The AG Race: Rumor Has It…
I have not blogged about the AG race lately, as there isn’t a whole lot to say.
Mitch has long-since thrown his backing behind Jon Costas, the man that he hand-picked to be a candidate in the first place. That’s about as surprising as the director for some movie saying that the movie’s lead actor deserves an Academy Award; it’s about as ringing an endorsement as a candidate being endorsed by their own mother.
Now, however, Hoosierpundit sources in Marion County have an interesting tidbit from the rumor mill about the looming GOP convention floor fight for attorney general.
Carl Brizzi, the Republican prosecutor in Marion County, endorsed Greg Zoeller, whose unwillingness to yield to Mitch Daniels’ grand design threatens to torpedo the Governor’s pick for attorney general in a potentially embarrassing convention floor fight.
Brizzi’s endorsement has put Marion County’s hundreds of convention delegates in play, and there are almost a hundred open convention delegate slots from Indy.
Perhaps fearing weakness by Costas (large areas of the state have lined up in favor of Zoeller), the Governor and his allies have gone into overdrive to push a turnout of pro-Costas delegates from Indianapolis.
Because the GOP state convention is a one-day affair, on a weekday, in Indianapolis, getting delegates to the convention from the rest of the state will be difficult (traditionally, just getting a quorum at the convention has proven difficult at times in the past).
But getting big delegate turnout from Indy will be easy.
The Marion County GOP is now mandating that appointed convention delegates sign a loyalty oath, a signed affidavit, pledging to vote for Jon Costas for attorney general. The pressure upon these would-be delegates is significant, and the desire to ram through the Costas nomination high.
One can’t also help but wonder if certain Ron Paul supporters, who have already made trouble in GOP state conventions in states such as Nevada, might well be willing to make such loyalty oaths to gain convention delegate appointments and cause endless trouble in other areas.
And that is only the beginning of the unintended consequences of strong-arming delegates with such tactics, and thus effectively limiting the pool of willing and eager convention attendees.
The efforts in Marion County raise serious questions about the Costas candidacy.
If Costas’ victory must be obtained by the Governor ramming it down the throat of the convention–a gathering of a party base that is already fractious and frequently none-to-happy with the Governor for reasons best discussed elsewhere–then what sort of victory is it?
If Costas cannot win a convention floor fight without being railroaded through by Mitch Daniels, then that does not speak well for his appeal as a candidate in November.
This post is also available at Hoosierpundit.
May 14th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
You’ve hit the nail right on the head with this one, Scott. Why even have a convention. With gas prices so high, everyone could just stay home and let the Governor pick the state candidates. We can stay home in the fall too, when the Governor needs our vote. Doesn’t he realize that Zoeller’s name alone counts for something “fuzzy” and his connections with Carter and Quayle will pull in something up north. And what about those congressional seats down south that are looking for some Republican voters. A boy from Clarksville couldn’t hurt there either. The Marion County strategy explains why Costas hasn’t been seen at very many Lincoln Days. From what I hear, he has been guaranteed the spot without working for it. Keep letting us in on the scoop, even though it’s not a flavor we like.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Carl Brizzi seems to think that he controls things in Marion County politics and now his got his eye on the state. Going up against a governor from your own party in his election year is something that you can get away with once IF you never plan on running for elected office again.
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After this is all over in November it will be interesting to see how Brizzi’s actions affected the following:
1. The Attorney General’s race, especially the final results (DEM or GOP).
2. The Governor’s race final results (DEM or GOP)
3. Most importantly, Carl Brizzi’s future elect-ability to any office.
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Brizzi may be giving Democrats the opportunity to dominate both Marion County and the state.
Stay tuned for the results!
May 15th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
If this is true (and I assume it is, otherwise it wouldn’t have been posted) it sure gives me a lot to think about before I cast my vote…
May 15th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
This is true as my friend received call from Tim John. He is voting for Zoeller he can’t believe they told him how to vote. Are we the new party of threats? Fortunately Ballard did not allow the bullies to do this to him.
May 15th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
I’m hearing the same thing the more I check into it–and I am not a happy camper right now….
May 15th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Not true in the least.
First, Jon Costas was very open, even on the blogger conference call hosted by this site, that he had the tacit and now full support of the Governor. Since when does having the support of the Governor amount to something insidious?
Marion County GOP officials, including the chairman have indeed endorsed Mayor Costas, again nothing sly or underhanded about that.
Perhaps some sour grapes by the county prosecutor who wanted his guy elected and thought it was a done deal? Did Steve Carter tell Zoeller it was a lock?
As for the conversation about south versus the north, we will have a strong contingent from the south already, as pointed out by the Governor, a northern contingency would do nothing but help the entire slate in November.
