with IndyStar. Last week: Tossup 5th CD: Club For Growth attacks Hale Club For Growth has opened up its fall offensive against Democrat Christina Hale in the 5th CD. Club For Rep. Todd Huston (R) Growth Action ad “Guess Who” – highlights Christina Aimee Cole Rivera Hale’s “liberal positions and votes for higher taxes and (D) fees, against a balanced budget that cut state income taxes, and support of public option.” It is spending HPI Horse Race $218,000 in the Indianapolis DMA for the next two weeks. This week: Likely R “Hale voted at least 11 times for higher taxes and fees Last week: Likely R on Indiana families,” the ad begins. “Hale voted against a balanced budget that actually cut state income taxes. And, like Nancy Pelosi, Hale backs the public option plan that radically expands the role of government in health care.” Club For Growth gave close to $500,000 on behalf of Re- Chris Jeter (R) publican nominee Victoria Spartz, then released a poll last Pam Dechert (D) week showing Spartz with a 47-40% lead. “It comes as no Open: Brian Bosma surprise that Club For Growth would try to buy this elec- tion for Victoria Spartz,” said Joann Saridakis, Hoosiers for Hale campaign manager. “After all, this dark money group HPI Horse Race is known for bankrolling candidates who put the insurance This week: Likely R industry’s profits first and work to eliminate affordable Last week: Likely R health care options, strip away protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and privatize Social Security. And that’s exactly who Victoria is.” Rep. Cindy Kirchhofer GOP leadership endorses Spartz (R) House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Whip Mitch Gore (D) Steve Scalise and have released statements of support for Victoria Spart’s campaign for Congress. Leader Kevin Mc- HPI Horse Race Carthy said, “Victoria Spartz earned the Republican nomi- This week: Likely R nation by winning a 15-way primary with strong grassroots Last week: Likely R Page 12 support and bold new ideas about Wednesday night, former Arizona how we can get our economy back Rep. Gabby Giffords reflected on her on track. I am confident she will hold own journey of pain and recovery this seat, help us reclaim the major- from a severe brain injury nearly a ity, and be a tremendous representa- decade after being shot while meeting tive for the Hoosiers in Indiana’s 5th with constituents. She urged America Congressional District. Victoria has to support Biden. “I struggle to speak, my complete endorsement."Whip but I have not lost my voice,” Giffords Steve Scalise commented, “As a said. “Vote, vote, vote.” successful businesswoman who has Hillary Clinton, Trump’s 2016 actually lived under socialism, I know rival, implored Democrats to turn out that Victoria will be an important in larger numbers in November to voice in the conversation as House block the president’s reelection. “For Republicans work to stop this dan- four years, people have said to me, ‘I gerous ideology in its tracks. I look didn’t realize how dangerous he was.’ forward to welcoming Victoria Spartz ‘I wish I could go back and do it over.’ to Congress next year!” Horse Race Or worst, ‘I should have voted,’” said Status: Leans Spartz. Clinton. “Well, this can’t be another woulda coulda shoulda election.” “Vote General Assembly like our lives and livelihoods are on the line,” she added, “because they are.” SD8: Davis raises Obama spoke harshly of Trump, too. “Donald USPS issue Trump hasn’t grown into the job because he can’t,” Obama The USPS issue is creeping into Hoosier politics. said, speaking from the Museum of the American Revolu- Gary Davis, Democratic candidate for SD8, issued the tion in Philadelphia. “I have sat in the Oval Office with following statement also on the unnecessary political at- both of the men who are running for president. I never tacks on USPS and vote-by-mail access across the state: expected that my successor would embrace my vision or “Politicizing the United States Postal Service and Hoosiers’ continue my policies. I did hope, for the sake of our coun- right to vote is just another notch in the abhorrent rhetoric try, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking families have been forced to stomach recently,” said Davis, the job seriously.” who is challenging State Sen. Mike Bohacek. Horse Race Status: Tossup. Buttigieg delivers Indiana’s roll call Indiana Democrats opted to have former presiden- Presidential tial candidate Pete Buttigieg deliver it’s roll call vote Tues- day night, and not gubernatorial nominee Woody Myers. Buttigieg was flanked by party leaders John Zody, Cordelia Obama warns of second Trump term Lewis Burks and Arielle Moyee Brandy at Studebaker Build- Former President Barack Obama warned that ing 84, the South Bend high-tech center where Buttigieg American democracy could falter if President Donald kicked off his presidential campaign in April 2019. Buttigieg Trump is reelected, a stunning rebuke of his successor that addresses the DNC tonight. was echoed by Kamala Harris at the Democratic Conven- tion Wednesday night as she embraced her historic role as the first Black woman on a national political ticket. Indy Mom addresses DNC Obama, himself a barrier breaker as the nation’s DeAndra Dycus is the mother of DeAndre Dycus, first Black president, pleaded with voters to “embrace your who was hit by a stray bullet while attending a birthday own responsibility as citizens – to make sure that the basic party in Indianapolis back in 2014 addressed the DNC. “A tenets of our democracy endure. Because that’s what is at stray bullet changed our lives,” she said. “Since March I stake right now. Our democracy.” have only been able to see my son three times. I can’t Harris, a 55-year-old California senator and the touch or hug him due to COVID-19. In towns across Amer- daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, addressed ica, there are families who know what a bullet can do. race and equality in a personal way Biden cannot