Daniels’ tax ‘gauntlet’ in grinderThursday, Oct. 25, 2007V14 N11

By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS–There’sbeenplentyoftalkaboutthependulumswingingfromtherighttothemiddle,goingbacktothedefeatofChristianconservativesontheKansasBoardofEducationin2006,followedbylossestopeople

likeformercongressmanJohnHostettlerhereinIndianalaterthatyear. Thatnotiontookaturntothecen-terinFortWaynewhentheAmericanFamilyAssociationofIndianaadranonbehalfofindictedRepublicannomineeMattKelty. TheradioadsaysthatChristiansmusthelpKeltywintheelectionby

“This plan fails to meet Gov. Dan-iels’ own criteria of being fair, far-reaching and final.” - Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jill Long Thompson

See Page 3

Without report fromKernan-Shepard,only half the pictureBy BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS-Hehad“throwndownthegauntlet,”Sen.LukeKenleytoldWTHR-TVjustminutesafterGov.MitchDanielsunveiledhislong-awaitedpropertytaxplanTuesdaynight. Theinitialreactionwasgen-erallypositive-evenfromlegislativeDemocrats-butbyThursdaymorn-ing,pocketsofresistancewerebeginningtoshowinthebusinessandeducationcommunities.HouseDemocraticSpeakerB.PatrickBauercomplainedhewasoutoftheloopuntilthelasthoursbeforeitwasrevealedwhileHouseRepublicansandDemocratspromisedtofast-trackthepro-posal,beginninginNovemberwithSenatevotesasearlyasJanuary. Andthereremainedonehugeelephantintheroom:theKernan-ShepardCommissionreportthatwithinthenexttwomonthswillcompletethepreliminarypictureonwhatIndianagovernmentcouldlooklikeinthe21st

GOP rebuke of gay bash

Century.Withoutthoserecom-mendations,Hoosiersareonlyseeinghalfofthescenario- the finance part. The timing ofthisplan’sreleasewithoutevenaninterimreportfromKernan-Shepardiscurious. Gov.Daniels’planactu-allyjumpedintothatzonewhenheproposedtoeliminatetownshipassessorsandmovetheworktothecounties.BlueRibbonCommissionerSueAnneGilroyindicatedtoHPRlastweekinFranklinthattherewouldlikelybe“bold”recom-

mendations.Ifso,theywillalmostcertainlyhavefurtherimpact on the financial side of the equation. The biggest fissues for the Daniels administra-tioncomefrompeoplewhowereseatedatthetable-theIndianaChamberandIndianaManufacturersAssocia-tion.AccordingtoanIndianapolis StarcolumnbyJohnKetzenbergerpublishedtoday:“Thegovernorthrewthepackageoutthere.Nowwe’reallgoingtorollaroundinthestreet and fight over it and see what comes of it,” said Pat

Page 2 Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007

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opposingDemocratnomineeTomHenry,whowrotegayrightslegis-lationwhenheservedontheFortWayneCityCouncil. TheadwasrebukedbyAllenCountyRepublicanChairmanSteveShine,whosentKeltyatwo-pageletteronFriday."Assomeonewhoserootscomefromaclassofpeopleoncepersecutedforitsreligiousbeliefs,itpainsmetohearevenahintofintoleranceassociatedwithacandidateofanorganizationIchair,"saidShine,whoisJewish. "Iwillnotacceptintolerance,realorperceived."ShinesaidhefearedtheAFAadwouldhavenega-tive"impressions"ontheAllenCountyGOP,whichShinehaslongurgedtobetolerantandinclusive."Wehavemanyreasonstobeproudofourrecordoftoleranceandinclusiveness,"Shinesaid."IfeargreatlythattheAFA'sradiocampaignconveysamessagethatRepublicansarewillingtolookdownuponmenandwomenwhoshareourmoderatetoconservativevalue,butwhodifferfromusinotherways." ShineisoneofthefewRepublicanleaderswhohassupportedKeltysincehisnine-countindictmentoncampaignfinanceandperjurycharges.Lastweek,U.S.Rep.MarkSouderwith-drewhisendorsementofKeltysayingthenomineeispolarizingthecommu-nity. MicahClark,presidentoftheAmericanFamilyAssociationgroup,wroteathree-pagelettertoShineexplainingthereisadifference

betweenhomosexualsandthe“legiti-matecivilrightsstruggles”ofminori-tiesinthe1960s.Theletteroutlinedseveralpeoplewhohavespokenabouttheproblemswithlegislationintendedtoprotecthomosexuals. Clarkwrotethatthemost

importantissuestohissupportersaremarriageprotection,abortion,reli-giousfreedom,homosexualactivismandpornography.Headdedthat“val-uesvoters”makeuphalfoffaithfulRepublicanvoters. Earlierthisweek,theFort Wayne Journal GazettereportedthatRepublicanCouncilmanJohn

Crawford,amedicaldoctor,deliv-eredashortspeechattheendofTuesday’scouncilmeetingwhenheattackedtheAFAad. “Theadismisleadingandappealstothebaseinstinctsofintol-eranceandbigotry,”Crawfordsaid.

“Thisisthemostreprehen-siblecampaignadIhaveeverencounteredinthisarea.”CrawfordcondemnedtheorganizationandaskedGOPmayoralcandidateMattKeltytodothesame,“unlessheagreeswiththemessage.”KeltytoldtheJournalGazetteTuesdayhehasstillnothadtimetolistentothead,say-inghedoesn’tlistentotheChristianradiostationairingitandhasn’treceivedtheadinane-mailortakenthetimetofinditonline.AllenCountyRepublicanChairmanSteveShinealsorepudiatedtheadlastweek.TheShineandCrawfordrebukescameafterU.S.Rep.MarkSouderpulledhisendorsement,sayingthat

Keltywaspolarizingthecommunity.Gov.MitchDanielshastakenapassonsupportingKelty. WithSouder’sendorsementgone,KeltyhasnoestablishmentGOPsupportamongAllenCountyofficeholders,thoughtheIndianaRepublicanPartygavetheKeltycam-paign$24,946.v

Matt Kelty (center) with U.S. Rep. Mark Souder, Chairman Steve Shine and council candidate Mitch Harper.

Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007 Page 3

KielytheIMA. ChamberofCommercePresidentKevinBrinegarcalledthedifferentpropertytaxcapsforhomeownersandbusinesses“dealbreakers.” “Weemphasizedthatpointwiththegovernor,”Brinegarsaid.“Wesentoverourboard-approvedopposi-tiontothecircuitbreakerstoshowthatitwasn’tjuststaffopposingthis.” Theproblemthere,businesssourcestellHPR,isthatthecircuitbreakerswillbeovertaken quickly, particularly in urbancounties.ItunderscoresanotionthattheBlueRibbonCom-missionisgrapplingwithintheseverydays:cancountiesbetreatedas one size fits all? Should there bedifferentclassesofcountieswithdifferenttaxtreatmentsandlevels of government? Ketzenbergeralsoob-servedthatDaniels’decisiondoesn’tsitwellwiththetwomostinfluential business lobbyists who alsorepresentawideswathofthestate’sindustry.KielyandBrin-egar find it hard to fathom how Daniels,anex-Lillyexecutivewithstrongbusinessties,wouldputittothemthisway.ThatDanielsknewoftheirdispleasuremakesitworse. ThatSenatePresidentDa-vidLong,HouseMinorityLeaderBrianBosmaandrankingWays&MeansRepublicanJeffEspicharealreadyonboardandannouncinganacceleratedhearingschedulebeginninginNovember.ThatpossiblyboxestheminifsolutionstotheChamberandIMAconcernsremainelusive.

