Politics Indiana V14 N30 Thursday, March 13, 2008 Act 2 awaits Rep. Andre Carson Orentlicher, Mays will be of an intellec- tual nature from the & Myers cue up two Democrats with the “doctor” prefix for May primary on their names. When the Indianapo- By BRIAN A. HOWEY lis Star endorsed INDIANAPOLIS - State Rep. Jon Elrod The Carson political dynasty over Carson last was extended an additional week, the editorial eight-plus months on Tues- noted that Carson day with a 54-43 percent had trouble dealing victory by Andre Carson as with issues beyond the young Democrat was “talking points.” able to successfully activate Joining them will be his grandmother’s political State Rep. Carolene machine with an impressive Mays, who publishes 45,598 votes. But less than the Indianapolis 12 hours after the 33-year- Recorder newspa- old Indianapolis councilman per, and a couple of declared victory, former As of 2 p.m. today it will be U.S. Rep. Andre Carson after he won an impressive lesser known candi- Indiana health commissioner 11 percent victory over State Rep. Jon Elrod on Tuesday. But Carson will have no dates. Woody Myers was running time to rest as the May 6 primary race kicks in, (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey) What Carson TV ads and State Rep. David brings to the table is Orentlicher kicked off his the family legacy that challenge at the Kennedy-King Memorial. The coming chal- his grandmother began in the Indiana House three decades lenges to the grandson of the late U.S. Rep. Julia Carson ago before extending it to the Indiana Senate, the Center Obama vs. Big 10 By MARK CURRY WASHINGTON - Some Hoosier Democrats may find themselves in a quandary on Saturday as Barack Obama intends to visit Plainfield High School at 12:30 p.m. “We agree to eventually agree.’ for a town hall meeting on the same day that Purdue - House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer on the and Indiana could potentially coming tax reform deal. At HPI deadline, meet in the semi-finals of the Big Ten basketball tourna- Ways & Means Chairman Bill Crawford ment at Conseco Fieldhouse. was signalling a deal had been completed on The Illinois senator’s cam- HB1001 paign had yet to release any details of the visit by HPI’s deadline, but it’s a fair bet that not even Obamania can HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 2 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, March 13, 2008 compete with the possibility of a hard- possible the competition will extend Howey Politics court rematch between the two state later into June as Michigan and Florida universities. Still, should the Demo- party officials consider conducting Indiana cratic front-runner host an open forum re-votes in their states. The national is a nonpartisan news- he would be expected to attract large party has flatly refused to seat either crowds, as he has since the campaign state’s delegates to the convention in letter based in Indianapolis began in earnest earlier this year. “I Denver this August because they held and published by NewsLink think Hoosiers generally, and Hoosier elections earlier than party rules al- Democrats in particular, are in for a lowed. However, national officials have Inc. It was founded in very, very exciting period,” Joe Hog- indicated they would allow the two 1994 in Fort Wayne. sett, state chair for the Hillary Clinton state’s delegates to participate should campaign, told HPI late yesterday. there be a re-vote. News accounts “The country’s eyes will be focused on released this morning suggested both Brian A. Howey, publisher Indiana.” are weighing a mail-in vote, with bal- Mark Schoeff Jr. and Mark News of Obama’s visit ar- lots going out perhaps sometime in rived via a campaign announcement early May in Florida or as late as June Curry, Washington yesterday and in Michigan. As Writers reports began it stands now, Jack E. Howey, Editor to crop up on Obama leads Beverly Phillips, Associate the internet by in the delegate mid-afternoon, count 1,641 to Editor more or less 1,487, accord- launching ing to Real Subscriptions: the 2008 Clear Poli- Indiana tics, which $350 annually HPI via e-mail; Democratic includes su- $550 annually HPI & HPI Daily presidential perdelegate Wire. primary tallies. Nei- Call 317-254-0535. which cul- ther candi- minates at date will earn Howey Politics Indiana the polls the 2,025 PO Box 40265 May 6. The delegates Indianapolis, IN 46240-0265. state is required to expected secure the to host a Democratic Contact Us hotly contested skirmish in the epoch nomination before the convention. www.howeypolitics.com battle between Obama and