when That’s why I’m a mom who volunteers to stop this.” Since he formally accepts his party’s presidential nomination on her son was shot Dycus has been active with groups, such Thursday. “There is no vaccine for racism. We have got as Moms Demand Action. “President Trump, he doesn’t to do the work,” Harris said, her words emphatic though care. He didn’t care about the victims after Parkland, Las she was speaking in a largely empty arena near Biden’s Vegas, or El Paso. I want a president who cares about our Delaware home. “We’ve got to do the work to fulfill the grief.” v promise of equal justice under law,” she added. “None of us are free until all of us are free.” Page 13 is consistent with their legal mandate set in 1947 to keep inflation and unemployment low. The goal of these policies What’s up with was to push money into more productive activities thus reviving the economy. the stock market? So, Fed policies meant that bank deposits had very By MICHAEL HICKS low returns, causing some households to move money to MUNCIE – Almost every casual conversation I stocks. It also pushed bond yields negative after adjusting have about the economy turns to the stunning recovery of for inflation. Bond markets are where governments go to the stock market. From investment professional to anxious borrow cheaply, and pushing them into negative territory observer, few can reconcile a Great Depression level of caused some investors to move to stocks. unemployment and GDP declines These policies are far from perfect, but they with the resurrection of stock tend to restore confidence in the economy, and explain at markets that took place since the least part of the stock market recovery. In other words, crash of March 2020. stock markets recovered because they offered the least Now, I don’t wish to pre- bad haven for those with savings. tend I can forecast stocks or fully Another explanation for the stock market resur- explain why they’ve recovered. If gence is the limited nature of early economic damage I could predict the stock market from COVID-19. Some corporations listed in stock markets 60% of the time, I’d be among the faced early losses, such as Disney and United Airlines. But, richest men in the world in just a most of the economic damage of COVID-19 has fallen on few weeks. What I can do is offer smaller companies, such as independent restaurants and some reasonable causes for the bars. Local government, schools and universities also faced wild swings and nearly full recovery we’ve experienced significant employment cuts. None of these is represented over the past six months. on stock exchanges. To begin, I’ll have to share some too infrequently That doesn’t mean stock investors don’t care about spoken truths about stock markets. The first is simply this part of our economy. Eventually lost employment in that stock markets exist to match household savings with small firms and government will put major downward pres- investment opportunities. This is what all financial services sure on stock prices. But we are only six months into a do, and stock markets are especially good at it. multi-year downturn, the fullness of this downturn is ahead For all the convenient critiques of Wall Street as a of us, not behind us. place for rich people, most American families own stock. If The stock market isn’t just affected by the absence you have any retirement fund, at any time in your life, you of small firms on its listing. The shifts in household and are a Wall Street investor. You may pick stocks yourself or, business consumption that accompanied the early stages like my family, let a fund manager pick them. Either way, of the pandemic benefitted some of the largest firms on you are a capitalist. In fact, we are nearly all capitalists the listing. Large technology firms, such as Apple and now. That is news to celebrate, because the future will re- Google, profited from us working at home, as we bought quire the economic growth that only capitalism can deliver. new equipment, software and online services. The fancy The stock market is important for other rea- yoga pants and gallon-sized jars of hand sanitizer were sons. Many nonprofits and nearly all philanthropic orga- delivered by Amazon, whose stock prices are up by 40% nizations rely upon stock returns. That means everything since the start of the pandemic. from youth sports to anti-poverty programs to scholar- Stock market indices are not linear combinations ships rely on the growth of wealth delivered by stocks. of listed firms; they are weighted by firm value, so the big My church, like most, funds missions and youth programs firms that did best in the pandemic swamp the smaller from stock investments. There is no good alternative, and firms, such as airlines or hotels. Even Disney, which saw we should be enormously thankful that we enjoy well- its theme parks close, recovered as its streaming services functioning markets where we can buy and sell small parts replaced its lost profits. v of companies, the things we call stocks. With stock markets serving this important societal Michael J. Hicks, PhD, is the director of the Cen- service, it would be too much to ask that they also be ter for Business and Economic Research and the good measures of overall economic performance. All we George and Frances Ball distinguished professor of can expect is that prices of stocks will signal where the economics in the Miller College of Business at Ball best investment options lie. That is profoundly important, State University. and gives us some insight into why stock prices recovered from the March crash. In the wake of COVID-19, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates, flooded financial markets with cash by purchasing bonds and bought private sector debt. This Page 14

