V23, N33 Thursday, April 19, 2018 Rokita teeters as Messer makes Indy push Rokita isn’t alone Rebuked by Trump, on the bad news front. Rokita’s late TV campaign The IndyStar reports to- day that Luke Messer had lags; Messer DUIs surface two DUIs prior to replac- ing State Rep. Roland By BRIAN A. HOWEY Stine, who was killed by a INDIANAPOLIS – It was a tough drunk driver. week for the perceived Republican U.S. Sen- And in the first in- ate race “frontrunner” Todd Rokita. He has dependent polling in this been rebuked by the reelection campaign of race, Gravis Marketing President Trump for suggesting an endorse- (using what it described ment on yard signs. He reversed himself on as an “online panel”) finds participating in the April 30 Indiana Debate Mike Braun is leading with Commission event. 26%, followed by Rokita He is getting out- at 16%, and Luke Messer gunned in the final at 13%. The likely voter two weeks of the TV sample for the Republican air war by big mar- primary was conducted gins with an obvious April 6-11 and has a 5.9% money problem. margin of error. Gravis is credible enough that it is included And while he was more than competent on the the Real Clear Politics polling composites. In head to heads WISH-TV debate on Sunday night, the Associated Press with Sen. Joe Donnelly, Messer trails 46-36% and Rokita story of his getting sideways with Trump undercuts the 50-36%. There was no head to head with Braun. main footer of his campaign with the Trumpian “defeat the elite” sloganeering. Continued on page 3 Who won INSen debate? By MARK SOUDER FORT WAYNE – On Sunday evening, all three GOP Senate hopefuls accomplished the first goal of a success- ful candidate: Don’t say something stupid that makes the debate relevant. Debates are something the media likes, “Barbara Bush was a fabulous not the candidates. WISH-TV has a long first lady and a woman unlike and distinguished news his- tory in this state. WANE-TV in any other, who brought levity, Fort Wayne has been a junior love and literacy to millions. To partner with WISH since it became WANE in the early us she was so much more. Mom 1950s, and has remained so, kept us on our toes and kept us even as Nexstar and Sinclair take over the television world. laughing until the end.” There are some big differences between WANE and WISH - President George W. Bush however, starting with the fact Page 2 Howey Politics Indiana WWHowey Media, LLC 405 Massachusetts Ave., Suite 300 Indianapolis, IN 46204 www.howeypolitics.com Brian A. Howey, Publisher that WANE is a CBS affiliate. WANE is up in my region of the state, remains Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington and has been the dominant station in stronger than in most of the country; Cameron Carter, Editor our market. but if it fails to adjust to the times and Joel Weyrauch, Editor The chosen time for the just continues down the path of jam- Mary Lou Howey, Editor debate didn’t matter much to WISH, ming uniform liberal-leaning upper- but it preempted “60 Minutes” in Fort class views at odds with the majority Mark Curry, Daily Wire, photo Wayne (not that I care but obviously of people of this state, it will contract Jack E. Howey, Editor some people do). What did astound at an even faster rate than it already Emeritus me, given that decision, was the is. In my opinion, especially consider- choice of moderators. WANE-TV has ing Trump’s dominating victories in at least six people who would have Indiana, this trend is more important Subscriptions been superior panelists to those se- than who wins the Republican nomi- HPI, HPI Daily Wire $599 lected. Heather Herron, Brett Thomas, nation for Senate. The clear loser in HPI Weekly, $350 Terra Brantley, Alyssa Ivanson, Rod the debate was the media, specifically HPI Mobile, $5.95 monthly Hissong, and Pat Hoffman each do WISH-TV. Ray Volpe, Account Manager great work, and yet not one was As for the candidates, Luke utilized. Messer may have won on traditional 317.602.3620 Who made such a deci- debate points. He was more active email: [email protected] sion? It merely reinforces to those in and focused than in the past. He Northern Indiana the fundamental didn’t just talk in generalities as he bias of Indianapolis news people who tends to do. He defended tough votes Contact HPI can’t seem to see anything but lake well, including to Braun (who seemed [email protected] cottages and Canada north of Ham- clueless at times). However, Messer’s Howey’s cell: 317.506.0883 ilton County. The questions were bi- claim that he is the only truth-teller is Washington: 202.256.5822 ased, mostly irrelevant