Indiana Democrats nominate newcomers for statewide offices

[IndianaGreen]

Indiana Democrats nominate newcomers for statewide offices

By Mary Beth Schneider
Posted: June 27, 2010

Their convention theme was "A New Generation of Leadership," and that's what Democrats chose Saturday as they nominated a statewide ticket of new faces.
They picked Indianapolis architect Vop Osili, a political newcomer, over veteran Tom McKenna for secretary of state by a vote of 1,215 to 338.

And they chose two men under the age of 30 for the rest of their ticket -- 28-year-old Peter Buttigieg for state treasurer and 27-year-old Sam Locke for state auditor.

None of them has run for elected office before. And they'll be going up against an experienced Republican team in November.

This year, though, Democrats are practically forced to find a new generation of political candidates. In February, the man who has been the face of the state party since the 1980s, Evan Bayh, announced he would not seek a third term in the U.S. Senate.

http://www.indystar.com/article/20100627/NEWS05/6270361/Dems-nominate-newcomers-statewide

[LiberalFighter]

1. Schneider forgot to add experienced at being incompetent.

I sure as hell wouldn't put much stock in White's experience as a town council member for Secretary of State.

I would had thought that Bayh would had introduced Ellsworth during his appearance. Guess Bayh as always is just too busy.

On McKenna and Vop. I waited until this past Wednesday before deciding to support Vop. His youth was part of the many reasons that I thought Vop was the best candidate for our Party. Win or lose I didn't think McKenna would run for election 4 years from now. And it is better for the Party to have someone around the next time that builds their resume and name recognition. Personally, I didn't think it helped McKenna to have Kernan tag along through the caucuses and be introduced by him at the nomination. Kernan has been gone for 8 years and wasn't Governor for that long.

Vop to me also appeared to have the necessary organization and strategy to win. Mainly, campaigning in every county instead of limiting it to mostly Marion County area and Lake County.

I wonder what Schneider's assessment of Bayh was when he ran for Secretary of State? He wasn't 31 until December in 1986.

[LiberalFighter]

2. An assessment I made today about Vop.

Compared to Bayh, I think Vop is more mature and intelligent than Bayh was when he became SoS and even now.