Kernan Will Seek Full Term: IN Governor Changes Mind About 04 race

Louisville, KY, Courier-Journal ^ | 11-07-03 | Weidenbener, Lesley S.

[Theodore R.]

INDIANAPOLIS

[Theodore R.]

Democrats have held the governorship since January 1989 in this "Republican" state that even voted for Dole in 1996. It looks like the Democrat trend will continue for a full 20 years if Kernan is a strong as the Democrats think. He may benefit from a "sympathy" vote because of the late O'Bannon.

[Thane_Banquo]

Governor and CNBC reporter? Damn. This guy keeps busy.

[donozark]

Nebraska, a strong Republican state, had a Democratic Governor for years. Ben Nelson. Also, John Kerry who became Senator. He was of a Medal of Honor recipient. Nelson, a decent sort of a guy-always felt he would be a convert to Republican Party.

Odd how the electorate makes these decisions. The Bayhs ran Indiana for years. Wonder how strong Mitch Daniels will be? Will his service in GWB Admin. be considered an asset-a strong asset?

[JohnnyZ]

Nebraska, a strong Republican state, had a Democratic Governor for years. Ben Nelson. Also, John Kerry who became Senator.

Um . . .

I think it'll be a real barn-burner, Kernan vs. Daniels. If Kernan hadn't run, Mitch woulda won easily. I still think the GOP will take this one in 2004, since it is a Republican state and Daniels is a very good candidate.

[Mr. Lucky]

Kernan is a down home, former POW who is as conservative as any of the mainstream darlings of the Indiana Republican Party. Daniels comes across as a girly man by comparison and he will lose miserably as a result.

[donozark]

Wasn't aware of his POW status. Too bad he signed on with Dims...

[GraniteStateConservative]

I might vote for him, too.

: )

[GraniteStateConservative]

That's Bob Kerrey.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Kernan entered the United States Navy in 1969 and served as a Naval Flight Officer aboard the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk. In May of 1972, Kernan was shot down by the enemy while on a reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam. He was held as a prisoner of war for nearly 11 months. Kernan was repatriated in 1973 and continued on active duty with the Navy until December 1974. For his service, Kernan received numerous awards, including the Navy Commendation Medal, two Purple Hearts and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Daniel's bookkeeper persona against Kernan? Doesn't sound good.

[Viva Le Dissention]

About 6 months ago, Daniels looked like a world-beater. Now he's questionable, at best. As Bush goes, I imagine, Daniels will go--but I think Murray and Kenley are regretting dropping out of the race so soon.

Anyhow, to address an earlier post, it's no surprise that Indiana goes D in local races. Indiana Ds are basically conservative and the local GOP is run by complete and total nitwits. Most conservatives in central Indiana have written off Marion County and have moved to the suburbs. It's really too bad--Indianapolis is win-able, but the folks running the show for the Party couldn't find their ass with two hands and a flashlight.

[John W]

Well,if people would vote their head instead of their heart,a bookeeper is exactly what we need right now in Indiana.

[Mr. Lucky]

Who was that great Republican mayor of Indianapolis, the Episcopalian minister who was twice (at least) divorced and convinced his third wife to abort their unborn child because it might have been born imperfect?

With the possible exception of Georgia, Indiana has got to be the only state where elected Republicans are more liberal than elected Democrats.

[Kuksool]

If Kernan wins in 2004, he could be the heir to Sen. Dan Lugar's Senate seat.

[Impy]

Bad news.

But we can and must beat this turkey.

[Theodore R.]

History speaks:

In fact, no Indiana governor seeking a second term has ever been defeated.

[Impy]

The past is the past. The future is now. :p

20 years of Rat Governors in Indiana is unacceptable. Mitch is a very strong candidate.

Kernan certainly can't be more conservative than southern rat Musgrove and I didn't see any support for him so I'm surprised to see some for Kernan.

He must be opposed vigorously.

[Theodore R.]

Wouldn't you think that IN voters say and have said for generations that they vote "the man" and not "the party"? They did decline to go all the way with Bill Clinton. The last time they went Democrat for president was the popular Johnson-Humphrey ticket, even though the first Mrs. Goldwater was a Hossier native.

[Theodore R.]

Weren't the Republican governors in the 1970s and 1980s in IN considered moderate to liberal? I seem to recall that they, one of whom was named Dr. Bowen, did not have that much success in handling the growth of government, but I don't know as much about IN (been there only once in 1993) as I do about other states.

[Mr. Lucky]

The last conservative Republican Governor of Indiana was Edgar Whitcomb, elected in 1968. His credentials were much closer to Kernan's than to Daniel's.