Understanding Indiana politics may be key for national Democrats
The State.com
April 16
Understanding Indiana politics may be key for national Democrats
By Paul Nussbaum
Knight Ridder Newspapers
While Indiana may be a "red" state, it is different from its southern counterparts, according to this article, which goes on to say that a Democrat who understand the pragmatic sensibilities of Indiana may be able to appeal to red-state voters elsewhere. Bill Blomquist, a political science professor at IUPUI, said a moderate Democrat like (Evan) Bayh or former Virginia governor Mark Warner could have a fighting change of carrying Indiana, though he put the odds as "less than 50-50." "The biggest danger the Democrats have is nominating somebody the Republicans could paint as some kind of a nut," Blomquist said. "Evan Bayh doesn't seem like a nut." Lee Hamilton, director of the Center on Congress in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IU also is quoted. "You want to disavow labels and project centrist attitudes," he said. "Hoosiers pride themselves on being people of moderation and common sense." Hamilton represented a southern Indiana district for 34 years, then served as vice chairman of the 9/11 commission.
Read this story at: http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/nation/14356527.htm
Meet Bill Blomquist at: http://w3.liberalarts.iupui.edu/faculty/fgMain.asp?action=view&FacultyNumber=22
Learn about the Center for Congress and meet Lee Hamilson at: http://congress.indiana.edu/