Educators & referendums Themorepredictableoppositionappearstobeemergingfromeducators.RichardWood,superintendentofTippecanoeSchoolCorp.,isconcernedaboutthestabilityofstate-levelfundingforschools,andalsoaboutthelossofcontrolbyelectedschoolboards(Lafayette Journal & Courier).Woodsaidhe’sconcernedabouthowthelengthyreferendumprocesswouldimpactthedistrict.“Ourdistricthasanassessedvaluationofalmost$4billion,”Woodsaid.“Itshouldn’tbecontrolledbythesametaxingunitasonewith only $1 million. ... One size won’t fit all.” JeffKemper,presidentoftheTippecanoeCountyCouncil,agreeswithGov.MitchDanielsthatthestateshouldreformpropertytaxes.Butifhomeownersnolongerhavetopaythatmoneynowcollectedbycounties,some-oneelsewill.OnewayDanielshassaidgovernmentsmight

compensatethemselvesforthelossofthatrevenueisrais-inglocalincometaxes.Kemper,though,saidheisstillnotconvincedthatisfair.Itmaybebetter,hesaid,tobringinmorerevenuethroughanincreasedsalestax,notingthatDanielsproposesraisingthestatesalestaxfrom6centsto7centsforevery$1spent. TheseconcernsalsoveerintoKernan-Shepardter-ritory.BauerandStateRep.DennisAveryraisedthelocalcontrolissueshoursafterthegovernor’sspeech.“Thereis

someconcernthatshiftingeducationfundingcompletelytothestatewillleadtoalossoflocaldecision-makingoverpoliciesaffectingourschoolchil-dren,”Bauersaid.“Itwillbelefttothegovernortobuildaconsensustoenacttheseproposals.” Rep.AverytoldtheEvansville Courier & Pressthathedidn’thave“serious”reservationsabouttheplan.Buthesaidofthestatepaying100percentoftheschoolgeneralfundcostsasopposedtothecurrent85percent,“Thefactsarethatthepersonwhopaysthebillendsupcallingtheshots.” Daniels,appearingonWTHR-TVWednesdayeveningfromDePauwUniversityafterabullypulpitswingthroughHuntington,ElkhartandMer-rillville,triedtotampdownthatoppsi-tion.“Ithinkitwillstrengthenlocalcontrol,”thegovernorsaid.“Thereis

nothingmorelocalthanareferendum.Iwouldbehappyif we got rid of the difficult and clumsy remonstrance processandreplaceitwithastraightvote.Ifaprojectlikeaschooloralibraryisneeded,youcertainlyoughttobeabletomakethatcaseandletthepeopledecide.”

Daniels, JLT on ‘regressive’ sales tax ThegovernoralsotookonaconcernbyDemo-craticgubernatorialcandidateJillLongThompson,whocalledthesalestaxincrease“regressive”andapotentialburdenonthepoorandseniorcitizens.“ManyoftheideasinhisplanIagreewithandhaveproposedasIcampaignforgovernor,”Thompsonsaid.“Inordertocontrolpropertytaxesweneedtodothingslikecaphowmuchtaxescangoupinanygivenyearandreininexcessivespendingbylocalgovernmentsandschooldistricts.Unfortunately,thisplanfailstomeetGov.Daniels’owncriteriaofbeingfair,far-reaching and final. Placing the burden of a lowered propertytaxsolelyonanincreasedsalestax,aregressivetaxthatdisproportionatelyaffectslowerandmiddle-incomeHoosiers,ishardlyfair.Andcallingforaplanthatlacksreviewandrestructuringofourentiretaxcodeisanything

Gov. Daniels makes his tax plan pitch in Merrillville on Wednesday. He said that Lake County residents have the biggest property tax burdens. “The core of my plan is relief for every homeowner immedi-ately, a ceiling of fairness to protect people from the loss of their home,” the governor said Wednes-day at the Purdue Technology Center in Merrillville. (Times of Northwest Indiana) Photo)

Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007 Page 4

but far-reaching and final.” Danielsrespondedtothatcriticismthisway:“Everysuchpropertyownerwouldgetmajorrelief.It’sgottobefundedsomehow.Ofallthepossibilities-andIlookedatthemall-thisisthefairestone.Salestaxesaretaxeswechoosetopay.Youcanarguethatwealthypeoplepaylargeramountofsuchdollars.” Thegovernorsaidhelistenedhardtothosewhowantedtorepealallpropertytaxes.“MuchasIwouldliketohavetakenthatroute,theriskstoourschools,tosmallbusiness,andtooureconomygenerally,dissuadedme,”DanielssaidTuesday.“Inparticular,Icouldnotsupportthelargeincreaseinpersonalincometaxes,paidbyeveryHoosierworkerandmostsmallbusinesses,whichwouldbenecessaryfortotalelimination.” Soitwasinterestingtohearrepealproponents-likeStateRep.JackieWalorski,R-Lakeville-said,“Thisboldplangivesthelegislatureastartingpointtobeginthepro-cessofbringingmuchneededpropertytaxreliefin2008.”DougEckertyofCitizensofDelawareCountyforPropertyTaxRepealtoldthe Muncie Star Press thathesupportstheplan,saying,“Ithinkitsastepintherightdirection.” OnehourafterDanielscalledfora“hardcap”onprop-erty-taxpercentages,hundredsofSouthernIndianaresidentsgath-eredindowntownNewAlbanytohearhisprimaryelectionopponentin 2004 describe a five-year plan toabolishpropertytaxes(News-Tribune).“I’mgladthegovernorhas finally started talking about the needforaconstitutionalamend-ment,”saidMiller,onstageatTheGrandconventioncenteralongMar-ketStreet.“Theonlythingis,it’sthewrongconstitutionalamendment.” Thepropertytaxplanwasbuiltbythegovernor,OMBDirectrorRyanKitchell,ChiefofStaffEarlGoode,pol-icyadviserNeilPickett,deputychiefofstaffBetsyBurdick,budgetdirectorChrisRuhlandlong-timestrategistMarkLubbers. The govenror also reached out to historical figures likeformerGov.DocBowen,thecatalystbehindthe1973propertytaxreforms.Bowenadvised,“whenlocalspend-ingoutrunsincome,propertytaxeswillgoup”(Wensits, South Bend Tribune).

