Reply #104: Nominating convention.

[SanchoPanza]

The State party declares that there's a vacancy on the ballot because no one has filed in time, at which point state law allows them to nominate someone by convention. This will very likely not be open to the press or the public, and will be populated by party operatives who owe their positions to Bayh. Example: Dan Parker, the state chairman, is Bayh's longtime campaign manager.

My operating theory is that Bayh wanted to retire but didn't want the contest to replace him to be messy, messy being defined as more liberal Democrats in the state putting up a candidate that would challenge his legacy as a craven, conniving shitbag. With a vacancy on the ballot, Indiana Democrats will have no say on who the nominee will be, period. He or she will be chosen for them.

Personally, my money's on Brad Ellsworth. Moderate/Conservative and with decent name recognition, but will vote with the party so long as he gets his pork. Exactly like Bayh.