voters. The National Voter Registration Act requires such periodic list maintenance, but Indiana has used methods Indiana Vote by Mail that the courts have found actually violate the NVRA. Clear ballot and envelope design with easy-to- makes its case follow instructions results in fewer calls to election offices By JOHN MUTZ, KATHY DAVIS, PAUL HELMKE, and fewer ballots returned without signatures. LEE HAMILTON and PIERRE ATLAS Intelligent Mail barcode (IMB®) available through INDIANAPOLIS – Our democracy depends on the USPS: This is the same tracking used for FedEx and voters showing up at every election to perform their civic UPS packages. The barcode allows election staff to follow duties. Well-designed, thorough, and rigorous election ballot mail and permits voters to sign up for text or email administration and monitoring is key to maintaining voter alerts. confidence. And providing options for voters is essential Ballot drop boxes as an option for return of bal- to be sure everyone has the equal right to participate, lots. In vote-by-mail states, most voters choose to return whether at polling locations or by mail. ballots in secure drop boxes, or to polling locations, with We ask Indiana to adopt reforms that increase vot- clear chain of custody requirements for retrieval. er confidence and turnout beyond our average rate of 52% Signature verification procedures to cure or verify for general elections. Sadly, an average of 48% of voters allegedly invalid, or missing, signatures. Most states have do not bother to vote even in presidential election years. such procedures in place. Indiana does not. We need Indiana residents to vote and Indiana’s leaders Extend deadline for receipt of ballots to 6 p.m. on need to act now. Election Day and if postmarked on or before Election Day The op-ed by Marc Thiessen, a well-known op- and received up to 10 days later. ponent of voting by mail, (Indianapolis Star on Sunday, Tabulation of ballots. Indiana law prohibits the August 9) demands a response considering the November counting of absentee ballots until Election Day. If permit- election is fast approaching. It is of utmost importance ted, beginning to tabulate ballots before Election Day will that voters have accurate information. We are living in speed up the process and avoid delayed announcement of a time of pandemic and voters should not be forced to results. choose between performing their civic duty, and their These measures will keep voter confidence high health and safety. All options for safe voting should be and ensure our elections remain open and accessible. made available. It takes leadership at the state level to make changes. The 2008 MIT study cited by Theissen was con- Injecting doubt into voters’ minds about the security and ducted when Oregon was the only state that mailed ballots accuracy of mail-in ballots indirectly suppresses the vote. to all registered voters, having been the first state to do Indiana must provide voters with effective ways so 20 years ago. The 3.9 million voters in other states who to cast their vote by mail, in a way that inspires rather never received their absentee ballots were not prevented than undermines public confidence in our elections. Other from voting at the polls in person. The 2.9 million ballots states have successfully grappled with these challenges. mailed to voters but not cast represent voters who chose Indiana voters deserve as much. v not to vote. Thiessen, like President Trump, seems intent John Mutz, former Republican Lieutenant Governor of the on injecting doubt in voters’ minds about the integrity of State of Indiana mailed elections. Of California’s rejected primary ballots in 2020, 69% were rejected because they arrived late; 27% Kathy Davis, former Democratic Lieutenant Governor of had missing or non-matching signatures, for which Califor- the State of Indiana nia has a process for voters to cure. This election season, Oregon and eight other Lee Hamilton, Distinguished Scholar, Professor of Prac- states will mail ballots to all registered voters. Thirty-five tice, Indiana University Former Democratic Representative states will use no-excuse absentee applications. These for Indiana’s 9th CD states have put in the work to reach all eligible voters. To date, Indiana has been resistant to such efforts. Paul Helmke, professor of Practice, and Director of Civic Here are some measures Indiana needs to adopt Leaders Center, Indiana University, former three-term Re- to provide equal and safe access for all voters: publican mayor of Fort Wayne, former president and CEO No-excuse absentee ballots should be available to of the Brady Center all voters. County clerks do not have the resources, time, or inclination to monitor voters’ reasons when applying for Pierre M. Atlas, Ph.D., professor of Political Science and absentee ballots. Founding Director, The Richard G. Lugar Franciscan Center Voter list maintenance is a crucial step in mak- for Global Studies, Marian University ing sure voter rolls remain free of ineligible or deceased Page 15 we’ve strayed. This year, it’s fair to say, Americans’ trust in the election process is at best unsettled. Many are worried The faith we place about foreign meddling. But that’s nothing compared to the undermining coming from the very top, a sitting presi- in our elections dent who refuses, so far at least, to say whether he will By LEE HAMILTON accept the results of the election, who floats the idea of BLOOMINGTON – I’ve lost track of the times over postponing it, who questions the validity of the venerable the years I’ve heard a politician say, “This is the most im- absentee ballot, and who talks constantly about “corrupt” portant election of my lifetime.” In fact, I’ve said it myself. elections. In fact, Susan Glasser writes in The New Yorker, And I’m sure we all believed it at the time. But in my case, since 2012 Donald Trump has “questioned voting or sug- at least, I know I was wrong in gested that an election would be rigged, unfair, or oth- the past. Because this year’s elec- erwise compromised” 713 times. This year alone he was tion is the most important of my closing in on 100 times when her article was published. No lifetime. wonder