House Dems hardly combative Iftherewereproblemsonthebusinessandeduca-tionfront,theinitialreactionfromHouseDemocratswashardlycombative. State Rep. Winfield Moses Jr. called it an “ambi-tious”planandtoldtheFort Wayne Journal Gazette,“Thisissocomplexthatitisgoingtotakesomedeep

analysis.I’mgladheisfocusedonitandisgivingithisfullattention,”hesaid.“I’mnotsurethisisthesolution,butwe’vegotacouplemonthstoworkonit.” State Rep. Phil Pflum, D-Milton, told the Rich-mond Palladium-Item,“It’sastartintherightdirec-tion.Wherewe’llendupisanybody’sguess.Citizens

want something done, but I don’t find much consistencyinwhattheywantdone.” “Iapplaudthegovernorforbeingbold,”Rep.ChetDobis,D-Merrillvillesaid(Times of Northwest Indiana).“Noteveryone,includingDemocratsandsomeRepublicans,isgoingtoagreewithev-eryportion,butthat’swhatthelegislativeprocessisabout.It’sacompromise.”Rep.SheilaKlinker,D-Lafayette,saidanytaxso-lution“needstohavesomethingsubstantialforpropertyowners,andifpossibleitneedstoincludesomethingforlandlords,too.Ithinkweneedtobeveryopenaboutprop-ertytaxesatalllevels.”ButDebbyGilpinoftheMuncieRentalPropertyAssociationsaid

theplan“looksgood”(Muncie Star Press).

As the skirmish lines form Astheskirmishlinesbegintoform,themostem-phaticnotionis,asHPRhaslongpredicted,thatsomethingwillpass;perhapssomethingfarremovedfromwhatwehavetodayifKernan-Shepardcastsnewlightandshadowsonthistaxplan.Thus,theHouseDemocratsdon’tgointothisinashardenedapositionastheSenateGOP. “Ithinkit’sasituationwheretheydon’thaveanychoice,”saidSen.EdCharbonneau,R-Valparaiso(Post-Tribune).“Ijustdon’tbelievethere’sanywaypossiblefortheLegislaturetoconveneforthe2008sessionandwalkawaywithouthavingaddressedthisissue.” “Thisisbig,”saidPurdueProf.LarryDeBoer.“Ifhecangetthatthingthrough,itwouldbeamajorchange.”v

Jacobs douses latest Carson health rumor INDIANAPOLIS-FormercongressmanAndyJacobsJr.toldHPRthismorningthatU.S.Rep.JuliaCarsonisconvalescinganddoesnothaveterminallungcancer. Itwasoneoftherumorssweepingthepoliticalestablishmentinrecentdays.“IhadMaureenGroppecallmeyesterdayandsaidshehadheardJuliahadhadama-jorstroke,”Jacobssaid.“Thenextrumorwillbethatshe’spregnant with quintuplets.” JacobssaidthatCarsonisin“heavydutyrehabilita-tion”onherleginfectionandwilllikelybeusingcrutchesorawheelchairinthecomingmonths.v

Gov. Mitch Daniels motoring past a Wells County cornfield. (Bluffton News-Banner)

Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007Page 5

Schellinger, JLT articulatecoming campaign themesBy BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS-TheweightofGov.MitchDan-iels’propertytaxannouncementhungovertheHPRForumTuesdaylikeapianooverthesidewalkinToontown. DemocratJimSchellingerevenhintedthatDanielshadpurposelychosenthisverydate,sayinghedidn’tthinkit“wasironicatall”thattheannouncementcamewhenitdid.Helashedoutthatbecausehewas the first governor in 33 years to drasticallyalterthePropertyTaxRe-placementCredit,hehadcreatedthe“crisis”himself.“Thefactis,Indianahassuffereditslargestpropertytaxincreaseunderthisgovernor’swatch,”Schellingercharged.“YourNo.1responsibilityistosteerusfromthedangerzoneandthisgovernordidn’tdothat.” Schellingersaidhehad“threeguidingprinciples”ontheissue,declining to give specifics because, he said,heneededtostudytheplanandhehaspromisedto“listen.”Hesaidaplanmustbe“consensual,fairandpresentalong-termsolution.”Hesaiditshouldconsider“inlargepartone’sabilitytopay”andthatitshouldhave“asolidrevenuestream.” ItwasadeftperformancebySchellinger,workinginhis“listen-ing”themewhilemountinganattackonthegovernor.TheIndianapolisarchitectevenplayedtheanti-Indycard,declaring,“IwillrepresentallofIndianaandnotjustmyfriendsintheStateofIndianapolis.” Thompson remindedtheForumthatduringhersixyearsinCongressshe“nevervotedforataxincrease”whileidentifyingherselfasa “fiscal conservative.” She,too,wentontheattack,callingthepropertytaxcrisisa“com-pletebreakdowninleadership.”Asforhersolution,shesaid,“Wehavetolookatsalesandincometaxes.Wehavetodoouranalyses.Itmustbe fair, equitable and transparent. I’m willingtolookatalloptions.Wehavetobeveryconsciousofwhatwe’re

spending.” Thompsonalsonotedherruralrootsandsaidthat“one size does not fit all” counties. WhileThompsonandSchellingerhavemadenumerousjointappearancesatJefferson-JacksonDayandCongressional District meetings, this was one of the first suchappearancesinapublicsetting. For Schellinger, it was achancetolearnwherehestoodontheco-calledboilerplateissues.Onabor-tion,Schellingersaid,“Myfaithteachesmethatabortioniswrong.Iamagainstabortion.ButIreocgnizedthatmy

faithismyfaith.ItisnotnecessarilythesamefaithasHoosiersaroundthestate.Myagendaisnotgoingtoincludechang-ingcurrentIndianalawsonthis.”Hethenseguedintotheeconomy,sayingthat,“Goodeducation,attractinghigh-payingjobs and fixing the property tax crisis” would help fight against unwanted births. Thompsonsaid,“MypositionisthatRoeversusWadeshouldnotbeoverturned. This a very difficult and private matterandshouldbedecidedbytheindividual,bywomenwithcounseloftheirphysicians,theirclergyandtheirfamilies.” LongThompsoncameoutinsupportofcivilunionswhenaskedaboutSJR-7.SchellingersaidthatIndianaalreadyhasalawbanningsamesexmarriageandcalledSJR-7unncessary. Schellinger assailed Gov.Dan-ielsoneducation,chargingthatoneofhisfirst moves was to “cut education funding” that“resultedinteacherlayoiffsandin-creasedclasssizes.”HeusedtheexampleofatopDanielsaidecallingprincipals“bozos”andsaid,“That’snotgoingtobethewaytobuildeducationinthisstate.” Askedaboutabrutalprimary,bothsaidtheywouldtraintheirattacksonDaniels,butbothinsistedtheywereintheracethroughtheMayprimary. "Ithinkthewaytokeepaprimaryfrombeingdivisiveistokeepourfocuson-andIamkeepingmyfocusonthecurrentgovernor,whosebadpoliciesandfailedleadershiparehurtingourstate,"saidLongThompson. Schellingerexplained,"IgotintotheracebecauseIknowIndianacanandshouldbedoingbetter.Iknowwedeservebetterleadershipinourstate,andIfeelasthoughIcanprovidethatleadership."v

Democrats Jim Schellinger (top) and Jill Long Thompson at the HPR Forum on Tuesday. (HPR Photos by A. Walker Shaw)

Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007 Page 6

Cillizza sizes up the presidential fieldBy BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS-Washington Post bloggerChrisCillizzaspenthisHPRForumkeynoteTuesdaysizingupthepresidential field. He sees the Re-publican race as “incredibly fluid” andlikelycomingdownbetweenRudolphGiulianiandMittRomney.AndifU.S.Sen.HillaryClintonwinsIowa,itwillbehardforanyotherDemocrattobeather.HecalledRepublicancandidateattacksonClintona“self-fulfilling prophesy.” “IfObamaorEdwardswinsIowa,thisbecomesarealraceandcouldextendasfarasFeb.5,”Cillizzasaid.“Ithinkwehavethepoten-tialforanextendedraceonbothsides,moresowiththeRepublicans.” Cillizzasaidthatifoneaskedhimsixmonthsago,hewouldhavesaidthatJohnMcCainwasthefront-runner.Healsosaidthathewouldn’treadtoomuchbeyondIowa,NewHampshireandSouthCarolina“becausethat’swherethecampaignisessentiallyengaged.” Cillizzasaidthatsocialconservatives“don’thaveanobviouscandi-date.MittRomneyhasn’tjumpedout.RudyGiulianiismoreliberalonsocialissuesandhasn’tjumpedout.FredThompsonwassupposedtohavejumpedoutandhasn’tjumpedout,”thebloggersaid.“IfMikeHuckabeecouldraisemoneyheissomeonetheycouldgetbehind.Theso-cial conservatives are not unified. The question in the next few months is do they unify behind a candidate? Or do they justfractureandjustsupportcandidatesalongtheway,lessening their power?” Here’shiscandidate-by-candidatelookattherace: Rudy Giuliani:“Hehasalotmorestayingpowerthanalotofus-myselfincluded-thought.IthinkGiu-lianiwasroundlyunderestimatedbythechatteringclass.Inthepastacandidatewhoispro-choice,pro-gayrights,

pro-guncontrolwouldnotgenerallybethechoiceoftheparty.Hehas,tohiscredit,runaverygoodcampaign.Hehasn’tbeenashamstrungasalotofusthoughthemightbe on these issues. Why is that? I don’t know the answer. InpartitmightbetheeffectofSept.11ontheAmericanconsciousness.RudyGiulianiisseenasaleader.AtatimewhenAmericawastested,hestoodup.

Mitt Romney: “Manyoftheposi-tionshehastakenaremoreconserva-tivethanthepositionshetookwhenhewasrunningforgovernororwhenheranagainstTedKennedyfortheSenate.Hetookabigriskspendingalotofearlymoneyonadvertising.It

didwork.Itbuilthisnamerecognition.Whathedidisusethatmoney...inIowa.He’sverystronginIowa.InNewHampshire,samedeal.You’vegotRomneythere...inthe

traditionalwayofRepublicanpolitics,leadinginIowaandNewHampshireandinaverystrongspot.” Fred Thompson:“Hehasallthepotentialintheworld.Beforeheevenannounced,hehadrunclosetoGiulianiinpolling.VerystronginSouthCarolina.VerystronginFlorida.GettingbetterinIowaandget-tingworseinNewHampshireifthepollingistobebelieved.The question for Thompson is -thisisnosecret-howbaddoes he want it? In traveling with these people quite a bit, this is a race that requires you towantitvery,verybadly.Thompsonhasn’tansweredthat question yet. He had this strangeunexplainedabsenceacoupleofdaysaweekoffthecampaigntrail.HecancelleddatesinNewHampshireandall

ofthatplaysintoabroadernarrative:doesthisguyreallywant it?” Mike Huckabee:“Ifeellikeeveryfewweeksthisisit!ThisiswhenMikeHuckabeelivesuptoallhispoten-tialthateverythingheis.He’saverycompellingdebater,he’s smart; he’s funny. He thinks quickly on his feet. He hasaverygoodstorytotellasgovernorofArkansas.TheproblemwithHuckabeeisthathehasnomoneyanddoesn’tseemtobeparticularlyworriedaboutthat.” CillizzasummeduptheGOPprospectsbysaying,“SoRepublicansgenerally,RomneyandGiulianiaretheco-frontrunners.It’sjustdoyoubelievethatRepublicanswillnominatecandidatesastheyhavethelastcoupledecades

Washington Post blogger Chris Cillizza blogs at the Madame Walker Theater during Tuesday’s HPR Forum. His post can be read on page 12. (HPR Photo by Mark Curry)

Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007 Page 7

whichisinlinewiththemonsocialissues,ordoyoube-lievethatacandidatewhoisunapologeticallymoreliberalthanthebaseofhispartycanwinIowaand New Hampshire?” Barack Obama: “Hewentfromnowhereto25percentwhenhegotintothisrace.Sincehehasgottenin,theracehasstayedverystable.Obamaisclearlyimpressive.I’veseenhimspeakanumberoftimes.TheDemcoraticPartycontinuestolookforwho’sthenextJack Kennedy. Barack Obama fits that mold:inspirational,messageofhope.Theproblemforhimishehastoturnthepoliticsofhopeintocontrastandthatisnoteasytodo.Hereiswhyyoushouldn’tvoteforSen.Clintonandhereiswhyyoushouldvoteforme.AndwhatdoestheClintoncampaignsaywhenhe does that? ‘Is this the politics of hope?’ It’s a tough box he’sputhimselfin.Intheend,theseareaboutdrawingcontrasts. In the end Barack Obama needs to figure out howtodothatwhilemaintainingthatpoliticsofhopemes-sage.Hehasthemoneyandorganizatointodoso.” Hillary Clinton:“You’veseenSen.Clintonkeepingtheleadineverynationalpoll.Iowapollingcontinuestobeclose.Sen.ClintonisaheadinNewHampshireandSouth

2008 State Presidential PollsIowa (R) Date Romney Giuliani Thompson McCain HuckabeeStrategicVision Oct.12-14 27 13 10 5 12Rasmussen Oct.10-14 25 13 19 6 12

New Hampshire (R)Marist Oct.4-9 27 21 10 17 8InsideAdvantage Oct.2 28 20 8 17 8

South Carolina (R) InsideAdvantage Oct.2 16 16 21 16 11

Iowa (D) Date Clinton Edwards Obama RichardsonStrategicVision Oct.12-14 28 20 23 9Rasmussen Oct.10-14 33 22 21 7

N. Hampshire (D)Marist Oct.4-9 43 12 21 8Zogby Sept.26-28 38 12 23 8

South Carolina (D) ARG Sept.26-29 41 7 30 5Rasmussen Sept.26-27 43 10 30 2

Carolina.Ithinkshe’saheadbecauseshe’sthebestknowncandidate.Ithinkshehasrunanextremelygoodrace.

