On Richard, Republicans & Rupert?
The bad thing about nice weather is you have no desire to stay indoors and blog about the news of the day. Luckily, it’s a little cooler outside this morning so I can scribble down a few thoughts before the lovely Mrs. Shabazz and I go spend the day just hanging out and enjoying each others company. So here we go.
Richard Mourdock is expected to announce Tuesday (George Washington’s Birthday) that he is running for the U.S. Senate in 2012 and challenging Dick Lugar in the primary. I’m told Mourdock reportedly has some polling data that puts him in the 40s in a run against Lugar. I also hear Lugar has added more campaign staff including a field director and grass roots coordinator. My current assessment is that Lugar has more supporters, but Mourdock’s are more intense so this should prove to be interesting.
It looks like former Attorney General Steve Carter is seriously considering getting in the race for Governor. I’ve been told Carter has been polling lately trying to garner where he stands with the voters and whether a run would be worth it. Meanwhile as Congressman Mike Pence gets ready to make a formal decision one thing he may want to focus on is more bread and butter issues. A number of Republicans can respect his dedication to social conservative values, but as one of them put it to me “Jesus doesn’t plow roads or work in FSSA”. So Pence is really going to have to make it clear to a significant number of Republicans that he can do more than be a great speaker, but that he can manage.
The Evansville media is reporting this morning that Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel won’t be getting in the race for Governor in 2012. A formal announcement could come as early as today. Weinzapfel was once considered a rising star in Democratic politics, however recent controversies involving tax increases in his city reportedly knocked him out of the running.
Some veteran Republican State lawmakers are expressing concerns privately over some of the legislation making headlines out of the Indiana General Assembly, whether it be immigration, marriage, abortion or gun rights legislation. They tell me they are worried that the public will not perceive them as creating jobs and dealing with the economy, but instead focusing on divisive wedge issues which could come back to haunt them if the economy doesn’t turn around. I tend to agree with them.
A decision is expected by the end of next week as to whether a Hamilton County Grand Jury will return an indictment against Indiana Secretary of State Charlie White for voter fraud. This past week both White’s current wife and ex-wife testified in his favor.
Indianapolis Public Schools are are trying to stack the deck with an Indianapolis Business Journal poll regarding school vouchers. Spokeswoman Mary Louise Bewley sent out an e-mail to all IPS employees with a link to the IBJ’s home page and encouraging them to vote against vouchers.
And just when you thought politics couldn’t get more interesting, I hear some Indiana Libertarians are interested in recruiting “Rupert” from Survivor to run for public office. Rupert, his full name is Rupert Boneham, is scheduled to appear at an April fundraiser during their state convention in LaPorte. It’s unclear what office Libertarians would try to recruit Ruppert to run for, but the choices include the U.S. Senate, Governor and Mayor of Indianapolis. Now that would be interesting.
That’s all for now. Enjoy your weekend.
