Sat, May 17 2008
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Indiana’s historic primary is upon us. Madison County residents have had opportunities to see both Democratic presidential candidates, Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, along with a number of their campaign volunteers getting out the word.
Though the presidential campaign has galvanized the electorate, citizens cannot forget their local races because the folks who win these will be setting tax rates and policies that will affect everyone.
Primaries are notorious for low voter turnout because of the absence of partisan posturing. But the tooth-and-nail, take-no-prisoners campaigns of Clinton and Obama have split the Democratic Party. Upon close inspection, the views and policies of both candidates are similar, something Obama admitted when he was in Anderson. But the two camps are polarized to the point of stressing the minutiae differences on which they disagree.
Polls show Clinton and Obama in a virtual dead heat in Indiana with Obama tracking ahead in North Carolina, which also votes today.
Even though it’s a primary, Republicans may engage in some political gamesmanship by crossing party lines to vote Democratic. That way they can help pick the candidate they think presumptive GOP candidate Sen. John McCain can beat. Conservative talk-show host Rush Limbaugh has admitted to spearheading this movement.
Three other Republicans will be on Madison County’s ballot: Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney and Ron Paul. The first two have declared themselves out of the race, but Paul is very much in it. He campaigned in Indiana on Monday.
With Pat Dillon not seeking re-election in the County Commissioner Middle District race, two Democrats and two Republicans have stepped in to fill the void. Voters will decide Tuesday who will face off in November.
Republicans will have to decide between Kelly Gaskill and Greg Valentine as to who will face Scott Reske this fall in the state representative race for District 37. Also, Republican state Sen. Luke Kenley, District 20, which takes in part of western Madison County, has a challenger in Ken Geesamer.
There are choices to be made for both parties.
Whereas those candidates will have six more months to prepare for the general election, school board candidates will be elected Tuesday. Voters have had many opportunities to see and hear the candidates from all of the county school systems. The Herald Bulletin has run profiles on the candidates and the races, and we’ve offered our endorsements. (To read our endorsements, go to www.theheraldbulletin.com and click on Opinion.) There have been debates and forums. Now it’s time to put board members in office for terms beginning July 1.
The Herald Bulletin would like to thank, and extend good luck to, all of the candidates who took it upon themselves to serve the public. It’s not an easy task. It’s competitive and involves time and dedication. But it’s these people, and those who vote, who perpetuate the democratic process of representative government.
This process has served America well, and will continue to do so as long as we are all participants.
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The Herald Bulletin will be following Tuesday’s election from when the polls open at 6 a.m. to late Tuesday when all votes are counted. Our Web site, www.theheraldbulletin.com, will have continuous updates throughout the day and will have a link with the Madison County clerk’s office where voters can go, after 6 p.m., and see the votes as they are tallied.
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