a lot of Americans of both parties worry about the Elections are the crown legitimacy of the results in November. jewel of a representative democ- Now, it’s not uncommon to hear charges of racy. We do at least three things voter fraud, but study after study has found that actual when we vote. First, and most ob- voter fraud in the U.S. is rare. It’s possible in a city or viously, we vote for our preferred town, but if you think about how our national elections are candidates. Second, by doing run – in 50 states, each with its own rules, and each local- so we vote to direct policy and ity controlling the electoral process – it’s hard to see how to give the party we favor more fraud could take place on any sizable scale. control over the levers of power. Which is not to say there aren’t problems. Chi- Third, and possibly most important, by voting we place canery from politicians bent on disenfranchising voters our stamp of approval on the system – we participate in it, whose politics they don’t like and decades of underfund- reinforce it, and trust it to carry our voice. ing the actual machinery of elections give us plenty to be Then, whatever the result, we accept it. concerned about. This is actually one of the remarkable things about But here’s the thing. We have over 200 years of the American political system, success at transfer- the degree to which Americans ring power peace- over the centuries have placed fully, often between their faith in election results, political leaders who win or lose. Occasionally there disagreed vehement- are charges of voter fraud, but ly with one another. overwhelmingly we accept the That has been one of results and express confidence the keys to Ameri- in the fairness, transparency, can success. I’m not and integrity of the election alone in thinking of process. It’s been a vitally this year’s vote as important part of our system the most important that we’ve taken too much for of my lifetime, and granted. woe betide us if our This allegiance to the confidence in the idea that the process matters result – which will more than personal conviction play a big part in our has come even from politicians who had a right to object. willingness to accept The most obvious recent example is Al Gore in 2000, after the result – is betrayed by politicians seeking to game the votes left uncounted because of the Supreme Court cost system or by election officials who don’t live up to the him the election. Bitter supporters urged him not to accept trust Americans place in them to get it right. v the result and to challenge the legitimacy of the process. Instead, in his concession speech, Gore said, “Other dis- Lee Hamilton is a Senior Advisor for the Indiana putes have dragged on for weeks before reaching resolu- University Center on Representative Government; tion. And each time, both the victor and the vanquished a Distinguished Scholar at the IU Hamilton Lugar have accepted the result peacefully and in the spirit of School of Global and International Studies; and reconciliation…. [O]ur disappointment must be overcome a Professor of Practice at the IU O’Neill School of by our love of country.” Public and Environmental Affairs. He was a member That was a bare 20 years ago and look how far of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years. Page 16 last projection before the 2016 election. National conventions A big bounce for Biden, after the Democratic Convention this week, after voters hear the speeches from various sites rather than from an arena of cheering will be very different delegates, and after they evaluate as well the selection By JACK COLWELL of Kamala Harris for vice president, would extend Biden’s SOUTH BEND — In sports, a lot depends on the lead in the polls, diminishing Trump’s chances to catch up. way the ball bounces. In presidential politics, a lot de- A more modest bounce of 2 or 3 percentage points would pends – or at least it often has – on the way the conven- not chance things very much, with Trump having a chance tion bounces. Traditionally, a presidential nominee gets a to match that or close the gap with a bigger bounce in his bounce upward in the polls after convention. the nominee’s national political No bounce at all, such as John Kerry suffered convention. after the 2004 Democratic Convention, could signal a Since I’ve had the good looming disaster. fortune in the past to cover 20 The national pundits could get it wrong, so wait national conventions, 10 Repub- until the major polls are in after this week. For example, lican, 10 Democratic, I’ve written a lot of the evaluation by analysts as that ’04 convention a lot about the bounces, about ended was that Democrats had played it smart, with Kerry the expectations of the delegates and other speakers avoiding attacking President George W. in the convention hall, about the Bush and sticking to a positive theme of bringing America projections of the pundits and together to face challenges at home and abroad. Voters about the actual bounce or lack say they want a positive message. So, Kerry was right? thereof in the polls after delegates Wrong. and pundits depart the convention site. He got no bounce. Bush bounced back with a Re- The conventions this month will be different. Very publican Convention that captured attention with ridicule different. No packed convention hall. No wild demonstra- and mockery of the Democratic ticket as weak and woeful. tions of support for the presidential nominee. No balloon Some pundits thought that would turn off voters. It turned drop as the convention reaches a finale, with enthusiasm a lot of them on as Bush climbed to victory. up as thousands of balloons come down. Just as the way the ball bounces can affect the The conventions, still needed to officially name outcome in sports, the way the convention bounces – or nominees and set a tone for the party, this time will be maybe doesn’t bounce at all for a nominee – could affect virtual, not traditional in a packed hall, because of