I'm not from Indiana, but I'm curious, now that Evan Bayh is quitting, what

[Cleita]

do you guys think of running Craig Becker in his seat? It appears his appointment by Obama won't go through.

[IndianaGreen]

1. Indiana is very parochial in its politics

One has to develop strong ties at the grassroot level, no matter which party one is affiliated with. This is why Dan Coats was only given an outside chance of becoming the GOP nominee. He hadn't been around!

[Cleita]

2. Let me guess, you have a lot of independents with guns. However, what

if you got a labor guy who talked to these working class people about kitchen table issues that matter to them? I think this guy could do it. I don't think he will get the job Obama nominated him for because of our own obstructionist Congress, but he could run for the Senate in Indiana if he is drafted and gets the support. Or, you could see that seat go to a Republican.

[IndianaGreen]

3. Becker is not even a resident of Indiana

and having graduated from Yale is a big minus around here!

[Cleita]

4. Well, if he's not a resident that's that, but sometimes it turns out that

owning some property qualifies you for residency. Bush went to Yale too. Is that why?

Anyway it doesn't need to be Becker, but I think you guys have to have a progressive union guy to run hiding under the bushes somewhere in the state? States like yours can't run on traditional liberal causes but labor will win, especially in a depressed economy.

[caraher]

5. Yale is Ivy League. Bush has nothing to do with it

What they want to know here is, are you a Hoosier? East coast "elite" education hurts your "Hoosier cred" 9 times out of 10.