Clinton. Indiana’s 72 delegates and [email protected] Right now Pennsylvania is the center North Carolina’s 115 will be on the of attention. The latest polls indicate table May 6. Sen. Obama leads handily Main Office: 317-202-0210. the New York senator maintains a in North Carolina and is expected to Howey’s Mobile: 317-506-0883. sizable lead in the run-up to the next continue to do well there. A Howey- Indianapolis Fax: 317-254-0535. primary on the Democratic agenda. Gauge poll of Indiana voters con- Washington: 202-256-5822. The Keystone State’s 188 delegate are ducted Feb. 17-18 found Obama with up for grabs April 22. Both candidates a 15-point advantage, but representa- Business Office: 317-254-0535. are expected to spend a considerable tives of both campaigns have said they ©2008, Howey Politics amount of time and treasure as they expect Indiana to be a pitched battle. Indiana. All rights reserved. woo Pennsylvania’s voters over the Bill Dolan of Northwest Times of In- Photocopying, Internet forwarding, next several weeks. diana reported that Gary Mayor Rudy Much is at stake for the Clay, an Obama supporter, said the faxing or reproducing in any form, Democratic party and every contest candidate’s staff will open a campaign in whole or part, is a violation of could be critical from now through office in Gary later this month. “Then federal law without permission from June 3, when South Dakota and he can come home to Indiana. Come the publisher. Montana are slated to host the last home to Gary,” Clay told the Times. matches on the party’s schedule. It’s Obama will face a Clinton organization HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 3 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, March 13, 2008 what she is suggesting is if you like your health care, if Obama, from page 1 you have good health care, if it’s reasonable, there’s no change. She has just simply put forward ideas and propos- als that would cover those who currently are not covered or fortified by the support of Indiana’s premier Democrat, Sen. provide additional coverage that is affordable for those who Evan Bayh, who can be expected to campaign tirelessly on are underserved.” The Hoosier Democrat said he thinks her behalf. Bayh stated yesterday that he believes Clinton the state’s voters will also want to hear about Clinton’s will win the Hoosier state. “I think she will do as well in our economic policies. “Everybody is worried... the country is state as she did in Ohio. We are a working class Midwest- perhaps slipping into recession.” For this weekend, at least, ern state, a place we are going to need to do well in if we more Hoosiers will probably be worried about the prospects are going to win the fall campaign,” Bayh said, according to of their favorite college basketball team than the outcome an account in the Times. of a primary election several weeks away. But come the Sen. Obama’s Indiana advisers enter the fray with end of April and early May, Indiana voters will have center eyes open. “The senator believes Indiana is going to be court tickets for one of the most memorable presidential a very competitive state and he’s taking it very seriously,” campaigns in a generation. Obama Indiana Coordinator Kip Tew told WTHR. “We’ve Note: The Obama campaign is signalling Satur- got a statewide network of supporters already ready to go.” day’s 12:30 p.m. town hall at Plainfield HS will be open to Yesterday evening, Obama’s national campaign solicited the public, but you’ll need a ticket which can be obtained supporters for donations in an e-mail that described the by going to the candidate’s website. upcoming elections in Indiana and elsewhere as “a two- Circle Dyngus Day, March 24, as a day when Clin- front battle.” ton and Obama could end up in South Bend/Mishawaka. HPI contacted the Illinois senator’s national cam- Democrats in Michiana still talk about the 1968 Dyngus Day paign press office in a failed attempt to learn details of event when Sen. Robert F. Kennedy appeared at the West Saturday’s visit. Shannon Gilson, an Obama spokeswoman, Side Democratic Club and led revelers in a Polish anthem. said they were “firming up the schedule... as soon as we Also, watch the April 4 date when there will be an obser- have that information finalized I’ll be happy to get it to vance of the 40th anniversary of Kennedy’s speech in In- you.” She indicated she expected details to be released by dianapolis when he informed a crowd that Dr. Martin Luther this morning at the latest. “We have energized supporters King had been assassinated. There is speculation that the on the ground in Indiana,” Gilson told HPI.