the the outcome of this presidential election. v pandemic that has grown worse in this country. I always enjoyed leaving the press platform to Colwell covers Indiana politics for the South Bend push through the crowded aisles to reach the Indiana Tribune. or Michigan delegation, get some quick quotes from the governor or senators or area delegates and struggle back before the floor pass expired. Now, of course, such crowded aisles and delegates squished together would be life threatening. Will TV ratings for virtual conventions be high or dismal? Will there be much of a bounce in the polls for either Joe Biden or Donald Trump after their respective conven- tions this month? We don’t know. The way either convention bounces won’t decide the election. But how voters view the events still could have significance in determining which party gains or loses momentum as days to the election dwindle. If the election were to come next Tuesday, Biden likely would win, though it wouldn’t be a sure thing. Election forecast guru Nate Silver puts the chances of a Biden win at 71%. That, by the way, is the exact percentage Silver had for Hillary Clinton in his Page 17

ing depends on electoral success. The impact of the vice presidential candidate on Biden’s pick of the outcome is likely to be felt only at the margins, and the impact is complicated and resists precise measure- Harris (in context) ment. Significant unique factors included Biden’s deep By JOEL K. GOLDSTEIN understanding of the vice presidency from his successful CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Vice President Joe service in it for two terms, his age – which makes seek- Biden’s selection of Sen. Kamala Harris as his running ing a second term subject to more doubt than with most mate concludes one of the most unique and historic presidential candidates – his decision to limit the pool to vice presidential selection processes in American history. women, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and Biden’s selection process is the first time in American his- rising focus on racial justice issues on the political context. tory that a major party presidential candidate committed Biden’s pool was distinctive in that all were women at the outset to choose a woman as his running mate. and a larger percentage than ever before were persons of It was only the sec- color. The 11 apparent finalists were ond vice presidential selection Sens. Harris, Tammy Baldwin, Tammy process in which a major party Duckworth, and Elizabeth Warren; presidential candidate made a former National Security Adviser Susan point of considering multiple Rice; Reps. Karen Bass and Val Dem- members of minority groups as his or her running mate – ings; Govs. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Gretchen Whitmer; the first, of course, being Walter F. Mondale’s 1984 process Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms; and 2018 Georgia guberna- which produced Geraldine Ferraro’s nomination. torial nominee Stacey Abrams. All but Bottoms and Abrams Although Harris is only the third woman ever held one of the traditional feeder positions that every vice selected as a major party vice presidential nominee, she presidential candidate since 1940 has held – past or cur- is the first selected by a presidential candidate leading in rent senator, governor, high federal executive official, or the polls and perceived to have better than a 50% chance member of the House of Representatives. As such, those of election. If elected vice president, it would be the first in the pool carried titles similar to the pools of males con- time, in our 59th presidential election, that a woman is sidered in past searches of both parties. elected to national office. She also is the first woman of color to be a major The nature of the search party national candidate. Although Biden’s selection pro- Biden’s search was among the longest in modern cess adopted a much more intensive version of the vetting history. Biden’s nomination became apparent when he process that Jimmy Carter, and to a lesser extent President followed his victory in South Carolina on Feb. 29 with a Gerald R. Ford, began in 1976 and which has been greatly stunning showing three days later on Super Tuesday and expanded since then, Biden’s process was affected by the another on March 10 that closed the door on Sen. Bernie extraordinary constraints the COVID-19 pandemic imposed Sanders. With the presidential nomination assured, focus which prevented normal in-person campaigning as part of turned to the vice presidential nomination during the 11th the audition and inhibited other in-person sessions. debate in mid-March when Biden committed to select a Finally, Biden’s vice presidential selection process woman as his running mate. The five-month period from occurred amidst two extraordinary events that dramati- mid-March until Aug. 11, 2020, provided the longest vice cally changed the American political context. Those events presidential vetting period. were, of course, the pandemic and the killing of George The process was relatively transparent regard- Floyd on Memorial Day and other incidents that have ing those under consideration, which gave opportunity for focused attention on racial injustice which continues to those favoring or opposing various candidates to express permeate American society. themselves. Biden chose a slightly larger and a demo- graphically representative committee to screen those Something old, something new under consideration, consisting of former Sen. Christopher Every first-time vice presidential selection involves Dodd, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Los Angeles Mayor Eric the intersection of familiar patterns and practices with the Garcetti, and former Biden counsel Cynthia Hogan. Three totally unique and novel circumstance of a selector who members were past or current elected officials. Commit- has never previously chosen a running mate picking from tee members had worked