SATURDAY MORNING POST
I just got back from covering this morning’s Marion County Democratic rally at party headquarters in downtown Indianapolis. It’s always interesting to be in a place where you are arguably the most hated man in the room because of what you do for a living, and the even sadder part is that it’s people who look like you who hate you the most, but this is why I get paid the big bucks so I really can’t complain.
As far as rallies go, it was pretty typical. A crowd of 200-300 jammed the tent, although a good number were city-county employees. The music played and party chairman Mike O’Connor gave a very animated and lively speech. O’Connor was more intense than I’ve ever seen him in the three years I’ve known him. It was either a sign that in the last 72 hours he’s getting really enthusiastic, or things are worse than he will publicly admit. I tend to think it is a little of both. County Democrats are afraid that their base will not come out and vote in this election, either because they don’t care, or like everyone else is mad about a 65-percent tax increase thrown up on top one of the largest property tax increases in history.
Mayor Bart Peterson also stressed that theme as well saying the enemy is not the Republicans, but complacency. What is complicating matters more for Democrats is in key Council districts that are arguably Democratic strongholds, there is no Republican challenger. Council Members William Oliver, Cherish Pryor, Andre Carson and Jackie Nytes do not have opponents, so it makes it less likely Democrats will turn out in those areas so it is important that the base turnout. That would also explain the high number of African-Americans who were signed up to canvass in those neighborhoods that have high African-American populations.
We’ll know if the Democrats were successful come Tuesday.