She’smadeveryfewmistakes.Thatis very dificult to do when you are playingatthelevelthatshe’splayingat.Sheismorescrutinizedthananycandidateoneitherside.Whatarethe big gaffes she’s made? It’s hard to thinkofthem.It’sprettyimpressive.That’snottosayshecan’tbebeaten.Shecanbebeaten,butwhatshe’sdonetodayiscertainlyimpressive.Ifyou’regoingtovotefortheestab-lishmentcandidate,HillaryClintonisgoingtowin.IfHillarywinsIowa,Ithink it’s going to be very difficult for

anyonetobeather.” John Edwards:“He’sarticulatingtheanti-ClintonmessagebetterthanBarackObamaatthemoment.He’shitherveryhardontwothings:thedefenseoflobbyists,andIran.He’srunveryhardagainstheronIran.Theprob-lem for Edwards is money. He opted into the public financ-ingsystem,whichwasaverysurprisingdecision.That’saproblemforhim.Hismessagingisverysharp,verytaut.IfJohnEdwardslosesIowaitwillbevery,very,veryhardforhimtobeatObamaandHillaryClinton.”v

Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007Page 8

2007 Mayoral Crown Point: Republican:GayleVanSessen;DemocratDavidUran.2003 Republican Primary Re-sults: Klein1,447,VanSessen1,157,Roth760.2003 General Results: Klein(R)4,289.Isailov-ich(D)2,158.2007 Forecast: WebelieveVanSessenhasaslightadvantageinthisrace.ShedefendedherleaveofabsencefromtheChamber,sayingthatitisrunningsmoothly.Sta-tus: LEANSVANSESSEN. Fort Wayne:Republican:MatthewKelty.Dem-ocrat:TomHenry.2003 Results:Richard(D)27,251,Bus-kirk(R)19,701.2007 Fore-cast: TheAllenCountyElectionBoardmightmeetagaintotalkaboutthecampaignfinances of Re-publicanmay-oralnomineeMattKelty(FortWayneJour-nalGazette).TheboardisinvestigatingacomplaintthatKeltyfailedtoproperlydisclosea$1,000dona-tionbeforetheprimaryelec-tion.JeffPruitt,anauthorofalocalleft-leaningblog,askedtheboardMondaytoinvestigateKeltyfornotreportinga$1,000donationgivenbyDanTurkette,theauthorofalocalright-leaningblog. Kelty’s most recent campaign filing shows he received $1,000 from Turkette on May 3. State law requires candi-datestoreportcontributions$1,000orlargerreceivedafterthepre-primarydeadlineofApril13andtwodaysbeforetheelectionofMay8.Keltydidreportseveralotherlargedonationsbeforetheprimary.Thereportsareduewithin48hoursofacandidatereceivingit.KeltyonTuesdayfiled the proper form listing Turkette’s May contribution, althoughhedateditOct.4.AndyDowns,Democraticelec-tionboardmember,saidthematterwillbeinvestigatedand

could result in a fine of up to $100. The board previously agreedtomorestrictlyenforcedeadlines.Status: LEANS HENRY. Indianapolis:Democrat:MayorBartPeter-son.Republican:GregBallard.Libertarian:FredPeterson.2003 Results: Peterson(D)92,763,Jordan(R)55,354. 2007 Forecast: It’sbecomeprettyobviousthatforsomereason,theIndianaRepublicanestablishmentdoesn’twantthePetersonadministrationdislodged.Ballard’slatestcampaign finance report is remarkable for what doesn’t showupinitsrelativelyslim38-pages:thenamesofmanyprominentRepublicans(Schneider,IndianapolisStar).Gov.MitchDaniels,aMarionCountyresident,gavenothingtoBallardfrompersonalorcampaignfunds.MurrayClark,thestateRepublicanPartychairmanandaMarionCounty

resident,alsogavenoth-ing;neitherdidthestateparty.ThenameofstateRep.MikeMurphy,aformerMarionCountyGOPchairman,alsowasabsent.“Itmakesyouwonder,”saidBill Blomquist, politicalscienceprofessoratIndianaUni-versity-Pur-dueUniversityIndianapolis.“WherearetheMarionCountyRepub-

licans?” “I don’t know why. I don’t think he’s asked me forany,cometothinkaboutit,”Clarksaid.“Theironyfor(Ballard)nowishehasachancetowin,”Clarksaid.“He’sdoingbetterindebatesandonthestump.”TomJohn’sresponsetoSchneiderlikewisedoesn’tcutit(Advance Indiana).“Conventionalwisdomforalongtimesaidthiswouldn’tbearacebecausePetersonhad$3.million,”Johnsaid.“IfyoulookatwherePeterson’ssupportiscomingfrom among businesses and individuals, you will find it is largelycomprisedofbusinessesandpeoplewhodobusi-nesswiththecity.It’sawho’swhoofconstructioncompa-nies,developers,architects/engineers,roadcontractors,public finance/bond firms, city/county employees and at-

Indiana Republicans, from Chairman Murray Clark to Gov. Daniels, have repudiated the Greg Bal-lard mayoral campaign ... with their closed wallets. (HPR Photo by Brian A. Howey)

Page 9 Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007torneys.YoucanalsomatchupmanyofthecontributorstoPeterson to list of firms receiving tax abatements, govern-mentsubsidiesandotherspecialconsiderationsfromthePetersonadministrationinrecentyears.AndwhoisHoosierTrust Company? It has given more than $66,000 to Peter-son.Itis,toputitbluntly,governmentforsale.Petersonhasabout30timesasmuchmoneyashisRepublicanchal-lengerGregBallardasthecampaignformayorheadsintothe final weeks (Indianapolis Star). "In campaign finance reports filed today, Peterson, a Democrat seeking his third term,reportedraisingnearly$1millionsincemid-April.Hehadstartedthisreportingperiod,whichrunsfromApril14throughOct.12,withabout$2.8million.Afterspending$2.3million,abouthalfofthatonTVadvertising,Petersonreportedhehadabout$1.5millionincashonhand."Bal-lard, a former Marine making his first run for political office, reportedraisingnearly$225,000.However,morethan$100,000ofthatwasin'in-kind'ratherthancashcontributions.Afterhavingspentabout$173,000,Ballardhadjustover$51,000tofundhiscam-paignthroughtheNov.6generalelection.Status:LikelyPeterson. Hobart:Democrat:BrianSnedecor.Republican:JohnGuthrie.Independent:EricSmith 2007 Forecast: Oursourcessaythatthisraceistooclosetocallwiththe18-year-oldSmithpossiblyalteringtheoutcome. Status: TOSSUP. Kokomo:Democrat:CouncilmanGregGood-night.Republican:CouncilmanRickHam-ilton.2003 Primary Results:Republican:McKillips1,565,Dono-ghue972,Bolinger327,McKay243,T.Hamilton38.Democrat:Castner1,360,Lushin1,358,Alexander969,Ellis34. 2003 General Results:McKillip(R)5,229,Cast-ner(D)4101,Dunlap(I)832.2007 Forecast: FromthebeginningonWednesaynight’sdebate,GoodnightwasouttopokeholesinHamilton’skeycampaigntheme,apromisetolowerpropertytaxesbycuttinglocalspending(Kokomo Tribune).“Myopponenthasfocusedhisentirecampaignononeissue,”Goodnightsaidinhisopeningremarks.“Itmakesforgoodheadlines,butitisn’trealistic.”Ashehasinthepasttwodebates,Hamilton

insistedotherwise,sayinginhisopeningstatementsthatthecostofrunningcitygovernmentinKokomofarexceedsthatsamecostinthesimilar-sizedcitiesofLafayetteandMuncie. “Can we do better? Do we need real change? The answer for both questions is ‘Yes,” Hamilton said. “I’m the onlycandidatecommittedtocuttingspendingandmak-ingcitygovernmentsmaller.”ButWednesday’sdebatetookasharpturnfromtheearlydebateswhenGoodnightbroughtupMidwestPlating,usingittobolsterhisconten-tionHamilton’scampaignpromiseandleadershipabilityarebothsuspect.AccordingtoHamilton,hetookoverthebusiness’day-to-daymanagementwhenhisfather-in-lawsufferedaheartattackin1977,andledthebusinessevenaftertheYoungfamilysoldit.Whentwonewowners-thesecondownershipgrouptotakeoverthecompanyaftertheYoungsownedit-tookoverthebusinessineither1983or1984,Hamiltonsaidhegotout.Thebusinessclosedforgoodin1985,andthecleanupwasorderedayearlater.Isitpossible,Goodnightasked,tobelieveinHamilton’sleadershipabilitywhenMidwestPlatingcosttaxpayersa$1.7 million cleanup in the mid-1980s? “That simply isn’t true,”Hamiltonresponded.“Iwasn’tthere...whenIleftMidwestPlating,thoseproblemsdidn’texist.ThosethingshappenedafterIleft.”ButGoodnightcontinued,claimingU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencydocumentsaboutthecleanupindicatedHamilton’sstatementwasn’tplau-sible.“Theysaidthecontaminationoccurredoveralongperiod of time. It didn’t happen in the final week of the plant[operating].Itdidn’thappenovernight,”Goodnightsaid.Status: LIKELYGOODNIGHT.

