(Indiana Dem) Gov. Kernan To Seek Full Term

[prolesunited]

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana Gov. Joe Kernan is set to announce Friday that he will seek a full term in the 2004 elections, RTV6's Norman Cox reported Thursday.

A source close to Kernan, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed Kernan's intentions. Other Democrats indicated to Cox and The Associated Press that Kernan -- thrust into office in September after the death of Gov. Frank O'Bannon -- had told them of his plans Thursday evening.

Marion County Democratic Party Chairman Ed Treacy told Cox that Kernan (pictured, left) -- a Democrat -- would announce at noon Friday as to whether he would run. Lt. Gov. Kathy Davis will be Kernan's running mate, the AP reported.

Campaign representatives for two Democrats running for governor -- state Sen. Vi Simpson of Ellettsville and former state and national Democratic Chairman Joe Andrew -- indicated Thursday their candidates will withdraw from the race because of Kernan's decision.

http://www.theindychannel.com/politics/2618387/detail.html

This is the best hope for Indiana to retain a Democratic governor.

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. What Republicans are likely to run against him, proles?

:hi:

[BiggJawn]

4. Mitch Danniels.

Shrub's former budget director and Canasta partner of Karl Rove.

[greatauntoftriplets]

5. EEEWWWW!

Thanks, BiggJawn, Daniels :puke:

[prolesunited]

6. Mitch Daniels

a former White House budget director under President George W. Bush, has long been considered the front-runner for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, and has been campaigning in an RV road tour of the state for months.

I imagine Bush will be spending some extra time in Indiana to try to make this happen.

[BiggJawn]

8. No other ReTHUGS are running.

Danniels threw his hat in the ring and they EVAPORATED...
just like "Gone in 60 Seconds" Issa out in Collie-forn-nie-EH....

[prolesunited]

10. Not entirely true

Republicans are likely to have a contested primary that includes former Bush White House budget director Mitch Daniels, conservative activist Eric Miller, Petersburg Mayor Randy Harris and businessman Bob Parker.

It will be interesting to see how much of a challenge they prove to be, though.

[BiggJawn]

12. Eric Miller ALWAYS runs...

And Eric Miller ALWAYS fails to get many votes...Whack job!

They may as well drop out now. Danniels is going to be too well funded, just like "Count Chocola" was.

[salin]

15. Not True... the perpetual candidate who lost to O'Bannon is running

McIntosh? As a congressman someone fed this dude super ego pills. He thinks it is HIS right to be governor and hasn't taken the hint about Mitch. But O'Bannon had been losing popularity by the time of the last election... and the guy still couldn't get any traction. His problem is that he was perceived by the indy republican/business class (who also give democratic - and who crave stability above all else) as way too far right. He still suffers from this. Indeed his being in the race keeps the extremist worry away from Daniels as.. Mitch isn't THAT...

Funny thing is that the business folks look to Daniels not for his DC work - but due to his reputation as a 'good effective businessman' at Lilly.

However many of these same folks were distressed last year when Kernan declared that he wasn't going to run. Again, the 'stability' issue reigned superior to all others. Some of those folks are likely to peel away to Mitch - in part due to the Washington budget mess which does raise some questions (it should raise HUGE questions... but to these folks it only raises the tepid "some questions.)

Kernan is viewed as having been a very effective Mayor in South Bend - and that seems to be even more important than his role as Lt. Governor, and now Governor - with the stability factor of transitioning governments giving him a slight edge for those for whom that stability issue is supreme to all others.

Sorry to keep repeating "stability" - but it is the phrase I have heard for nearly two years in the center part of Indy where these power brokers roam - and occaisionally talk politics.

[EX-CONservative]

22. McIntosh

David McIntosh dropped out and endorsed Daniels :-)

[BiggJawn]

27. That's what I heard.

McIntosh couldn't call a press conference FAST enough to announce his "support" of Mitch...What DOES Karl SAY to these people when he calls them?

[salin]

14. Bush has already been in Indy twice since last Spring.

once before Mitchy declared (but all pretty much knew) and once more recently (August).