in both houses of Congress, the a distinctive pool in a unique context. And every selector executive branch, local government, and the private sector. must strike some balance between the short-term interest The committee included an equal number of men and in winning the election, the long-term interest in finding a women. It included two white members, a black member, governing partner, and the remote contingency of choos- and a Mexican-American member. They ranged in age ing a presidential successor, although political and govern- from 49 (Garcetti) to 76 (Dodd), with Rochester in her late ing considerations may often coincide. Of course, govern- 50s and Hogan in her early 60s. Not only was there a longer period to discuss a Page 18 contracted pool, but the intensifying COVID-19 pandemic stated that he does not hold grudges, and his selection and intensified focus on structural racism in America trans- of Harris seems to confirm that. Indeed, Biden has been formed the context in which the decision was made. Sen. known for his ability to put himself in the position of others Amy Klobuchar, initially considered to be among the most to better understand their behavior and to work harmoni- likely vice presidential options, withdrew amidst criticism ously with a range of different people. of her record as a prosecutor for not prosecuting alleged police brutality prior to her time in the Senate, and calls An also-ran selected for Biden to select a woman of color. The process allowed Harris’ selection provides the fifth time since 1960 input, and Harris was among the most popular choices. that a presidential candidate has selected someone who ran against him or her in the primaries and caucuses. Har- The messages sent ris, like Biden in 2008, was not the runner-up, a charac- Presidential candidates use the vice presidential teristic that Lyndon B. Johnson, George H.W. Bush, and selection to send messages about their values. The selec- John Edwards had shared. Although Harris’ candidacy was tion of Harris fit with Biden’s campaign theme of running unsuccessful, her exposure to a national campaign, as well to restore “the soul of our nation.” As the first Black and as her success in California statewide politics, was thought Indian-American candidate for vice president, as a woman to better prepare her for a national campaign. and child of immigrants, her selection sent a message of inclusion, a theme much in evidence in the rollout on Aug. The first Democratic Californian 12. Biden also presented her as a fighter for the middle Harris is the third major party vice presidential class and those aspiring to reach it, rekindling a theme of candidate from California (after Earl Warren in 1948 and his vice presidency, when he chaired President Obama’s Richard M. Nixon in both 1952, 1956) but the first national Middle Class Task Force. party candidate from California on the Democratic ticket. Harris also provides a running mate who has The Democratic senator’s vice presidential advan- demonstrated herself to be an effective cross-examiner of tage: Harris’ selection also represents the 16th time in the Trump administration officials and nominees and critic of last 19 Democratic selections that the running mate has its performance and policies. She is expected to be an able been a senator. The near-monopoly is more striking when campaigner who can persuasively make the case against one considers that two of the three exceptions presented Trump. Importantly, her selection helps keep Trump and extraordinary circumstances. Sargent Shriver’s selection in his record the campaign focus. 1972 was, of course, the second Democratic selection that Biden’s public promise that Harris would assume year and one that occurred only after a number of sena- the “last person in the room” status he had enjoyed with tors declined George McGovern’s invitation, and Geraldine President Barack Obama signaled that as vice president, Ferraro’s selection in 1984 at a time when no Democratic she will be engaged in decision-making. His request that women served in the Senate. she tell him when he is wrong confirms that promise but Many of those who were prominently mentioned also draws a distinction with Trump’s operating style, in the process were Harris’ senatorial colleagues includ- which is widely perceived to invite sycophancy. ing Sens. Baldwin, Duckworth, Klobuchar, and Warren. The senatorial advantage in Democratic vice presidential Compatibility politics probably traces to the greater name recognition Some had speculated that Biden would not choose senators have as compared to others, their prominence in Harris because she had attacked him during an earlier presidential politics, the perception that they have foreign debate for opposing busing and working with Senate seg- policy experience, and the ability to sustain public expo- regationists earlier in his career in the Senate. Campaign sure even when their party is out of office, something that bitterness has deterred other presidential candidates from is more difficult for former Cabinet members. choosing certain rivals. Jimmy Carter did not consider Rep. Morris Udall in 1976. George H.W. Bush chose Dan Quayle The irrelevancy of home and swing states instead of Bob Dole or Jack Kemp in 1988. Obama did not The Harris selection provides further evidence that select Hillary Clinton in 2008. vice presidential selection gives little weight to choosing a On the other hand, other political leaders have put running mate from a competitive large (or medium-size or such incidents behind them. Bush’s dismissal of Ronald small) state. Although pundits often emphasize this crite- Reagan’s economic ideas as “voodoo economics” did not rion and political scientists devote more time to it than vir- preclude his selection as Reagan’s running mate in 1980. tually any other topic regarding vice presidential selection Dole chose Kemp in 1996 notwithstanding a history of and campaigns, as we have pointed out repeatedly since