IN: Bellwether Research & Consulting: Daniels well positioned to win reelection

[JSojourner]

Daniels is, indeed, well positioned to win in November.  He has navigated the state's property tax crisis with great aplomb and, while no one is particularly happy with his solutions, they don't think the Democrats' various ideas are any better.

As to the other big issue that hurt Daniels -- the sale of the Indiana toll road to a European consortium -- he timed that perfectly.  Now, the money from the sale (hundreds of millions of dollars), is making its way into the hands of city, town and county government.  Every effort is being expended to communicate that the money spent on this new road, that repaired bridge, this bike trail, or that airport terminal, is from Governor Daniel's toll road sale.  Hoosiers are pretty easily bought. 

Finally -- the biggest indictment of Daniels is that Indiana has been hemmorhaging good jobs since he took office.  True enough.  Under Bayh, O'Bannon and Kernan, Indiana was holding steady and even making gains in terms of quality jobs.  Daniels' administration has seen horrendous job losses -- and almost all are top-dollar positions, many gone to Mexico, China or the Asian subcontinent.

But here's the thing.  Daniels is a master obfuscator.  He is showing up at every Dollar General Store, every Wal Mart and every telephone call center that opens.  200 new jobs.  550 new jobs.  80 new jobs. All because of Governor Daniels.  Of course, the media in Indiana seldom put a public official to the test.  These are sh**t jobs -- minimum wage or just above.  With very few, if any, benefits.  But all Hoosiers see or hear in the media is --  Daniels Cuts Ribbon on Wal-Mart; 600 New Jobs Created.

I still want Daniels gone.  Jill Long-Thompson is a brilliant woman who was an outstanding Congresswoman and Undersecretary of Agriculture in the Clinton Administration.  But can she, or Jim Schellinger, beat Daniels?  Not unless there is a "Ditch Mitch" movement among Republicans and Independents. I am less and less optimistic about getting rid of Mitch, the "brain" behind the economic and budget policies of George W. Bush.