May 15th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
There isn’t a lot that can be done about it; the power of the county chairman to make appointments to fill empty delegate spots is essentially absolute. Tom John could demand that you stand on your head before he appoints you, if he wanted. That does not make it right or even a good idea, but it is how it is.
But if Costas becomes, by virtue of these very tactics, a Mitch-ram-through candidate of Indianapolis against the rest of the state, the a bad things are certain to follow at the convention; not just for him but more broadly also.
They are playing with fire.
May 15th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
So, when Hillary uses the power of the convention to her benefit we cheer. When Huckabee and McCain team up to hurt Romney, great by all of us. But when Governor Daniels endorses it’s a ram-thru?
May 15th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
And to make it very clear, I have spoken with Jon Costas twice (once in the conference call and again later in a phone conversation). I find him to be a stand-up guy and have nothing but good things to say about him. Stories of his basic qualities posted about him that I have read elsewhere do nothing but reinforce this view.
I don’t even care that he is Mitch’s man (and has been from before he entered the race, and certainly well before the Governor felt compelled to break a false facade of neutrality and endorse him). Mitch is entitled to endorse. He is not entitled to break the convention to his will.
What I take issue with is just that: the use of Indianapolis strong-arm tactics and ugly things like loyalty oaths (not by Mr. Costas but instead by some of his erstwhile supporters) to try and stack the deck at the convention. I also take issue with how the Governor and his people have tried to rig the process from the start by things like getting the state committee to insist that candidates not declare themselves, then having Costas break that agreement (ensuring that Mitch’s man was first out of the gate while everyone else stood around politely and did nothing).
If Costas is such a great candidate, then he should be able to win without his supporters having to result to such unseemly methods. Certainly, he has in the past demonstrated that he values above all fair play. Why not demand it of his supporters now?
May 15th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
I guess my question is why are there vacancies in the GOP convention delegates?
For those that have been called, are the callers politicking or are they arm twisting? I have no problem with the former. I do with the latter. There is nothing wrong with a good contest so long as no one gets dragged through the mud.
May 15th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Mayor Jon Costas is a great man and a great entrepreneur and attorney as well. He has done a phenomenal job as mayor of Valparaiso, IN. Jon is one of the few remaining politicians who has campaigned with complete integrity and transparency — which speaks volumes for his character.
“Fairness, balance, and political commonsense all argue for supporting Mayor Jon Costas,” Mitch Daniels wrote in his e-mail. He said he was a proven vote-getter and a progressive leader “of one of the best cities in our state.”
He said Costas had gained a reputation as a results-oriented problem solver, and was an accomplished attorney with 19 years of private practice experience.
“As the party of purpose in Indiana, we must do all we can to ensure that every corner of our state is involved in shaping and leading our comeback,” Daniels wrote.
I think Daniels’ comments speak volumes about Jon Costas.
May 15th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
I couldn’t agree more prayeramedic. I’ve know Jon a long while. I was on his campaign committees in 1999 & 2003 and saw first had the kind of person he truly is during and after his campaigns were over. He got handed a Valparaiso that was in much the same boat that the entire state was in…and yet not a lot of people knew about it at the time. I don’t believe though that this is a character issue nor the ability to perform the job. Isn’t it far to say that if the GOP endorses a candidate that they to would encourage their people to do the same? They wouldn’t do the opposite would they? I’m not up to date on the environment in Marion County, but I do believe that Mitch is not trying to jam someone down the throats of the delegates. He is the governor and gets to choose and be in the game. I don’t think he was going to be a fan and sit on the sidelines. Not sure this helps the party as a whole…let me rephrase, I know this doesn’t help the team as a whole.
May 15th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
And the thing is, I agree with all the positive things that have been said about Costas, and not a thing that I have posted says otherwise (despite how this post has been characterized at certain other places). Either he or Zoeller would make for an excellent attorney general. Personally, I lean toward Zoeller at the convention because he’s already there and has experience, but I’ll eagerly vote for either one of them in November (and do my utmost to help the party’s nominee after the convention).
But it’s a simple matter of stubborn facts. Why are Costas’ supporters in Marion County resorting to strong-arm tactics and demanding such backwards and draconian measures as loyalty oaths? If Costas is a strong candidate (and I believe that they both are), such tactics should not be necessary.
Moreover, from everything you folks have told me about his character (and I agree with you on it), he should want to have no part in “loyalty oaths” and other such nonsense.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
As a GOP county chairman I had the ability to appoint approximately one third of our delegates because of ballot vacancies. Although I have now endorsed Jon Costas, because of reasons posted on this site, I did not require loyalty oaths from any appointee. I was never approached by the Governor nor anyone on his campaign staff to support Jon Costas. I listened to the Governor and decided that we simply cannot return to an era of bankrupt state economics nor bankrupt values. The governorship is the endgame! The Attorney General represents the state. If we have Jill Long Thompson as governor, the Attorney General will essentially be working for her. I have told my delegates that they must use their best judgement when voting on the Attorney General. It is my duty as a party leader to lead in the best manner that I know. In my very careful analysis of this situation I determined that our best chance of winning the governor’s race is to have Jon Costas as our AG candidate. Therefore, I have asked our Howard County delegates to support Jon Costas.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
As Harrison County Chairman, I will end up appointing about two-thirds of my county’s delegates (very few people file for delegate down here, though many often ask to be appointed to go). I haven’t been called by the Governor’s people, though I know from hearing from others that they are making such calls. I have spoken with Jon Costas.
