May 06, 2008
One Guy's View In IN
Rob Berntsen expected to spend the WH‘08 cycle far away from presidential politics. That is until the battle for the Dem nomination rolled into his IN backyard.
Berntsen was John Edwards’ state director in IA in ‘04, when the NC senator made his name with a strong second place showing. Since ’04, Berntsen, an IA native, has done a tour of duty in Iraq with the National Guard and moved to Evansville, IN, to be closer to his wife’s family.
Watching the campaign unfold in the Hoosier State, Berntsen says he’s impressed with the speed at which Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have been able to mobilize their ground games. “That’s one of the positives of this extended campaign,” he says. In the general, “that’s going to come back to be a very big positive [for Democrats].”
Around Evansville, IN’s third largest city, the campaigns have been door knocking, making calls, holding rallies – it’s felt a little like IA, although not quite, says Berntsen, sounding nostalgic.
On the ground, one advantage for Clinton, says Berntsen, who’s an Obama supporter, is her support from Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN). Bayh was a two-term governor, and “he carries a tremendous amount of weight in this state. I think that will have an impact,” Berntsen says.
On the other hand, Obama could benefit from IN’s proximity to the Chicago media market. Gary, in the northwest corner of the state, is only a 40-minute drive from the city. “The media market up there bleeds over pretty heavily – he’s got to benefit from that. His name is already known,” Berntsen says.
Turning to his old boss -- who told People Magazine this week that he wouldn’t endorse during the primary season -- Berntsen says: “It’s just a struggle. I think he sees things in both candidates that he likes.” Asked if he thought Elizabeth Edwards feels the same way, Bernsten says: “We all know Elizabeth is a very independent thinker.”
Would Edwards throw his weight behind a candidate if there’s still a stalemate in June? Berntsen: “He cares deeply about the Democratic Party. If he is called upon to make that decision, there’s no reason to doubt that he wouldn’t.”
(Hotline's SEAN MILLER)
Posted at 04:38 PM
Comments
Leak some early exit poll data, dammmmit!!!!!!
Please?
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Hank Essay | 05.06.08 04:57 PM
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Check Drudge. He's usually shameless enough to post some early numbers in the afternoon.
LN | 05.06.08 05:08 PM
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