V21, N25 Friday, March 4, 2016 Trump the ultimate INGOP wildcard could go wrong A few Hoosier with that?), prepar- ing to nominate a Republicans express billionaire dema- alarm, but party is gogue who has insulted everyone mostly mute from the Holy See to disabled citizens. By BRIAN A. HOWEY The only entities BLOOMINGTON – We have not feeling the entered the era of Trumpian Indi- Teflon howitzers ana. It is one filled with mystery and are Jesus Christ, vacuum. It is one that is releasing Mohammed and demons. With Donald Trump well God, and they positioned for may be next. For the Republican Democrats rejoic- presidential ing at the idea that nomination, Hillary Clinton will fueled by about Andrean HS students holding a Donald Trump cutout chanted “build a “cream” Trump, as 35% of the wall” at Latino Bishop Noll students last weekend. (NWI Times Photo) suggested by the Republican wobbly prognosti- electorate in about 15 states, Americans and Hoosiers are cators Karl Rove and Bill Kristol, the sobering dynamic is facing an unprecedented November election with the likely that the U.S. may be one terror assault away from a Presi- nominees possessing historically high negatives. dent Trump, whose candidacy rocketed past the punditry Any historic templates are now obsolete. following the Paris and San Bernardino attacks. ISIS seeks On the Republican side, the Trump phenomenon is Continued on page 4 being propelled by the uneducated and uninformed (what Lt. Gov. Holcomb ascends By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS – Sooooo, have you been to the Berry Bowl? Eric Holcomb responded, “Yes.” The Wigwam? TigArena? Northside Gym? Holcomb, then a U.S. “We reiterated our commitment Senate candidate, hadn’t made it to the former home of the Peru to be part of ongoing discussions Tigers, now headquarters of the to keep jobs in Indiana.” Miami Indians, but now he knew it had to be on his list. Elkhart’s - Gov. Mike Pence after Northside Gym was on his list. But his Facebook page was a chronicle meeting with Carrier of treys, layups, baseline jumpers and announcing 400 jobs and top-of-the-key fadeaways. Statewide candidates would remain in Indiana often campaign with a theme. In 1990, Baron Hill walked across the Page 2 Howey Politics Indiana WWHowey Media, LLC 405 Massachusetts Ave., Suite 300 Indianapolis, IN 46204 www.howeypolitics.com Brian A. Howey, Publisher Former Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman introduces newly sworn in Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb Thursday Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington afternoon at the Indiana Statehouse. (HPI Photos by Mark Curry) Jack E. Howey, Editor Mary Lou Howey, Editor state from Lake Michigan to the Ohio Holcomb said the call from River. Steve Buyer ran for congress in Pence, seeking to replace Lt. Gov. Maureen Hayden, Statehouse 1992 with combat boots slung over his Sue Ellspermann, who resigned on Mark Curry, photography shoulder. Vance Hartke would always Wednesday, “is all about public ser- snap a Polaroid shot of himself and vice.” Holcomb was confirmed by the Subscriptions whoever he met; his car trunk was Indiana General Assembly – 50-0 in full of Polaroid film. Mitch Daniels had the Senate and 91-3 in the House – HPI, HPI Daily Wire $599 RV1. Birch and Evan Bayh would roll Thursday morning. HPI Weekly, $350 up their sleeves and work the room, “Hoosiers are literally feeding Ray Volpe, Account Manager then go find a Dairy Queen. Holcomb the world,” said Holcomb, who takes 317.602.3620 spent a good part of his U.S. Senate the helm of the state’s Department email: [email protected] campaign shooting baskets in historic of Agriculture and will oversee offices hoops arenas, from Knightstown to dealing with tourism and rural af- Contact HPI Milan to Loogootee. fairs. Holcomb said that Indiana has [email protected] That is, until he received a become “synonymous with innovation Howey’s cell: 317.506.0883 phone call from Gov. Mike Pence just and investment.” Washington: 202.256.5822 before the Super Bowl, inviting him to “While we create local, we join the ticket. Holcomb became Indi- have global impact,” Holcomb said, Business Office: 317.602.3620 ana’s 51st lieutenant governor Thurs- noting that his jobs with Gov. Daniels day afternoon, with Gov. Mike Pence and U.S. Sen. Dan Coats had taken © 2016, Howey Politics introducing him as the “best-prepared him to Madrid, Jerusalem and Beijing, Indiana. All rights reserved. person to ever assume the duties” of but added, “As Dorothy said, ‘There’s Photocopying, Internet forward- the office. no place like home.’” Holcomb took the oath of Pence cited Holcomb’s ing, faxing or reproducing in office from Indiana Supreme Court career in the Daniels administration, any form, whole or part, is a Justice Mark Massa before an overflow