I haven’t required loyalty oaths from any of my delegate appointees, and don’t intend to do so.
I’m also not sure that I buy the geography argument in favor of Costas, because it assumes that Todd Rokita is some sort of potted plant that can’t help the campaign up north. I think that he can help, and will help a good deal even though he is not on the ballot. He certainly can help as much as Costas could.
The Costas geography argument also assumes that the Governor can make progress in the northern part of the state, and I have seen absolutely no evidence of that. I do know, however, that a Democratic gubernatorial candidate bought and paid for by Emily’s List means that the Governor can make progress in the southern part of the state. And he will need help beyond just Tony Bennett and Becky Skillman to do that.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Scott, thanks for clarifying, I’m happy to hear that you were not attacking Jon Costas or even the Governor but seemed to have some frustrations with Tom John and his organization in Marion County. Coming from NW Indiana I can only suggest I’d sure love to have an organization as well orchestrated as the Marion County one.
It sounds like you and Howard County Chair are making appointments without strong guidance but have no problem with other chairs that guide their “appointees” to support a slate. Obviously those elected as delegates are free to vote how they wish.
I too would agree that either candidate would be far better than Ms. Pence, and God forbid we tear each other limb from limb and end up with JLT as Governor. For tonite, we’ll all rest where we started: The Governor wants Jon Costas.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
You sound like your still dividing the state. I disagree with the no progress comment. Come on up here Scott and we’ll show you some progress. It might not have the stamp of Mitch Daniels on it but let me tell you first hand it would not have gotten done without some leadership in the Governor’s office. Try working with Lake County politics, it was front stage on CNN come election night.
May 15th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
There are party organizations, and then there is strong-arming and loyalty oath nonsense. One can have the former without requiring the extreme measures of the latter.
And I do very much have a problem with a contested convention being decided because Tom John has decided to rig the process by demanding draconian and absurd loyalty oaths from the delegates that he is appointing. Why should my delegates want to go all the way to Indy to participate in a contested convention if some Indianapolis good old boys are going to try and rig the thing with strong arm tactics and loyalty oaths?
Republican base voters down this way don’t appreciate Indianapolis much, and they won’t take kindly to a candidate that they think was forced upon them by Indianapolis (let alone Mitch Daniels, who has his own very serious base problems down here).
And when I speak of the Governor making “progress” in the aforementioned post, I’m talking about improving his electoral situation, not advancing the state or helping county political organizations.
May 15th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Scott, I can’t speak much to why southern Indiana would have a beef with the Governor, he’s actually becoming more and more liked in NW Indiana. Major Moves has created so much construction activity that major unions are truly torn on whether they really want a democrat.
All this and he hasn’t had to back down a bit on his stance against increasing the unions’ power over their employees. For those of us in NW Indiana, this is good news.
His 1 percent property tax cap was a master stroke of genius and he will gain tons of votes because people believe he cares.
You may know the process better than I, but I have a hard time beleiving that any one man, Tom John in this case, can have enough power to control the destiny of the entire state. Jon Costas has strong support all across Northern and Central Indiana and I guess the naive side of me is kinda confused as to why Southern Indiana would have any problem with him either.
Mr. Zoeller was here in NW Indiana today, no one took negative shots or smears, Jon wouldn’t ever allow it.
May 16th, 2008 at 12:19 am
What’s with the continual “negative shots or smears” line, exactly? Tom John is doing what Tom John is doing, and loyalty oaths are draconian and disgusting. Do you disagree? Wouldn’t you prefer that Jon Costas not need Tom John to strong-arm the Indianapolis contingent in order to win?
And how does all of the support for Greg Zoeller coming out of the 3rd District figure into Jon Costas having strong support all across northern Indiana?
The Governor has a lot of problems down this way (his undervote percentage in the recent primary was disturbingly significant), but that’s a discussion for another time (and I’d be glad to discuss it with you elsewhere if you’re genuinely interested).
May 16th, 2008 at 8:25 am
I can’t speak for Jon, nor will I, but I think people would agree that strong armed tactics, should they be going on as you describe, are not called for in this election. One district doesn’t mean Costas doesn’t have the support, it doesn’t mean that Zoeller does. Both would make fine AG’s. As far as progress, I see progress as a whole, progress in the form of not just counting votes to get elected and doing things to help in this cause, that’s not leadership, but progress after the votes have been counted. Leadership is hard, especially after an election.