[jiacinto]

2. Is Kernan well liked?

nt

[greatauntoftriplets]

3. Poor man hasn't even been governor two months.

[prolesunited]

21. He does have an impressive background

Read more about it here:
http://www.in.gov/gov/bio/index.html

[BiggJawn]

9. He's got name recognition...

Something Hogsett hasn't been able to get for Simpson or Andrews...

[salin]

17. I know Vi!

for what it is worth. Volunteered for her second state senate camp back in 1988. :D

But the name recognition doesn't go much beyond south central Indiana. Notice how they always talk about Vi coming from Ellettesville (which is true) or representing Ellettesville (also true) and excluding that she represents Bloomington. We are the Rodney Dangerfield of southern Indiana... we get no respect!

[salin]

16. Very well liked and respected. n/t

[BiggJawn]

7. I KNEW it!

When he didn't pick either Joe Andrews or Vi Simpson to be his Leutnant, thus positioning them in a good spot to run for full-guv, I thought "Ah-HAH! Joe's thinking seriously about hanging on to the gig, regardless of his earlier intentions..."

[IndianaGreen]

11. Kernan will be facing the well-funded Mitch Daniels

Mitch Daniels has lots of money to burn. Neither Vi Simpson nor Joe Andrews could compete with someone like Daniels, despite the fact that they are both decent people and are wrll-liked.

Kernan is a Vietnam POW, while Daniels is your typical rich chickenhawk. Daniels will sell the state to the corporations and do away with what little environmental regulations we do have.

[BiggJawn]

13. Danniels is the 800-pound Gorilla.

I don't suppose it'd do any good to remind people that the "Bush Economic Miracle" that saw so many people here and elsewhere lose their jobs happened on his watch, would it?

Danniels worries me. A LOT.

[Bozvotros]

18. Daniels has insider trading charges pending

and should be portrayed as the ethically challenged challenger.
http://www.buzzflash.com/analysis/03/05/06_daniels.html

But barely a word of this finds its way into print. Meanwhile his big RV chugs around the state, festooned with American flags, and if I am not mistaken, bald eagles. I think I'll ready a nice hot American apple pie for the windshield next time I see it.

[salin]

19. a writer for The American Prospect - likened the IPALCO debacle to ENRON

called it Indiana's own little Enron.

[salin]

20. he brought his SUV show to town to meet folks

at the new huge GRAYS restaurant (an offshoot of the main Grays in Mooresville).

Grays in Bloomington just up and closed its doors earlier this week. Sort of symbolic of this awful economy.

But will the folks who worked there when he passed through make the connection? Probably not... *sigh*

[BiggJawn]

28. Aren't the owners of Gray's big-time RW'ers?

Like Jonathon Byrd over in Greenwood?

[theHandpuppet]

23. A friendly kick...

... to keep this thread on the front page.

[Noordam]

24. :kick:

:kick:

[prolesunited]

25. That was nice of you

Thanks! With the Dems losing so many governorships to the GOP, I think this is important. Although many think of Indiana as conservative, there are many Dem strongholds and many of the larger cities have Democratic mayors.

[Nlighten1]

26. Joe might just win too but...

In Northern Indiana, where I live, he has made some people very unhappy with the College Football hall of fame. Joe promised us that the taxpayers would not be saddled with paying for it but...guess what...the CFHF is losing money so we get to pay for it now.

Joe is a good candidate though and aside of the CFHF he is well liked up here.

[BiggJawn]

29. Andrew is dropping out...

Sidebar on the Kernan article in the IndyStar this AM...

"I told (Kernan) I look forward to doing everything I can to support him and to continue to be the governor of of the state of Indiana in 2004, and that's exactly what I plan on doing."

Joe Andrew, former state and antional Democratic Party chairman who is now ending his campaign for governor.

Kernan is a former POW, too, as was mentioned earlier, but I think its worth mentioning again. He also won TWO Purple Hearts, TWO Air Medals, AND the DFC.