I was on the phone this past week with a friend I used to work with when I was at the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.  I worked in Springfield and he worked in Chicago.  He told me two things.  First, he couldn’t believe the State Senator he used to share an elevator with in 2002, and who always had good words to say to him, was now the President-elect of the United States.  Second, he now believes in America anything is possible and he feels pretty good.  

And that’s why Barack Obama will be the next President.  And why Mitch Daniels, to a lesser degree, was re-elected  Governor.   Hope, optimism and the promise of a better tomorrow is usually a winning strategy.  Of course you need to throw in a ton of money and a heck of an organization and that will always help.   I’m amazed at how many people who think they understand politics, but can’t seem to grasp the fact that voting is as much an emotional decision as it is anything else. Why do you think so many Democrats switched over and voter for Daniels?

People fundamentally vote for who they like or against who they can’t stand.  George W. Bush was a lot more likeable than John Kerry.  Bill Clinton was more likable than Bob Dole. Obama was a lot easier to like than Hillary Clinton.  And everybody loved Reagan.   If you wince at the idea of making a decision based on emotions, I ask you to look at your spouse or significant other and why do you put up with them, or in the alternative, why do they put up with you?  Obama and Daniels are living proof that positive campaigns (coupled with all that other stuff) can work.  Despite the sniping, whining and conspiracies surrounding birth certificates and inaccurate information about the state’s investment portfolio.

Now of course, both men will have to deliver in what are definitely going to be rough economic times ahead. But if they can keep the good will that they’ve built up by adjusting their plans accordingly and staying emotionally connected to the electorate they should do just fine.

I’m finishing up my Election analysis and will have it posted tomorrow.   In the meantime, here’s an opportunity for you to help someone in need.  If you voted for Obama because you wanted change for the better, here’s your chance.  If you voted for McCain because you believe the answer to problems lie in individuals and not governments, here’s your chance.

MAYOR BALLARD URGES ORGANIZATIONS AND COMPANIES TO RESPOND TO CITY’S
GROWING NEED FOR FOOD DONATIONS

INDIANAPOLIS – (November 7, 2008) Today, Mayor Ballard made a call-to-action to local organizations and companies to urge them torespond to the City’s growing need for food donations.

Mayor Ballard was joined by representatives from local organizations and companies, including the Indianapolis Colts and the Indiana Pacers, which have already committed to join in this effort.

“This year, it’s different. Our city, like the rest of the nation, is facing the challenges of an economic downturn,” said Mayor Ballard. “Our community food banks are beginning to see a drop in food donations at
the point when many of our neighbors are most in need. That’s why I’m calling on every business, every school, every church, every charitable organization, every agency of government, and every individual citizen
in Indianapolis to pack the pantries at our local food banks, beginning today.”

For more information on how you can help (including a full list of drop off locations and a ‘how-to’ kit, please call the Mayor’s Action Center at 327-4MAC or visit our Web site: www.indygov.org/mayor.

My election post will be here tomorrow.

Jen Wagner and I discuss this week’s election results . Enjoy!

It really is amazing what goes on behind closed doors, luckily I have good ears.

In the world of Marion County Democrats, Center Township Trustee Carl Drummer and Township Constable Tony Duncan literally got into a cursing match with County Chairman Ed Treacy over his refusal to get into the fight to save the Township Assessors.

According to sources inside Democratic headquarters, “it got pretty ugly.”   Drummer and Duncan argued that if the public voted to get rid of townshp assessors, trustees, constables and small claims courts would be next.

Treacy refused to get into that fight, saying he did not want his candidates or party  associated with protecting inefficient government.   This also wasn’t the first time this took place.

Apparently Duncan and Drummer had to dip into their own pockets and pay for the lackluster advertising campaign that ran to protect the assessors from consolidation.

And since the referendum passed by solid majorities, you can see how well those efforts to protect outdated government worked. 

I’m tired after runing on a few hours of sleep.  When I get up later today I will do my post electoral piece, but in the interim, please remember this.  The democracy will survive.  It has for more than 220 years.  Anybody who is freaking out right now needs to relax, regroup and focus on four years from now.

And for all my talk radio brethren who are bemoaning future job losses, note the irony that the new administration will probably keep you employed for the next four years.

Off to bed.

Here’s an unofficial vote of the consolidation question on the township question.  The first number is the percentage of yes votes.

Center:              59         41%

Franklin:            69         31%

Lawrence:         67         33%

Perry:               63         37%

Pike:                 58         42%

Warren:             57         43%

Washington:      70         30%

Wayne:             61         39%

I’m off to bed.  More postings in a few hours.

10:00 p.m.

• Barack is President.  Mitch is Governor.  Abdul is right.

9:25 p.m.

• ABC News is calling Ohio for Barack Obama. If it holds this race is pretty much over!

8:38 p.m.

• Ponder this. In Marion County Democrats are out straight-ticket voting Republicans by 20,000 votes but Daniels is winning by 47,000 votes.

8:08 p.m.

• I just got off the phone with a Marion County township assessor. Many of them are conceding defeat.

7:55 p.m.

• I just checked the township consolidation question. Consolidation is winning 67-32 %. But there is no breakdown by township.

7:50 p.m.

• Zoeller and Pence still to close to call. The big question is going to be who has longer coattails? Obama or Mitch.

7:38 p.m.

• JLT is only leading in a handful of counties.
• McCain and Obama are still neck and neck.

7:15 p.m.

• AP has called Vermont for Obama and Kentucky for McCain. Indiana is still too close to call.
• JLT is only ahead in 6 counties.

The AP is declaring Mitch Daniels the winner. It’s only 7:02. That was quick. No surprise, but quick.

The polls are closed in most of Indiana. I’ll be live blogging all night from the RTV 6 studios. Feel free to post your post-electoral thoughts here.

The first thing I can tell you is that the Daniels camp called 100,000 voters today.

We’ll see how that impacted the results.

Nuff said!

Okay, here are my predictions for Election Day.   They are based on the following, quantitative and qualitative analysis of poll numbers, news stories, organizational strengths and weaknesses, 20 months of following these issues, and good old fashioned gut instinct.  And as always, anything can happen in politics.

• President – Obama (354-184) and 53% of the popular vote.
•  McCain pulls off Indiana by a squeaker.
• Governor – Daniels (55-45), not enough straight tickets to help JLT and more than enough split tickets to help Mitch.
• Democrats pick up seven seats.  Mitch McConnell in Kentucky makes the cut.   Georgia ends up in a run-off because of the Libertarian and neither candidate getting more than 50 percent.  It will be the first big test of the new President’s and Democrats’ coattails.
• Democrats pick up at least 20 seats.
• Democrats make a net gain of one house in the Indiana Legislature seat to go 52-48.
• The Township Assessors get defeated.  If they don’t what I’m hearing over at the Capitol will make them wish they went away quietly.
• IPS Bond referendum is defeated.