with Sen. Coats and former U.S. Rep. violation of federal law without crowd in the Statehouse south atrium. John Hostettler, as well as his stint permission from the publisher. Moments later he declared himself to as a U.S. Navy intelligence officer in be “people purposed” a decade after a time of war, as giving Holcomb the he took his first Statehouse job with unique resume that inspired his selec- Gov. Mitch Daniels. He told the crowd, tion. He cited Holcomb’s kindness, “Gov. Pence offered me a job I never tenacity and love for the people of In- sought,” and then vowed to “create diana, said, “He’s just a great guy and and build an even better Indiana.” He he’ll be a great lieutenant governor.” described his duties that will go far For flourish, Pence noted that Hol- beyond the borders of not only Indi- comb had shot a basketball in all 92 ana, but the United States. counties during his Senate campaign. Page 3 “I didn’t ask him what his percentage was,” Pence quipped. Curt Smith of the Indiana Family Institute watched the unfolding pagentry and noted “I hired Eric for his first job,” on Hostettler’s staff. The clincher? Holcomb’s vast knowledge of Abraham Lincoln, a tangible asset in the old Bloody 8th CD. Holcomb’s strength is his people skills and commonality that will trans- late well to the retail politics he is faced with for the next eight months. He’s a man who can describe the guitar riffs of Angus and Malcolm Young of AC/DC and was savvy enough to sponsor a My Man Mitch dirt track car at the Anderson Speedway reaching blue collar voters. The Pence administration made the crucial pivot, transitioning to Gov. Mike Pence looks on as Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb talks with a constituent Thursday after- Holcomb as lieutenant governor a day noon after he became Indiana’s 51st LG. (HPI Photo by Mark Curry) after Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann stepped though he knew there might be a problem with the optics down. Holcomb gives Gov. Mike Pence’s reelection cam- of the meeting from some of his supporters. “Someone paign a critical on-the-ground component as he girds for a else might have considered cancelling,” Holcomb told CNHI rematch with Democrat John Gregg. Informed and reliable Statehouse reporter Maureen Hayden. “But we couldn’t sources have told HPI that Ellspermann was uncomfort- get there fast enough.” able participating in what is expected to be an intensely As Daniels’ deputy chief of staff, as his reelection fought campaign which will see Pence resort to combative campaign manager, as Indiana Republican chairman under advertising for the first time in his career. Ellspermann had both Daniels and Pence, Holcomb’s mojo has always been signed a no-negative-campaign pledge in 2010 when she about opening doors. At a time when Gov. Pence talks upset House Majority Leader Russ Stilwell, and the Pence- about non-discrimination while doing nothing to promote Ellspermann ticket did the same two years later. It almost a resolution to the simmering civil rights expansion issue, ended in a disaster as Pence narrowly defeated Gregg Holcomb talked about inclusion, the big tent, and creating instead of the landslide win many expected, capturing just a new pool of Republicans, one bouquet, one layup at a 49% of the vote. Since then, the Pence administration has time. been enmeshed in a number of controversies that had A number of Republicans HPI has talked with exposed fissures between the various wings of the GOP. hope that Holcomb widens Gov. Pence’s tiny, true-believer Holcomb is expected to salve those wounds. inner circle, bringing different perspectives that many think Holcomb has crisscrossed the state as a deputy haven’t been represented in the first three years of the chief of staff for Gov. Mitch Daniels, as his 2008 campaign administration. manager, as state Republican chairman, and then for Holcomb’s first job will be to mend the Indiana Re- much of 2015 and early 2016 as a U.S. Senate candidate. publican Party, its business and social conservative wings He abruptly withdrew from that race on Feb. 9 and was frayed by the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the named the LG designate by Gov. Pence a day later. civil rights expansion. “Eric is going to be a tremendous Holcomb comes on board because he is the asset,” Indiana Republican Chairman Jeff Cardwell told Indiana Republican Party’s happy warrior. He knows the HPI. “He brings a total new aspect to team. He knows In- nooks and crannies of the state. He knows how to pleas- diana very very well and he will be building on the founda- antly cajole folks to come around. Tracking down ballot tion that’s already in place.” petitions for Daniels 2004 reelect, he found an indiffer- How much damage has there been to the party? “I ent Southern Indiana county clerk.