acrimony between them. Kemp had endorsed Dole rival 2012 here, presidential candidates never choose running Steve Forbes when Dole’s nomination was assured; Dole mates for that reason. Lyndon B. Johnson was chosen to disparaged Kemp as “the quarterback.” Reagan and Bush help John F. Kennedy in the South, not just in Texas, and and Dole and Kemp went on to establish friendly relations. the home state of a vice presidential pick has not been the Biden apparently falls in the latter group. He principal reason for any selection since then. v Page 19 James Briggs, IndyStar: Let’s get an obvious Trump. It is the theme of every autocrat who ever seized point out of the way: Gov. Eric Holcomb’s words aren’t go- power or tried to hold onto it. Our institutions are the ing to make Indiana more inclusive. Actions speak louder foundation of a functioning democracy. While they are not … well, you know the quote. Holcomb on Tuesday deliv- perfect, they are still the strongest bulwark against over- ered a speech on race and equity that offered 26 minutes zealous authority figures. The institutions give the people of words and only a few cautious actions. Holcomb an- a voice; a voice in the information we receive, a voice in nounced he will require Indiana State Police troopers to the laws we pass, a voice in the wars we fight, the money wear body cameras by spring 2021; he will create a new we spend and the justice we uphold. And a voice in the job with the title of chief equity, inclusion and opportu- people we elect. As Trump seeks to undermine the U.S. nity officer (it will report to him), and he will require the Postal Service and stop mail-in voting, he is taking away state to track and monitor diversity within its agencies. our voice to decide who will lead America. It is not hy- Those are the highlights. They’re fine. They’re perbole to say that the future of the country could better than nothing. Body cameras are popular, depend on those remarkable men and women who but, as I’ve written before, research has found no brave the elements to bring us our mail and deliver strong evidence that cameras change how police our vote. Let us ensure they have every resource do their jobs or make citizens more satisfied with possible to provide the citizens of this country the police encounters. Holcomb’s new cabinet position is a information they need, the ballots that they request good gesture, yet doesn’t guarantee any results. More and the Postal Service they deserve. v data on diversity is valuable, but what the state does with it will matter more. Holcomb’s address offered little more Byron York, Washington Examiner: The news than a scorecard of items for which he can be held ac- is filled with reports of President Trump’s “assault” on the countable — some day, but not, conveniently enough, U.S. Postal Service. The president, Democrats and some until after he faces re-election in November. Dr. Woody in the media say, is deliberately slowing mail delivery and Myers, the Democratic candidate for governor, who is crippling the Postal Service so that it cannot handle an Black, summed up his reaction to the speech in six words: anticipated flood of voting by mail in the presidential elec- “Much too little, much too late.” That’s one way to look at tion. Former President Barack Obama said Trump is trying Holcomb’s speech — and it is fair. Here’s another, more to “actively kneecap” the Postal Service to suppress the generous perspective: Holcomb delivered a message to vote. Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called the House back into Republican-leaning Indiana, including his own conserva- session this week and has set an “urgent hearing” for Aug. tive base, which many people don’t want to hear. That 24, demanding Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and the took some courage. Here’s a Republican governor talking head of the Postal Service Board of Governors testify “to about lynching and Jim Crow laws at a time when many of address the sabotage of the Postal Service.” Some of the Holcomb’s fellow Republicans don’t want to talk about that accusations have grown so frantic that they resemble the history. They especially don’t like to talk about how that frenzy of a couple of years ago over the allegation, from history is still relevant today. But it is. And Holcomb went many of the same people, that Trump had conspired with there. “I think the governor made some very important Russia to fix the 2016 election. Now, it’s the Postal Ser- first steps to address and speak to the larger Black com- vice. But what, actually, is going on? Here is a brief look munity,” said Marshawn Wolley, a spokesman for the Afri- at some of the issues involved. The idea that the Postal can American Coalition of Indianapolis. “Having a governor Service will not be able to handle the volume of mail in the declare ‘Black lives matter’ and ‘Black livelihoods matter’ election, or not be able to handle it within normal Postal is significant.” That isn’t going to fix racism. But it counts Service time guidelines, does not make much sense. Ac- as progress in a state where many people want to pretend cording to its most recent annual report, last year, in fiscal there is no problem at all. v year 2019, the Postal Service handled 142.5 billion pieces of mail. “On a typical day, our 633,000 employees physi- William McRaven, Washington Post: Today, cally process and deliver 471 million mailpieces to nearly as we struggle with social upheaval, soaring debt, record 160 million delivery points,” the report says. This year, unemployment, a runaway pandemic, and rising threats that number is higher, given the Postal Service’s delivery from China and Russia, President Trump is actively work- of census forms and stimulus checks. Those alone added ing to undermine every major institution in this country. about 450 million additional pieces of mail. In 2016, about He has planted the seeds of doubt in the minds of many 136 million Americans voted in the presidential election. Americans that our institutions aren’t functioning properly. The number will probably be a bit higher this year. If And, if the president doesn’t trust the intelligence commu- officials sent ballots to every single American registered nity, law enforcement, the press, the military, the Supreme to vote, about 158 million people, and then 140 million Court, the medical professionals, election officials and the people returned ballots, the roughly 298 million pieces of postal workers, then why should we? And if Americans mail handled over the course of several weeks would be stop believing in the system of institutions, then what is well within the Postal Service’s ability to handle. v left but chaos and who can bring order out of chaos: only Page 20

