The Howey Political Report Is Published by Newslink Conference After Being Sworn in As Governor, That Nothing Inc
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Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003 Volume 10, Number 8 Page 1 of 9 he Gov. Kernan hasn’t T weighed ‘04 options Howey Simpson would support governor By BRIAN A. HOWEY in Indianapolis The question Statehouse press corps supporters didn’t ask Gov. Joe Kernan on Monday was verbalized by Gary Political Democrats and Region business leaders on Wednesday. Steve Walsh of the Post-Tribune reported it this way in today’s editions when Democratic partisans pressed the Report new governor in hope he would reconsider: Kernan repeated the comments he made at the Statehouse in his first news The Howey Political Report is published by NewsLink conference after being sworn in as governor, that nothing Inc. Founded in 1994, The Howey Political Report is had happened to cause him to change his mind. But he left an independent, non-partisan newsletter analyzing the political process in Indiana. the door open. “I haven’t had a chance to think about any- thing other than the business at hand, so we’ll have that con- Brian A. Howey, publisher versation at a later date,” Kernan said. Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington writer Meanwhile, the gubernatorial campaigns of Joe Jack E. Howey, editor Andrew, State Sen. Vi Simpson and Republican Mitch Daniels sprang back into action after lying dormant the week The Howey Political Report Office: 317-254-1533 PO Box 40265 Fax: 317-968-0487 of Gov. O’Bannon’s funeral. Only Simpson’s campaign Indianapolis, IN 46240-0265 Mobile: 317-506-0883 would respond to the hypothetical question of what would [email protected] happen if Gov. Kernan decided to seek a term of his own. www.howeypolitics.com Simpson campaign manager Mike Draper explained, “Sen. Simpson has always had a great working relationship Washington office: 202-775-3242; Business Office: 317-254-0535. with Joe Kernan. He’s his own man and nobody is going to convince him of what to do and what’s in his heart. The Vi Subscriptions: $250 annually via e-mail or Simpson campaign will be supportive of whatever he does.” fax; $450 annually including the HPR Daily Dennis Lee, speaking for Andrew, explained, “What Wire. Call 317-254-1533 or 254-0535. Joe (Andrew ) has been saying is that it’s his job to make © 2003, The Howey Political Report. All rights sure that he can do for Joe Kernan whatever it takes to be reserved. Photocopying, Internet forwarding, faxing or the best and most popular governor. Joe Kernan has been reproducing in any form, in whole or in part, is a viola- pretty clear that he’s not going to run.” tion of federal law and is strictly prohibited without And if Kernan did run, how would Andrew react? consent of the publisher. “I could be governor of this state as well as Ticker: Bush’s troubled re-elect p. 3 running my business. I mean, it’s not the Columnists: Colwell, Gerard p. 5 same, but it’s about teamwork and it’s about Horse Race ‘03: Fort Wayne tossup p. 6 appointing the right people to the right posi- Hoosiers excited by Dean, Clark p. 8 tions....” - Bren Simon Covering 10 years of Indiana politics Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003 Page 2 of 9 “That’s hypothetical,” Lee said. Healthwise program that enrolled more Clearly, the Democratic establish- than 120,000 poor kids into state spon- ment wants Kernan to reconsider. “I think sored insurance programs. It was men- he may still get in there,” said State Sen. tioned twice at Gov. O’Bannon’s funeral. Earline Rogers, D-Gary (Walsh, Post- Yet Republican legislators have consis- Tribune). tently cited the burden of its costs in BUSH AT HIS LOWEST Close friends and associates of today’s deficit environment. Another APPROVAL: George W. Gov. Kernan say that after going through would be education, such as the new stan- Bush is in the worst politi- dards, the ISTEP program, the Education cal trouble of his presiden- two weeks of crisis with the illness and cy, according to a new NBC death of Gov. O’Bannon, the new gover- Roundtable, that will clearly come under News/Wall Street Journal nor now faces several daunting chal- fire and face possible extinction. poll released Wednesday lenges: How to deal with decades of Kernan, who has the option of run- night. Bush's approval rat- gubernatorial vetoes that courts have ruled ning for one more term (and would have ing now stands at 49 per- to be unconstitutional, and the fate of an to endure only one more year of the cent, the lowest point of his Indiana death row inmate whose