ShareThisBy MARA LEE
Friday, November 03, 2006
Outside the Black Buggy General Store in Washington, Indiana, two benches flank the front door. One says "Republicans Only," the other "Democrats Only."
But in Indiana's Eighth District, represented by Republican John Hostettler the last 12 years, those distinctions are fading this year.
Election handicappers consider Hostettler the most endangered incumbent in the House of Representatives. Democrats hope to win his seat as part of their push to win a majority in the House.
His opponent, Vanderburgh County Sheriff Brad Ellsworth, is a conservative Democrat, handsome and personable.
Keith Smiley, 61, held his 2-week old great-granddaughter as he had lunch in Terre Haute with his wife, daughter and son-in-law.
"I just don't agree with what's going on," he said, noting the idea of private accounts for Social Security, and what's happening to Medicare and Medicaid.
"I voted for Hostettler two years ago," he said. "I used to be a Republican, but I'm pretty well going a Democrat now."
His daughter Marla Fields cried, "What, are you crazy?"
He said since he doesn't like how the country's being run, he'll give Democrats a chance "to see if they can do any better. Couldn't be any worse."
His wife snorted.
Marla, 38, and her husband David, 53, live in Jasonville, in Greene County. Their weekly newspaper doesn't cover the race, so all they know about Ellsworth and Hostettler is what they see on TV.
Ellsworth "seems like he's morally sound. That's what I like about him," David Fields said.
Despite Marla's objection to her dad's comments, she said, "I'll go for some of the Democrats like (Sen. Evan) Bayh," because he's not so liberal.
Indiana University political science professor Russell Hanson said Bayh has paved the way for candidates like Ellsworth. Having moderate senators "makes it possible to cross party lines for at least one office. It's a perfectly acceptable thing to do. Having done it once, maybe they'll do it again."
Around the district, from Democratic Terre Haute to Republican Putnam County to swing counties like Gibson, voters said they're Republicans, but things are such a mess in the country and in the world, it's time for a change.
The latest poll of district voters shows support for Ellsworth at 50 percent, 43 percent for Hostettler, the rest undecided. Of independents, 58 percent chose Ellsworth.
But any analysis of the district has to consider the unshakeable loyalty of many Indiana Republicans. Inside the Black Buggy, David and Donna Harris say they have already voted for Hostettler. They proudly say they vote straight Republican, every time.
David Harris said sadly the attitude that the Republicans have messed up is understandable. His wife Donna said she's afraid Democrats will win a majority in the House because of it.
Signs of the election dot the landscape, next to U.S. 41, and in the rolling hills along U.S. 50. It's not just Ellsworth and Hostettler signs, either. Along farm fields near Terre Haute, there are signs that say, "New Direction for America, End Corruption in Washington."
And just across the way from the Toyota plant in Princeton, a Baptist church sign quips, "God loves you, and he approves this message."
On Princeton's downtown square, the lunch crowd at The Palace diner fills every stool at the bar. Many customers know each other, and chat as they're eating chili and grilled cheese sandwiches.
Virginia Rogers, a retired home health care aide, is talking with Verna Jennings, a retired hairdresser. Rogers has voted for Hostettler, but said, "I think he's been in long enough. I don't see some of the results I'd like to have done.
"Katrina really bothered me a lot. I felt they could've dropped food (at the Superdome) long before they did. It was handled so poorly.
"They're left without homes and they're not getting near the aid they should get."
Jennings is upset about Hostettler's opposition to raising the minimum wage, which has been $5.15 an hour for nine years.
"I think it's time we give low-income people a little bit of a break. You can't live on the minimum wage. It's sad. Some people work two and three and four jobs in a household."
Michael Stevenson, 28, is Gibson County's surveyor, and a Republican. He's impressed by how well versed Hostettler is on federal issues. What he likes best about the man is "his Christian values," he said.
What Hostettler counts on is the best grass roots organization in the state, with most motivated by the shared Christian worldview.
What Ellsworth is hoping for is strong turnout in Vanderburgh County and Vigo County. Evansville and Terre Haute have the lion's share of voters _ 41 percent of the district's total _ but also the lowest turnout, especially in off years like this one. Four years ago, 43 percent of voters in the district went to the polls _ but in Vanderburgh, it was 39 percent, and in Vigo, 35 percent.
The avalanche of negative ads hurt the chances of a high turnout. Ann Lin, 32, of Evansville, said she's registered to vote, but considering sitting out the election because of the blitz.
"I don't like either of them right now," she said.
Hanson said it's common for folks like Lin to say, "A pox on both your houses, I'm going to stay home. That's why negative campaigning works."
Jasper Lewis, 55, of Terre Haute, leans Democrat, but said he hasn't voted in 10 years. "Everybody makes promises they can't keep," he said. "Doesn't make any difference who is in there. One is bad as the other."
