Ex-Congresswoman Jill Long Thompson may run for Dem nomination for governor in '08

[Doondoo]

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) -- Former U.S. Rep. Jill Long Thompson said she was considering whether to launch a campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2008.

Thompson, who represented northeast Indiana in Congress during 1989 to 1995, said she has talked with many people who have encouraged her to enter the race.

"I am looking at it very seriously," she said Thursday. "But I have nothing to announce."


http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IN_GOVERNORS_RACE_INOL-?SITE=VARIT&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2007-03-02-01-31-23

[salin]

1. On the one hand, I don't know that she is a strong candidate,

given that she has lost a lot of races congressional and staewide (senate in 1986 vs Lugar). The statewide race was long ago such that there is no longer any name recognition. On the other hand, folks do not like Daniels. Anyone who gets into the race early and talks about differences between her/himself and Daniels... *IF* they could get any media coverage so that folks would read/hear about it - would up their chances significantly.

[LiberalFighter]

2. She is a good candidate. More so then others that have lost.

Yes, she lost a state-wide election. But that was to Richard Lugar in '86 who was an incumbent at the time and in a strong Republican state. I doubt that anyone thought she could win back then.

I wouldn't consider Indiana to be the same strong Republican state it was in '86 considering that we've have many win state-wide offices since Bayh won as Secretary of State also in '86. Bayh has served 2 terms as Governor followed by O'Bannon with another 2 terms. Bayh is now serving his 2nd term as Senator. We've had Jeff Modisett as State Attorney General and I believe Duwayne Brown as Clerk of the Courts.

Mitch Daniels is not Richard Lugar nor is he George W Bush to these Indiana residents. I believe the polling shows Daniels with the same numbers as GWB but not sure if Indiana's numbers for GWB are the same for Daniels. Even if the numbers are the same, what Daniels does hits closer to home then what Bush does.

I'm not saying that Jill Long will win but she will have more going for her then people think. If she has the right team running her campaign and the fallout from Bush's administration carries through to the 2008 Presidential Election.

If she begins her campaign this summer she can overcome the somewhat lack of name recognition. People in the 2nd and 3rd Congressional Districts already know her. That just leaves the other 7 districts. But the 1st, 7th, 8th and 9th are currently held by Democrats in Congress. That should help in campaigning. Indiana's Congressional delegation consists of 5 Democrats and 4 Repubicans in the House. If another strong candidate runs in the 3rd District it should help any Democratic candidate for Governor.

[salin]

3. I wish her very, very well.

I would be behind her in a moment. Your points per are well taken.