execu- dreaded fundraising), would also have to tenure. tion was stayed by Gov. O’Bannon for 60 consider his legacy. Republicans such as days. The veto constitutionality has the Chairman Jim Kittle Jr. would like noth- BATTLEGROUND POLL ing better than to compare the O’Bannon- SAYS BUSH IN FOR TOUGH potential of rendering dozens of vetoes Kernan years to Herbert Hoover. Since RE-ELECTON CAMPAIGN: moot, wreaking havoc on Indiana code. President Bush is likely to Then there is the decision on who Gov. O’Bannon died, there has been a face a close campaign for his new lieutenant governor will be. On steady drumbeat of thousands of job loss- re-election next year, Monday, Kernan said at a press confer- es -- Lincoln Life, Dana, Arvin-Meritor, according to a poll that ence, “I need to sort through the different Chrysler Foundry, and Wells Fargo. shows his strength on fight- options. I’ll be talking to people, looking In Muncie on Wednesday, Kernan ing terrorism and his popu- for advice and counsel. I’m not sure when tried to lend context. Kernan noted that larity matched by Oregon is cutting the school year back to I’ll be ready. It will be very deliberate. Democrats' advantages on 140 days; the University of Nebraska is the economy and other I’m not going to be rushed to judgment.” laying off tenured professors; states up domestic issues (Assoc- As for who might be on any short and down the East Coast are laying off iated Press). The bipartisan list, Gov. Kernan and his key advisers state troopers; New York University is Battleground 2004 poll have not made any signals, and raising considering tuition increases of 30-40 per- found people were evenly any names would be grossly speculative at cent. “And California, the poster child, divided on whether they this point. thought Bush should be re- with problems that will probably not be elected or it's time to give fixed in our lifetimes,” Kernan said during someone new a chance to Reconsiderations a visit to Ball State University (Seth be president. He had a What might make this very private Slabaugh, Muncie Star Press). “These slight lead in a head-to-head governor change his mind about 2004? kinds of things have been going on all matchup with an unnamed Friends and colleagues for months Democrat. Just over half, 53 across America.” Indiana is the only state after his stunning December 2002 deci- percent, said the country is in the union “that went on the offense” on the wrong track, while 39 sion indicated that Kernan hates fundrais- during “these very difficult times,” the percent said it is headed in ing and didn’t want to play defense on the governor said. the right direction, accord- O’Bannon record. South Bend Tribune columnist Jack ing to the poll conducted by By leaving the scene as a sitting Colwell, the journalist who knows Kernan GOP pollster Ed Goeas and governor, what Kernan faces is a fractured best, observed, “Getting Mary (Downes) Democratic pollster Celinda Democratic Party, a potential assault on back as chief of staff and Tina (Noel) Lake. Bush had a 54 percent the O’Bannon-Kernan record in the 2004 back as press secretary signals he is get- job approval rating in the sequence, and a rollback of many public ting people in place either to go all out for poll and two-thirds said they like him personally. policy elements supremely valued by the a final 15 months or to go for a longer ruling party. time as governor. Friends and advisers Continued on page 3 A classic example is the Hoosier have told him to keep the door just a bit Page 3 of 9 Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003 ajar, not to make a hasty decision on emo- Being Heard," planned over the next few tion either way after Frank's death. I think months (Smith, Associated Press). he has done that -- just a bit ajar. He could What has occurred are further ques- have slammed the door but didn't. tions about Simon’s credentials to be LG Chances that he will run still seem narrow. or governor. She answered the question in But he also is being told that no other Indianapolis this way: “I could be gover- Democrat can win and that he owes it to nor of this state as well as running my Frank and the party to run. He and business. I mean, it’s not the same, but it’s ARVIN-MERITOR PLANT TO Maggie will decide.” about teamwork and it’s about appointing CLOSE IN FRANKLIN: News Other friends of the governor are the right people to the right positions.” the community has dreaded saying that his LG decision won’t neces- Newspaper editorials have been for years became official Wednesday when sarily be made before ruling in or out his critical of Andrew’s selection of Simon.