Madison:Democrat:TimArm-strong.Republican:MayorAlHuntington.2003 General Re-sults: Huntington(R)1,746(unopposed).2007 Forecast:Webelievethechallengerisleadinginthisrace.Armstrongreceivedmorethantwiceasmuchmoneyincon-tributionsasMayorHuntingtonduringthelastreportingperiodbeforetheelection(MadisonCourier).TheTimArmstrongforMayorcommitteereported$29,784.19in

contributionsfromindividuals,corporations,politicalactioncommitteesandlaborunions.TheMayorHuntingtonforMadisoncommitteeraised$12,840incontributionsfromindividuals and firms. Armstrong's campaign account was

Kokomo Republican nominee Rick Hamilton got personal with Democrat Greg Goodnight Wednesday night. (Kokomo Tribune photo)

boostedbya$25,000loanfromhiswife,Deb-bie,whileHuntingtonloaned$15,000tohiscampaign.Huntingtonalsohad$3,356.24onhandatthebeginningofthereportingperiod,bringinghiscampaign'stotalamountofreceiptsincludingtheloanto$31,196.24.Armstronghad$1,621.62atthebeginningofthereportingperiod,bringinghistotalinclud-ingtheloanto$56,405.81.Status: LIKELYARMSTRONG Marion:Democrat:CouncilmanBillHenry.Re-publican:MayorWayneSeybold.2003 Results: Seybold(R)4,547,Henry(D)2,739.2007 Forecast:Seyboldhasmoremoneylefttospendforhisre-electioncampaignthanHenryhasraisedsinceJanuary.Seyboldraisedmorethanfive times the amount of money for his campaign than Hen-ry, according to campaign finance reports filed Friday. Sey-boldhasmorethan$117,501incontributions;Henryhasjustover$22,170.Moneylefttospendisabout$38,963forSeyboldand$15,823forHenry.Whenaskedhisopinionon Seybold raising five times his amount, Henry laughed. “So?” he said. “He won’t get five times the votes. It doesn’t meananythingtome.Inpolitics,youdon’twatchtheotherguy.” Henry said his campaign is going along “quite nicely” andheandhisteamaregoingtocampaignhardinthelasttwo week of the race. He’s confident about his chance of winning.“Frankly,Ithinkwe’regonnadothis,”Henrysaid. Status: TOSSUP. Muncie: Democrats: Jim Mansfield Jr. Republi-can:SharonMcShurley.2003 Results: Canan(R)7,211,Tyler(D)6,758.2007 Forecast: MansfieldisreadytotakeoverasMuncie'smayor,hissupporterssay.Theyalsobelieveit'stimetogivetheDemocraticPartyaturnatleadingthecity,giventhedeclineineconomiccondi-tionshereduringthepast16yearsofRepublicancon-trolofthemayor'soffice(Muncie Star Press).ButaccordingtosomeofRepublicanmayoralnomineeSharonMcShurley'sbackers,Mansfielddoesn'tactallthatenthusiasticabout

runningformayorandcouldbeayes-manforDemocraticParty leaders calling the shots from their headquarters at 214N.WalnutSt.TheyportrayMcShurleyasafreshfacewhowouldbeabettermayorthanMansfieldbyvirtueofhercompetitiveness,marketingdegree,cheerleadingabilityanddevotiontohomework."Asdirectorofthevisitorsbu-reau,he'shadexperienceinbeinginchargeofsomething,"saidMansfieldsupporterandDemocraticstatesenatorSueErrington."SomeofthatexperiencecouldtranslateintogettingpeopletobringabusinesstoMuncie."Status:LEANSMANSFIELD. South Bend:Republican:JuanManigault.Dem-ocrat:MayorStephenLuecke.2003 General Results:Luecke(D)10,598,Schmidt(R)4,188. 2007 Forecast: Manigaultstoodinfrontoftheboarded-upformerKmartonthecity’swestside,pointingtoitasanareainneedofeconomicgrowth.Hourslater,DemocraticincumbentSteveLueckecontrastedthatatLockJointTubeonWalnutStreettoshowanexampleofabusinessthathasexpanded.BothheldpressconferencesWednesdaytotalkabouteconomicgrowth.Luecke'sre-electioncampaignhasopenedacom-fortableleadinfundingjustas,accordingtoRepublicanchallengerJuanManigault,theraceitselfistighteningup(Wensits,South Bend Tribune)."Thisisa2to3per-centrace,"ManigaultassertedTuesday,claimingthathereceivedthatinformationfrom"averygoodsource"withintheDemocraticParty."I'mbehind,butcomingonstrong,"Manigaultsaid.Itwouldbestartling,iftrue,thatManigaulthasclosedthegapwithLueckethatmuch,giventhatalate-SeptemberpollconductedonbehalfofTheTribuneandWSBT-TVshowedLueckewitha12-pointlead.TheDemocrats' position is that Manigault is still significantly behind."Idon'tknowwherehe'sgettinghisinformation,"saidMaryDownes,Luecke'scampaignmanager.Downessaidshehadnoreasontobelievethattheracehastight-enedupasmuchasManigaultissaying."That'shogwash!"declaredOwen"Butch"Morgan,countyDemocraticchair-man,whosaidapartypolltakenaboutthesametimeastheTribune-WSBT-TVpollshowedLueckewithaleadthatwasthreetofourpointshigherthanthenewspaper-TVpoll.MorgansaidtherehasbeennoDemocraticpollsince"thatI'm aware of." The latest campaign finance reports showed Lueckewith$253,939incontributionsasoftheOct.12filing deadline, and an additional $17,200 since then. The Oct.12reportshowedLueckewith$118,892incashonhand as the campaign moves into its final two weeks. Manigault'scampaignhasgenerated$152,913incontribu-tionsasoftheOct.12deadline,and$33,797incashonhand.Status:LEANSLUECKEv

