Monday’s Musings
Lots of things to talk about this morning, so let’s get started…
If anyone thought having a few days to think would change embattled Indiana Secretary of State Charlie White mind and he would step down, not so much. I communicated with White this weekend via text messaging and when I asked if he was going to step down, his response was “…I have no intention of resigning.” Of course, it’s still early in the process.
Speaking of communication, there wasn’t much of that between Indiana House Republicans and some of their missing Democratic counterparts. House Speaker Brian Bosma told me that as of late Sunday afternoon, he had no communication with Democrats saying they would return today. However, some of them reportedly did return to Indiana over the weekend. I’m told by witnesses that Democratic State Representative Sheila Klinker was in-state. She apparently made an appearance at a charity fundraiser at the J.W. Marriott in downtown Indianapolis. The House is scheduled to convene today at 1:30 p.m.
The Mayor of Indianapolis and one of his Democratic opponents apparently just missed each other by a few minutes this weekend. The Mayor spoke at an event on the revitalization of Lafayette Square. Melina Kennedy reportedly also appeared shortly after the Mayor left and went to another event.
Speaking of Democrats, I don’t put a lot of stock in on-air radio polls; however one conducted by a WTLC-AM in Indianapolis revealed an interesting snapshot in the Democratic primary race for Mayor. Of all the callers picks for Mayor in the Democratic race, Melina Kennedy scored 48%, Ron Gibson 30%; Sam Carson 4% and undecided were at 19%. Like I said, I don’t put a lot of stock in on-air radio polls, but sometimes they get your attention.
And speaking of primaries, the U.S. Senate campaign between Dick Lugar and Richard Mourdock looks like it has the potential to get real intense real fast and real quick. I received an e-mail from the Lugar camp attacking statements made by the State Treasurer regarding the incumbent’s record. They go into detail regarding Lugar’s votes on various issues such as the START treaty and DREAM Act. They also accuse the Mourdock camp of making statements so “demonstrably false as to be slander.”
And speaking of Senators, former U.S. Senator is making a fundraising appeal for the Indiana Democratic Party. The e-mail requests $25-$100 to help restore “civility to the political debate as well as pull our communities back to the moderate values we all share.” Oh, before I forget it was Birch Bayh who was on the e-mail, not Evan.