gotcha journal- mostly just a cover to say, since he’s Business Office: 317.602.3620 ism. Most of the hour was spent on running a weak third, he is now the topics not interesting, challenging or biggest attack dog in the race. relevant to a Republican primary that Debates, especially ones © 2018, Howey Politics seems to be closely contested. with questions easily deflected into Indiana. All rights reserved. Republicans are not inter- the candidate’s chosen path, will then Photocopying, Internet forward- ested in hearing whether the candi- spin on optics because the media ing, faxing or reproducing in dates are for gun control. Democrats failed to highlight what primary vot- are interested in gun control. Pick an ers wanted to know. Messer lost any any form, whole or part, is a issue – taxes, marijuana, the border policy edge he had with a goofy grin. violation of federal law without (e.g. what type of fence/wall do the Rokita wore more a grimace than a permission from the publisher. candidates favor, not whether to build smile. Braun’s demeanor was more one) – and the point is the same. We impatient, an exaggerated form of the want to know their passion, who will Mitch Daniels look of restrained toler- fight for such positions, and some of ance; Daniels treats words as though the nuances on our side of the issues. God has a word budget. Ultimately Indiana media, especially Messer’s goofy smile was such an Page 3 overreaction (“please like me, I’m a nice guy”) that it was yers. He developed the foundation while the others were off-putting. asleep, then attacked with humor. When they counterat- The tree-farming tax break for Braun is one de- tacked, he responded with a nice family ad making them bate point that could loom large as this campaign closes. look negative (Braun is controlling the rhythm of this race). I don’t fully understand the gas user tax backlash, but I He ignored the facts that he was a long-time Democrat do understand this principle: If you vote to raise taxes on and officeholder. He has spent lots of money. Lots and lots most people, but vote for special tax break for yourself, it of money. is a problem. In the debate, Braun used a classic political 2.) Rokita’s approach has been less disciplined trick when asked if he sought an ethics waiver by basically (ironic for a long-time control freak), but the net result still saying that it didn’t apply. But the congressmen quickly is consistent. Be Trump Jr., appeal to conservatives, run pointed out that he had failed to answer the question. around the state like there is a scorecard somewhere of Braun admitted that, in fact, he just asked himself and hands shaken and counties covered. Take a weakness — didn’t seek an ethics opinion on the vote. This is likely to established Republican leaders dislike him intensely — and come up again over the next few weeks because Braun is turn it into a strength. Bait them, in fact. Raise enough closing in on possible upset of Rokita. money to be in the race, then punch and keep punching If you think negative attacks and ads back- because some will land. It has worked well for both him fire, don’t pretend to be a journalist. Donald Trump and and Trump in Indiana. Make America Great Again. Bernie Sanders “fire up” people because they identify their 3.) Messer had a strategy most effective to be- enemies clearly. There are no shades of gray. Too much come a state chairman, Republican conference chairman, nastiness in ads can backfire, especially if done humorless- maybe win a convention, and something that could, for ly, but they are used because they work. Voters don’t trust example, get you picked as the Fishers city attorney while the media and they feel candidates are less than honest. living in Washington. And be a good congressman, which They understand attack ads are a lot smoke but assume tends to get lost in politics today. To be completely fair, there’s a fire somewhere in there. he’s a responsible leader in a world that doesn’t value that As we enter the last weeks of this campaign, much right now. In other words, he’s a weak third if there here are the campaign strategies that have increasingly is much of a vote. v become apparent: 1.) Braun had a clear media strategy and he has Souder is a former Republican Indiana congress- implemented it almost flawlessly. Outsider, businessman, man. cardboard cutout opponents who are non-practicing law- over the final two weeks; $76,535 and $10,934 in India- Rokita, from page 1 napolis; $27,133 and $3,883 in South Bend/Elkhart; and The perception of the final $15,043 and $2,149 in Terre Haute.