Indiana

Thursday?s Thoughts

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

Here are the latest little political tidbits for your amusement and entertainment.

My very reliable Republican sources are telling me the apparent front runners to replace Murray Clark as the head of the Indiana Republican Party are Ann Hathaway and 6th District Chair Ted Ogle.  Also mentioned in the running are Kevin Kellams, Cam Savage and Eric Holcomb.

Speaking of  State Chairman, it’s still unclear how long Democrat Dan Parker will stay at his job.  The word on the street has been that Parker has been looking for a new job for a while and with Evan Bayh declining a gubernatorial run, the chances of Parker staying through the end of his term in 2013 are less likely.  I’m also hearing that Marion County Democratic Chairman Ed Treacy has been working state Democrats to oust Parker as chair.

U.S. Senator Richard Lugar recently met with some Indiana Tea Party activists.  I’m not sure if the point of the meeting was to convince the activists to vote for him or to not run a challenger, however an e-mail by the tea party group says they do plan to look for a possible primary challenger.  Possible candidates are Richard Mourdock, State Treasurer and State Senator Mike Delph, who has been a big vocal critic of Lugar.

I’m getting more signs that talk of a Mike Pence Presidential run is just that, talk.  The Congressman apparently has an informal group of advisers  that meet on a regular basis  and I’m told the conversations of that group are leaning toward a gubernatorial run in 2012 as opposed to a run for the White House.

Indiana’s freshmen Republican Congressmen have received their committee assignments.  Todd Rokita has been assigned to the  House Budget committee.   8th District Congressman Larry Buschon will serve on the Transportation Committee.  9th District Congressman Todd Young will be on Armed Services.  3rd District Congressman Marlin Stutzman has been appointed to the Agricultural Committee.

Former Indiana Secretary of State candidate Vop Osili may be running for the Indianapolis City-County Council in 2011.  Osili’s name is being circulated as a contender who can bring out the African-American vote which is crucial for Democrats.   If he ran, it would be at-large.  I’m also hearing Democrats have another African-American male who will run at-large, but they are keeping his name close to the vest.

That’s all for now.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on December 16, 2010 (boomark / email).