Sharon McShurley

Armstrong

Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007Page 11

Author Naomi Wolf speaksin Indianapolis tonightBy BEVERLY PHILLIPS BestsellingauthorNaomi WolfisinIndianapolistonightattheIndianaUniversitySchoolofLawforanACLUofIndianaBillofRightsCampaigneventtitled“InDefenseofOurAmerica:ACalltoAction.”She’lltalkabouthercurrentbook,“TheEndofAmerica:ALet-terofWarningtoaYoungPatriot.”$10admissionin-cludesareceptionintheLawSchoolAtrium(530W.NewYorkSt.)from5to6:30p.m.fol-lowedbyalectureandbooksigningintheWynneMootCourtroom.Thereceptionisspon-soredbythelawoffices of Barnes & ThornburgLLPandBaker&DanielsLLP.Formoreinformation:www.aclu-in.orgorcall(317)635-4059ext.233. Ms.Wolflaunchedtofamein1991withherinternationalbestseller,“TheBeautyMyth,”wherewheresheattackedthefashionandbeautyindustry,arguing“thechoicetodowhateverwewantwithourfacesandbod-ieswithoutbeingpunishedbyanideologythatisusingattitudes,economicpressure,andevenlegaljudgmentsregardingwomen’sappearancetoundermineuspsycho-logicallyandpolitically.”ShewasinvolvedinBillClinton’s‘96 re-election campaign, serving as an adviser on how to reachfemalevoters,particularly“soccermoms.”Thatad-viserrolewasreprisedduringAlGore’sunsuccessful2000presidentialcampaign.

AYaleUniversitygraduateandUniversityofOxfordRhodesScholar,sheisauthorofsixotherbooksandco-founderoftheWoodhullInstituteforEthicalLeadership,anorganizationdevotedtotrainingyoungwomeninethicalleadershipforthe21stCentury.SheliveswithherfamilyinNewYorkCity. Thebook,accordingtoChelseaGreenPublishing,isa“stunningindictmentoftheBushadministrationandCongress...andbest-sellingauthorNaomiWolflaysouthercaseforsavingAmericandemocracy.Inauthoritativeresearchanddocumentation.Wolfexplainshoweventsofthelastsixyearsparallelstepstakenintheearlyyearsofthe20thcentury’sworstdictatorships.suchasGermany,Russia,China,andChile.”

Property tax demonstration ApropertytaxdemonstrationisplannedforthisSaturdayat2p.m.atMonumentCircle.ExpectHalloween-themesandcostumedcharacters.Accordingtoapressrelease,“Thesearefrighteningtimesforourcityandstatesoscarycostumesandgrimreapersarewelcomed.Thetimeisnowtovoteoutthecorruptionofourcityandsendastrongmessagetoourstaterepresentativesthatprop-ertytaxesmustbeeliminated!”TaxScammedSaturdayorganizerssaythiseventwilluniteallHoosiers,whetherRepublicans,Democrats,Libertarians...blackorwhite...richorpoor...homeownersorrenters.Informationalbooths,speakerforumsandvariouseventswillbesetuparoundMonumentCircle.ContactWayneKirkat(317)966-7716formoreinforma-tionorwww.propertyfreedom.blogspot.com.

Vane leaves GOP Indi-anaRepublicanCommunicationsDirectorRobert Vane isleavingtheparty,takingajobwithShiel-Sexton.Jessica Higdon istakingoverhisdutiesfortheGOP.v Got a tip for the Boar’s Nest? Send it to: phillipsc-group@com-cast.net

Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman defended the Dan-iels adminsitration during the HPR Forum on Tuesday at the Madame Walker Theater. Jack Colwell of the South Bend Tribune is in the background. (HPR Photo by A. Walker Shaw)

Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007Page 12

Chris Cillizza,Washington Post-TheFixisinIndianatodaytoattendadebatebetweenthetwoDemocraticcandidatesforgovernor,doalittlebitof speechifying and, yes, eat at Chick-Fil-A. (Who knew? There’soneintheIndianapolisairport.)IndianawasattheepicenterofDemocraticHousegainsin2006aschallengersknockedoffRepublicanReps.ChrisChocola,JohnHostettlerandBaronHill;afull10percentofDemocrats’totalgainsintheHousecamefromtheHoosierState.The2008 election cycle promises to be a bit quieter althoughGov.MitchDaniels(R)facesaseriouschallengefromeitherofthetwocandidateswhohavedescendedonthehistoricWalkerTheatertodebatetoday:architectJimSchellingerandformerRep.JillLongThompson.Daniels’jobapprovalratingsareonlyso-soandDemocratsbelievetheycanbuildonthegainstheymadein2006bytakingbackthegovernor’smansionin2008.BrianHowey,apoliticalanalystandauthorofthenonpartisanHoweyPoliticalReport,ismoreskeptical.Daniels,hesaid,laidoutaroadmapofhisplansforthestatewhenhewaselectedfouryearsagoandbyandlargehasaccomplishedthosegoals.“TheIndianaDemocraticPartyneedsavision,”saidHowey.“Theyneedsomeonewhowilllayoutavisionforwheretheywilltakethestate.”That’snottosayDaniels’shouldputhisre-electionbidincruisecontrol,however.ThebiggestthreattoDaniels,accordingtoHowey,isanegativenational political environment that afflicts anyone with an “R”aftertheirname.“MitchDanielsisprobablymostvul-nerable to an adverse reaction to Iraq,” said Howey. For the moment,Indianaisoneofthemostcompetitivegovernorsracesontheballotin2008.(Missouriistheother.)Thatcompetitivenessmeansalotofnationalmoneywillbespentonbothsidesinthecoming13months.v

Sylvia Smith, Fort Wayne Journal Ga-zette-You’llneedyourwitsaboutyouforthiscolumn,so get a cup of caffeine. I’ll wait. Ready? Grab a pencil. Which of these statements are true? • Of President Bush’s mostgenerousHoosierdonorsin2004,morethanhalfhavelinedupbehindoneofthecontendersforthe2008Republican nomination. • The Bush backers (who contrib-uted $1.7 million to his ‘04 campaign) have ponied up more than$1millionforthepresidentialcandidatestheysupportthis time around. • You couldn’t pay the Hoosier Bushies towriteacheckforHillaryClinton.Answers:False,false,false. Sending a healthy check to Bush-Cheney ‘04 surely couldbeinterpretedasevidenceofpoliticalinvolvementandRepublicanism.ButthisgroupofHoosiersseemsasuninspiredbythecropofRepublicancontendersastherestofthecountry.Ofthe837peoplewhodonated$2,000ormoretotheBush-Cheneycampaign,just87havecontrib-utedtoone(andsometimestwo)oftheRepublicanswhowanttheirparty’snominationfor2008.Thatmeansnearly

90percentofBush’sbig-dollardonorshaveoptedtoremain on the sidelines during a year that has the fiercest competitionfortheGOPnominationinadecade.That’saprettytepidresponsefromagroupyou’dthinkwouldbe

fullyengaged.Afterall,it’snotasifthebattleforthenominationisallthatfaraway.Giventheearlyprimariesandcaucuses,we’llknowthenominees by the first week of February. That pacemeanswe’reinthelastfourmonthsofthenominationcampaign-aboutthetimepeoplethrowwhatevermoneytheycanattheirfavoritecandidate.That’ssurenothappeningthisyear.Here’swhatCharlieCook,awell-knownnon-

partisanchroniclerofpresidentialcampaignssaid:“WhenyouhaveapartyasdemoralizedasRepublicansarethisyear,youhavealotofpeoplesittingontheirhands,theircheckbooks closed. … Whether it is Katrina, Iraq, scandals, deficits, spending, Terri Schiavo or stem-cell research, thereareawholelotofdisaffectedRepublicandonors.”v

