Thursday, Oct. 29, 1998 • Volume 5, Number 11 Page 1of8 ......••••• .. 1..:r.·==--· Crosswinds still • THE -- blow in Indiana HOWEYT Leising emerges; House still at stake By BRIAN A. HOWEY in Indianapolis The political crosswinds continue to swirl across Indiana. As Republican 9th CD nominee Jean Leising POLITICAL emerged as a good bet to win in Southeastern Indiana, the GOP stands on the brink of possibly losing legislative seats in Kokomo and - incredibly - Bloomington. In the 9th CD, the aversion to President Clinton's REPORT scandals seemed to be fueling Leising's emergence, even as The Howey Political Report is published by NewsLink, he brokered an incredible Israeli-Palestinian peace accord Inc. Founded in 1994, The Howey Political Report is that had Hoosier Republicans and Democrats shaking their an independent, non-partisan newsletter analyzing the heads in political awe. political process in Indiana. As gay rights activists commemorated the murder of Brian A. Howey a Wyoming college student in Indiana churches, 1996 LG editor and publisher nominee George Witwer joined with House Minority Leader The Howey Political Report Office: 317-254-1533 Paul Mannweiler to announce that 65 candidates for the PO Box 20877 Fax: 317-254-2405 House and Senate were backing his "Contract With Indiana" .Indianapolis, IN 46220 [email protected] that called for school choice, a spending cap, and requiring [email protected] every able-bodied welfare recipient to work. It will likely be that coalition that will push the GOP's "cultural war" against Washington office: 202-775-3242 gay adoptions. Daytime number: 317-254-2400, Ext. 273 As Witwer and U.S. Rep. David Mcintosh funneled Pager: 317-320-2722 money into more than a dozen House contests, state Democratic Chairman Joe Andrew was exhorting his party's NewsLink Home Page: http://www.inoffice.com/hpr base to get to the polls. "Two years before the beginning of Subscriptions: $250 annually via fax or first the next millenium, at a time of tremendous change and class mail. Call 317-254-1533. great decisions, the bedrock of democracy is being aban­ © 1998, The Howey Political Report. All rights doned all over this country," he said. "Democracy done in, reserved Photocopying, faxing or reproducing in any not by a dictator, not by a madman, not even by a scumbag, form, in whole or in part, is a violation offederal law but by overwhelming complacency and apathy. and is strictlv prohibited without consent ofthe publisher. Continued on page 2 "QUOTE" OF THE WEEK INSIDE FEATURES 'Sue Anne Gilroy is not a nice person. So •Ticker Tape: Indy RNC frontrunner page 2 people call her a witch .... '" •Bob Lang: On the federal budget page 2 • Indiana Democratic Chairman Joe Andrew at a rally •Congress: Hamilton was right pages 3-4 east weekend In Anderson, quoted In the Anderson Herald· •Horse Race: 50/50 House split? pages 5- 8 Bulletin Thursday, Oct. 29, 1998 Page2 of8 BOB LANG ,-----=----.-----=-~~~~~~~~-· WE FEEL lHiS IS THE -BEST~ RELiEF Bill WE CAN SQUEEZE OUT OF OUR BUDGtr A&-REEMENT/ 5 Democrats in late soft money issue ad and page 1 TICKER Stretch,trom GOTV funds. "So Democrats don't show up. And the "stretch effect."Rothen­ T A P E They don't vote. So who does? The berg says that Democrats rebounded in weirdos, the wackos, the extremists, the early October, but added, "I doubt the • There is growing specula· single-issue voters, and the brainwashed Democrats have leveled the political play­ tion that Indianapolis Is In and brain dead of the far right Republican ing field entirely." the driver's seat to land the Party." So while incumbents seem to be 2000 Republican National Nationally, Republicans appeared doing well here in Indiana (we forecast re­ Convention. High-ranking to be trending better this week than last. election victories by U.S. Reps. Julia GOP sources tell HPR that CNN/USA Today/Gallup had the Carson and John Hostettler last week), the the key rival appears to be Philadelphia, which has Congressional generic at 49 percent two GOP legislative House seats on the offered a $35 million Incen­ Republican and 47 percent Democratic. It bubble - Jeff Ellington in HD60 in tive package, compared to was a virtual dead heat last week while Bloomington and Karen Burkhardt in $25 million for Indianapolis. Republicans were leading by between 8 HD30 in Kokomo - feature two candidates Mayor Stephen Goldsmith and 11 points earlier this month. On the who haven't been on the November ballot told WRTV on Monday that question of enthusiasm for voting, 44 per­ for those offices before. if it comes down to Indy and cent of the Republicans were, compared As things stand now, HPR is fore­ another city, officials would to only 