Published: April 17, 2008 12:08 pm            

Rep. Baron Hill not yet committed in presidential primary

As the May 6 primary for Indiana nears, a big question looms for Democratic Party voters — will it be Clinton or Obama?

Southern Indiana’s national Democratic representatives, Rep. Baron Hill of the 9th District, and Sen. Evan Bayh, could be called upon as “superdelegates” to render a special vote to declare a candidate if the national primaries for the Democratic Party presidential nomination are as close as predicted.

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., are vying for a spot on the ticket for the November election.

Hill, halfway through his most recent elected term, is “uncommitted,” said his press secretary Katie Moreau in a telephone interview last week.

“He goes to events for both candidates,” she said.

On the other hand, Bayh, who represents the entire state in the U.S. Senate, has endorsed Clinton through statements, attendance at her events and television advertisements.

“Sen. Bayh has endorsed Sen. Clinton since September,” said Washington, D.C., spokeswoman Marie Francis in a telephone interview Tuesday.

In a prepared statement, Bayh said: “America’s next president must be experienced, intelligent, seasoned and strong. And, I believe Hillary Clinton is all of these things and more, which is why I have given her my endorsement.”

Bayh noted he has worked closely with Clinton since her husband, former President Bill Clinton, was governor of Arkansas. Bayh is the former governor of Indiana.

He works with her on the Armed Services Committee, and has traveled with her to Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan for meetings with leaders of those nations.

“I am convinced she will reach out to Republicans and independents to forge consensus.” Bayh said. “In our system, that is the only way progress can happen. And I am convinced that is what she is all about, not ideology or partisanship, but progress for America, making the changes necessary to move our nation forward.”

Regardless of what happens with the Democratic Party nomination, this time is unparalleled for Indiana voters, said Hill’s spokeswoman Moreau.

“Congressman Hill is excited about what this [the primary] means for Indiana,” Moreau said. “So many voters are getting involved.”

The former first lady currently trails Obama by 136 delegates in The Associated Press’ count, and the odds are long that she will be able to overtake Obama by the time the primaries end on the first Tuesday in June, according to an AP article.



SO YOU KNOW

• Indiana will have 13 unpledged superdelegates to the Democratic National Convention, 12 of whom have been named. The 13th unpledged delegate will be nominated by the state party in June.



IN OBAMA'S CORNER

• Rep. Andre Carson

• Cordelia Lewis-Burks, vice chairwoman of state party

• Connie Thurman, DNC member from Indianapolis



IN CLINTON'S CORNER

• Sen. Evan Bayh

• Phoebe Crane, Democratic National Committee member from Whitestown

• Joe Andrew, former national Democratic chairman

• Dan Parker, state party chairman

• Robert Pastrick, former East Chicago mayor and DNC member

        

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