Jack Colwell,South Bend Tribune-WhenRIPpostcardshitSouthBendwitha“hereliesSouthBend”epitaph,MayorSteveLueckedecidedtoripthepoliticalmailingratherthanletitrestinpeace.ARepub-licanconsultant--onenotdirectlyinvolvedinthemailing--expressedsurprisethattheLueckecampaignwouldre-spondinawaycapturingextensivenewsmediacoverageforthemessageandspreadingittoeveryoneinthemediamarket.TheLueckecampaign,however,wasfollowingtheadmonitionofthoseconsultantswhosayitisimpor-tantforacandidateinacompetitiveracetohitbackhardandimmediatelyinresponsetoanynegativeattack.Themailingwon’tinitselfdecidetheelectionbetweenLuecke,theDemocraticincumbentwhohasbeenmayorlongerthananyoneelseincityhistory,andRepublicanchallengerJuan Manigault, who must sway a significant number of Democratstohiscauseifheistowin.Butthecardandtheresponsetellmuchabouttherivalthemesinthemayoralcontest.Itappearsthatthemailing--preparedbyanddispatchedbytheIndianaRepublicanParty,notbyManigault--wasdirectedatDemocratsandindepen-dents.ThatwouldmakesenseintermsofstrategyaimedathelpingtheRepublicancandidate.Thecardcarriedastrongmessage--negative,ofcourse,asaresomanyofthemosteffectivecampaignmaterialseverywhereinthenation.Itshowedatombstonewiththisepitaph:“RIP.HereliesSouthBend,aoncevibrantcitynowabandonedbybusiness,overrunbyviolentcrimeanddrivingpeoplefromtheirfamilyhomesbecauseofhighpropertytaxes.”Onthereverseside,Lueckeisaccusedofhaving“allowedittodie”andrecipientsareurgedto“voteagainstMayorSteveLuecke.”MaryDownes,Luecke’scampaignmanager,said,“Itwassooverthetop.Itwasoutrageous.”v

Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007Page 13

otherissues,intheirbidtoeitherholdontotheirseatsorunseatDemocraticincumbents. According to finance reportscoveringasix-monthperiodfromApril14toOct.12,Republicansintotalraisednearly$100,000moreandspentnearly$226,000,morethantwiceasmuchasDemocrats.

Lugar seeks end tofarm subsidy system WASHINGTON-Onceagain,Sen.RichardLugaristakingontheuphill fight of ending federal farm subsidies,butthistimehe’spickinghisbattlecarefully(Associated Press).Insteadoftryingtoerasesubsidiesfrom the new five-year farm bill while it’sdebatedintheSenateAgricultureCommittee,LugarsaidthathewillwaituntilthelegislationreachestheSenate floor in the hope that he finds moresupportthere.“Ratherthanget-ting into a food fight, we’ll leave this for the floor,” the Indiana Republican saidTuesday.Lugarsaidthe21-mem-berAgricultureCommitteeconsistsmostlyoflawmakerswhofavorcon-tinuingsubsidies,butthefullSenatemightbemorereceptivetohisview.LugarandSen.FrankLautenberg,D-N.J.,haveintroducedrivallegisla-tiontothefarmbillthattheAgricul-tureCommitteewastobeginmarkingupyesterday.Theirreformmeasurewouldendfederalsubsidiesastheyarecurrentlyknownandreplacethemwithaninsuranceprogramthatcoversallcropsandlivestock.“Overthepast10years,farmsubsidieshavegonetojustoneoutofthreefarmerswithonly6percentoffarmsreceiving70percentofthatmoney,namely$120billion,”saidLugar,thecommittee’sformerchairman.

Katic won’t resigntownship position INDIANAPOLIS-NorthTown-ship officials on Wednesday said law-yerPeterKatichasnotresignedfromthetownshipboardasrumored,buthehasadmittedhimselfintoarehabil-

itationcenter(Times of Northwest Indiana).Katic,53,wasarrestedOct.5followingathree-carcollisioninMunster.Heisallegedtohaveregis-teredablood-alcoholconcentrationof0.34andwaschargedwithoperat-ingwhileintoxicated-endangeringaperson,operatingwhileintoxicated,andleavingthesceneofanaccident,allmisdemeanors.OnSept.13,KaticwasarrestedwhenhewasaccusedofshowingupintoxicatedtoajuvenilecourthearinginLafayette.AbloodtestatthetimereportedlyregisteredKatic’sblood-alcoholconcentrationat0.20.

Some Porter Countytax rates to skyrocket OGDENDUNES-Datare-leased by Porter County officials showsresidents,especiallynearLakeMichigan,willseetaxbillsjumpbythousandsofdollars.However,oth-ersmayseetheirbillsgodown.Thedatashowsin20ofthe29districts,thisyear’staxratesarelowerthanlastyear’s(Times of Northwest Indi-ana).Butforresidentsinsomeotherareas--suchasonthelakefront--thechangeswillbringhighertaxes.OgdenDunesisamongareasexpectedtobehithardest.Homeownersinthetownhaveseensubstantialincreasesintheassessedvalueoftheirhomes,someupto80percenthigher.

Council candidatewithdraws at Shelbyville SHELBYVILLE-DemocratWadeAmoshasremovedhimselffromthecampaigntowinoneofthetwoavailableat-largecitycouncilseatsintheupcomingNovembergeneralelec-tion,accordingtoastatementAmosissuedtoTheShelbyvilleNewsonMondaynight.v

Field set to replaceRep. Clem/Cheney PORTAGE - The final list of candidateshasbeensettledforSatur-day’s election to fill the Indiana House 10thDistrictseat.Threecandidates--CharlesMoseley,BobPoparadandGregorySimms-- filed by Wednesday’sdeadlinewiththeIndianaDemocraticParty(Post-Tribune).ThethreearecontestingtoreplaceStateRep.JackClem,D-Por-tage.ClemdiedatthebeginningofOctober.Thisisthesecondelectionthisyearfortheseat.ClemwaselectedinJulytoreplaceformerStateRep.DuaneCheney,whohadresignedbecausehewasmoving.PoparadisamemberofthePorterCountyCouncil,SimmsisalocaleducatorandMoseleyisaformerPortageTownshipSchoolBoardmem-ber.

Indianapolis CouncilGOP out-raising Dems INDIANAPOLIS-RepublicancandidatesforCity-CountyCouncilseatsareraisingandspendingmorethantheirDemocraticrivalsaheadofElectionDay.Aleadingcaseinpoint:City-CountyCouncilmanScottKellerhasraised$57,000inthelatestcampaignreportingperiod,morethantwiceasmuchasanyothercouncilcandidate(Indianapolis Star).Infact,KellerraisednearlyasmuchcashthisyearasRepublicanmayoralcan-didateGregBallard,despiterunninginacouncildistrictwithabout35,000voterscomparedtoacountywithmorethan800,000.ThelocalDemocraticParty,whichholdsa15-14advantageonthecoun-cil,earlierthisyearheldouthopesofwinning20ofthecouncil’s29seats.ButRepublicanshavebeenpound-ingawayoncrimeandtaxes,among