in an executive order after federal the Protect Purdue Plan, all Purdue Holcomb, clerks lawmakers failed to come to an agree- students are required to have a nega- ment on a new pandemic aid program tive COVID-19 test before arriving on urge early vote to replace the Coronavirus Aid Relief campus for the fall semester. First-

and Economic Security Act. The new year students began arriving Aug. 14 INDIANAPOLIS — If you’re payment replaces the $600-a-week for Boiler Gold Rush orientation pro- planning to vote absentee in the unemployment supplement that ex- grams. Additional students are arriving November elections, now is the time pired last month and was not extend- throughout the week in order to begin to request an absentee ed by Congress. Indiana opted classes on Aug. 24. Indiana Univer- ballot (WRTV). That’s the out of kicking in an extra $100 sity has reported the positivity rate message from Hamil- payment from already-allocated among students tested for COVID-19 ton County Clerk Kathy CARES Act funds or other is about 1%. The figure was included Williams, and it goes for sources of state funding after in an email sent to faculty and staff all Indiana counties. Wil- an “evaluation of our economic Wednesday (Bloomington Herald- liams wants to be sure situation,” said Department of Work- Times). IU classes are still set to begin that ballots are returned by the mail-in force Development Commissioner Fred Monday with a mix of both online and deadline. “We’ve had a lot of calls with Payne. If approved, the $300 weekly in-person instruction. concern about the post office and its payments will be retroactive to Aug. 1. ability to get mail-in ballots returned Hospitals take big in time,” Williams said. “We encourage ISDH to create voters to apply now for their absentee pandemic hit ballots. We will start mailing those school dashboard ballots the week of September 14th SOUTH BEND — Indiana which will give folks six weeks to get INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana hospital executives feared the finan- them returned.” Elkhart County Clerk will start matching COVID-19 tests cial impact of the coronavirus. Now a Chris Anderson told WSBT-TV, “The to student records to notify schools statewide study shows just how bad turnout is going to be 60,000, 70-, of positive cases and create a public the early months of the pandemic 75-, 80,000 Elkhart County registered dashboard tracking the spread of the were for the industry (South Bend voters. I fully expect 35-, 40-, 45% of coronavirus in schools, the state’s top Tribune). On average, Indiana hospi- those to be absentee by mail ballots.” health official announced Wednesday tals had a negative operating margin Gov. Eric Holcomb on Wednesday (IBJ).The state aims to launch the of -8.3% for the month of April, the echoed Williams’ message and encour- public dashboard next month. Schools study by the Indiana Hospital Associa- aged Hoosiers who qualify to not pro- will be asked to submit numbers tion found. Rural hospitals that have crastinate when it comes to filling out daily on new positive cases among emergency departments and under absentee ballot applications. “I would students, teachers, and staff, said 25 beds had it even worse, with an encourage people to do it sooner Dr. Kristina Box, the state’s health average negative operating margin of rather than later just for the very commissioner. The move to publicize -27.7%. reason that folks might be concerned,” COVID-19 cases in schools comes as Holcomb said. many students across the state have Trump urges returned to classrooms this month. “I Indiana applies for cannot say this enough: The actions Goodyear boycott fed lost wages you take outside of school are just WASHINGTON — President as important as those that you take Trump called for a boycott of Good- INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana inside the school building,” Box said. year Tire & Rubber Co. in response has applied for the federal govern- to reports that the company showed ment’s Lost Wages Assistance pro- 99% at Purdue, IU a slide to workers prohibiting the gram and hopes to begin delivering test negative wearing of politically affiliated slogans, the $300 supplemental weekly pay- such as “Make America Great Again” ments to most people receiving unem- WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue apparel (Wall Street Journal). In a ployment benefits in the next month and Indiana universities say nearly tweet Wednesday morning, Mr. Trump or so (IBJ). At least nine states have 100 percent of their students do wrote: “Don’t buy GOODYEAR TIRES already been approved for the pro- not have COVID-19. Health officials - they announced a BAN ON MAGA gram announced earlier this month by tested the student body and reported HATS. Get better tires for far less!” President Donald Trump, according to that 99.26% are virus free, the press Shares in Goodyear closed down 2.4% the Federal Emergency Management release says (WANE-TV). The Lafay- Wednesday, recovering somewhat Agency, which is administering the ette Journal & Courier reported 223 after a steeper decline following the program. Trump created the program students tested positive. As part of president’s tweet.