May 16th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Did you catch the WISH TV interview last night where Costas said the Gov’s endorsement was like throwing gasoline on the fire? I think that pretty much sums it up. Although I think he was thinking it was a good thing. Both AG candidates are fine upstanding men who are caught up in an unfortunate situation that neither has total control of. Unfortunately for them, the outside sources who get involved take us away from the original democratic intentions for the convention- that being a good political debate and a healthy contest.
May 16th, 2008 at 11:51 am
chris took the words out of my mouth–i don’t have anything against (or at this point, for) either candidate, but the manner with wich the “institution” is attempting to garner votes (at least indy’s) is despicable…
May 16th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
First, I think we need a little historical perspective on the whole convention process. How did we get to this point? My first convention was in 1972. I was the first elected 18 year old in Indiana. My office? Delegate to the Republican State Convention.
If my memory serves me there were three or four contenders for Governor that year. This was the final Gubernatorial candidate selected this way. The process was extremely exciting. Every week for about eight weeks there were one or two cocktail parties in our county where a prospective candidate for Governor, Lt. Governor and other state wide offices would appear, schmooze the locals and work for votes. Deals were made prior to the convention by county chairmen and district chairmen, trading delegate votes like baseball cards. I remember the 1972 convention very well. Heck, it was the first time that this poor boy from Kokomo had ever tasted caviar, courtesy of Bob Orr’s hospitality suite.
Our county chairman called a caucus of our delegates and told us that we were going to vote for Judge Sharp for Governor. I stood up and asked why. I was a Bowen man then, now and forever! In front of our delegation our chairman told us that he had promised the Hamilton County chairman four years earlier, when Richard Roudebush retired from Congress, that if Hamilton County would back Bud Hillis from our county, then we would owe them a favor when they called for it. The 1972 convention was payback time. Being 18 and in no mood to be reasonable I declared loudly, “You made the deal, you vote for Sharp! I’m voting for Bowen and you can’t stop me.” Well, the caucus quickly unravelled. Eventually Howard County went for Bowen by a 2:1 margin. It was then that I learned the true power of a county chairman.
Well, our state finally decided that a direct primary would be the best way to select a Governor. However, we couldn’t trust the voters with selecting the balance of the team. After all, you could end up with a Lt. Governor who had polar viewpoints on just about every subject. That’s why all of the other state wide offices remained in the state convention. Governor candidates being as they are and state party’s being as they are, they quickly realized that it was politically sound and cost effective to have most positions wrapped up well before the convention actually started. With the exception of a couple of conventions, notably 1992, there has been little excitement or intrigue. Conventions have sunk to the status of a pep rally. Not exactly the type of rallying cry to get someone to go down to the court house, declare for delegate, pay $80, travel all the way to Indianapolis and miss work for a day. This is why there is a huge number of ballot vacancies and the chairman has regained a huge amount of power through his ability to fill delegate vacancies. Ironic.
Which brings me back to 2008. I believe that a contested race for Attorney General is healthy. It has put meaning back into the convention. It is interesting. It makes us think, organize and work for it. Yes, I have endorsed Jon Costas. He will make a great AG. The Governor nor any of his staff or campaign staff have strong armed or lobbied me. I told both Greg Zoeller and Jon Costas from the beginning that I would remain neutral unless Governor Daniels openly endorsed a candidate. Last week, when Governor Daniels did just that, I enthusiastically endorsed Jon Costas. I did it because Jon Costas will be great AG and the Governor wants him on the ticket for geographical balance. I told Jon Costas that I was sure that I could deliver one vote at least. I trust that the other 33 delegates from Howard County will view his candidacy favorably.
I would humbly suggest that everyone take a deep breath and enjoy this experience of a contested convention. It should be fun and our Party can become stronger because of it.
May 17th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Thanks for the support of Mayor Jon Costas … and the history lesson.
May 19th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
I am truly shocked that people do not realize what is going on with this Costas promotion. This is all about getting big Indiana law firms to run our state again. The State party knows that Steve Carter has run the office as an independent…the way the office is supposed to be run. Zoeller, would do the same.
Costas was “recruited” by people like Bill Osterle, etc just for this purpose.
I don’t think a lot of you out there know Greg Zoeller’s wealth of experience. He has served as Carter’s Chief Deputy for the past 7 years. Prior to that he was President of the World Trade Association in Indiana. Prior to that he served with Dan Quayle when he was Indiana’s Senator and our Nation’s Vice President. Bottom line: Greg Zoeller has been a supporting and active Republican, serving the Citizens of Indiana for over 20 years. It is his turn for the party to show him a bit of loyalty back. This is his job and it is his time.