32 percent for the Democrats. casting Republicans to take two out of probably have a chance to National analyst Stuart Rothenberg three hotly contested Congressional seats, fine tune the city's propos­ noted that his own race-by-race analysis while the Indiana House will end up either al. shows few incumbents "poised for defeat" in a 50/50 split or 51-49 percent either U.S. Sen. Dan Coats cast and no net change in the U.S. House, but way. Ifwe had to wage money on it, we'd his final vote In Congress he continues to project a net gain of six to go with the split. And there is a strong, against the $520 billion bud· I 0 seats for the Republicans. notion that when the dust settles late next get bill. "Last year's cele­ The reason for his "disconnect"? Tuesday night, we're all going to be sur­ brated Balanced Budget Money. Republicans will have a $7 mil­ prised at something in this extremely Continued on page 3 lion to $25 million advantage over strange election.•:• • Page3 of8 Thursday, Oct. 29, 1998 e President Clinton helped save himself by creating a ho-hum mid-term election TICKER T A p E By Mark Schoeff Jr. in Washington "Survival" may be spun by the Retiring Rep. Lee Hamilton has Clintonites as a "win." The president's Amendment has been vio· been showered with many accolades as he political skill cannot be understated. Less lated," said Coats, who was prepares to leave Capitol Hill after more than one week after Congress approved an joined by U.S. Sen. Richard than three decades of serving CD 9. His impeachment inquiry for only the third Lugar and Reps. John leadership, wisdom and decency stand out time in history, Clinton had the GOP on Hostettler and David Mcintosh In voting against in today*s political arena, which is inex­ ~ ~e defensive i;Gn lJC'C' the bill. Said Mcintosh, orably heading to lower depths of civility. ~ ~ ~ 1'.£A}J m a game he Co "This bill raids the budget But this fall, the most striking has consistent­ surplus to pay for more aspect of Hamilton's character may have W A T C H ly won - the government and bigger been his electoral acumen. On the budget battle. spending." September day that Independent Counsel "He succeeded in positioning him­ Kenneth Starr delivered his report to self and Democrats in Congress as advo­ U.S. Rep. Lee Hamilton Congress, Hamilton cut through the cates for senior citizens and better educa­ assessed the Starr Report swirling conventional wisdom winds that tion for children," said Kevin Shaw and Congressional were buffeting Democrats and threatening Kellems, of Kellems Dollaghan response recently. Said to dash their boat against rock Monica. Communications, an Indiana-based politi­ Hamilton, "The Starr report "I'm not gloomy. I'm not pes­ cal consulting firm. "It wasn't enough to presents a strong case of presidential misconduct. simistic," he said regarding Democratic create Democratic momentum, but it was The evidence that the • chances in the November election. There enough to slow the hemorrhaging." President lied under oath were still six weeks remaining before vot­ Clinton usually helps himself about the relationship with ers go to the polls. Plenty of time whenever he can concentrate on being Ms. Lewinsky is persuasive. remained for Democrats to tum things President of the United States, pursuing The President does not around. narrow issues rather than taking on enor­ challenge the basic facts of This wasn't a vacuous statement mous challenges that can only be the report, which paint a from a firebrand partisan trying to prop up addressed by presidential leadership. To devastating portrait. The a president from his party. Hamilton has his credit, he forged a Middle East peace question on my mind is how been tough on Clinton, denouncing his agreement last week that gave him good best to get through the next two years with the least affair with former White House intern television and ink. harm to the country." Monica Lewinsky and casting a vote in Through budget wrangling and a favor of the Republican impeachment foreign policy achievement, Clinton did Indiana Republican inquiry measure. the equivalent of turning around a football Chairman Mike McDaniel What Hamilton offered on Sept. game by scoring big right after halftime. took part In a roast of 11 was a lesson in political reality: Don't Coaches say that the first minutes of the Hamilton at the Indianapolis jump to conclusion on a question as third quarter are crucial. Clinton owned Athletic Club last week. He volatile as who is going to win an elec­ the political third quarter this year. spied 10th CD Democratic tion. It looks as if Hamilton will tum out How that will affect the election is candidate Baron Hill In the to be prophetic.