Since huckleberry is desperate for a diary, I thought I would oblige by sharing Obama's new Indiana ad which smacks down McSame on the economy. The ad uses real Hoosiers (including a vet) and of course McSame's own stupid statements to hit home.

Take a look.

The speculation on Obama's choice for veep is running amok at this hour as conventional wisdom has it that the Illinois senator will pick his running mate Saturday in his homestate's capital of Springfield.  Fortunately, many pundits still list Senator Evan Bayh, from neighboring Indiana, as one of the leading contenders.

Survey USA Indiana poll

Since Virginia is in play this year and has 13, possibly deciding, electoral votes it may not be a bad idea for Obama to announce his running mate there. Speculation is running rampant with the convention just a week away and thus far Obama's last announced appearance this week is in Martinsville, Virginia.

Since he'll be there Wednesday everyone has been speculating about Tim Kaine getting the nod. But there are a few other possibilities with Virginia relations.

This is the first in a three-part series on the state of the race in Indiana.  Part I will focus on the presidential race.  Part II will be about the congressional races in Indiana.  Part III will focus on the importance of local races in Indiana and how they can impact the next decade of elections and the future of our Congressional delegation.

Cross posted from www.blueindiana.net and at www.mydd.com.

Last Saturday in my diary I pointed out how some Indiana wing-nuts were in denial about Barack Obama's field offices in the Hoosier State, saying:

The Obama presence in Indiana is a myth.

You will be pleased to know that Obama has opened a few more non-existent offices, including one in populous Lake County, IN.

Thomas at BlueIndiana.net diaried the latest today.

Read more below the fold.

On Monday I wrote a diary about Obama's targeted radio spot hitting McCain over the economy in Wisconsin.  It emerged as part of an overall strategy in which Obama airs positive ads nationally, but targets McCain with attack ads locally.  

Well, Obama just upped the ante, asking: "How can John McCain fix the economy.  When he doesn't think it's broken?"  As of now, the ad is just running in Indiana (a test, perhaps?).  Take a look here or below (as soon as YouTube is available, I'll swap this out):

Transcript follows:

I've decided to start running some analysis for the presidential race.  I'm going to cover races that Pollster.com rates as "tossup".  Tonight: Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Indiana.

UPDATE

I just realized that I forgot to include dots for McCain.  The lines are correct, and the blue dots are also correct

I'll add the red dots for McCain next time

Several people have commented on the fact that the "Book" ad is not airing in IN or GA.
AD  

I like the use of real Hoosiers speaking in the ad.

If it's late summer 2008, then Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels must be running for re-election.

crossposted from unbossed

This is my first diary after spending several months reading and commenting.  Something is in the air in Indiana, and it smells mighty fine.

Obama in Kailua, Hawaii after playing golf

With the way Obama has expanded the number of states in play, it's natural to wonder--which normally red states would have to be close or even turn blue for this to be an Obama blowout?  In looking at what's been happening of late, the answer to that question is becoming more and more obvious--Georgia and Indiana.  How's that, you say?  Well, both states would normally be an uphill battle for a Democrat in most years.  If Hillary were on the ticket, as much as I hate to say it, these two states would be completely out of play.  But based on the encouraging numbers out of Georgia and Indiana, as well as demographics, it's more and more obvious--if these states are at all close, we will drown McCain in November.

Face it. Wing-nuts can be infuriating sometimes, but other times, they are simply laughable.

Recently, the right-wing blog Frugal Hoosiers had this to say:

The Obama campaign has received some great press recently on the investment and presence he supposedly has in Indiana.

(snip)

As proof of Obama's dedication to the Hoosier state, his website lists 14 offices that he currently has opened in Indiana.  Impressive.  One would think that Obama really does care about Indiana, that it's a battleground state, and he's invested considerable resources in office space and staff to compete here.

One would be wrong.

A visual survey of a majority of the Obama offices around the state reveals that they are nothing more than an assortment of vacant spaces, offices for other candidates, and county party headquarters.  In other words, the Obama presence in Indiana is a myth, a campaign of smoke and mirrors designed to give the impression that Indiana is up for grabs and Obama is investing millions to win here.

These guys are unbelievable.

More below the fold:

This isn't much of a diary but I love this clip and wanted to share with those who may have missed it on CNN's ticker.  I can't think of another politician, at any level, who consistently delivers these types of moments.  Also, what a brave little girl.

Some GREAT breaking stuff from Obama's town-hall meeting occuring now in Indiana.  He opened up with remarks that took McCain to task even harder than he has in the past:

"Senator McCain’s energy plan reads like an early Christmas list for oil and gas lobbyists. And it’s no wonder – because many of his top advisors are former oil and gas lobbyists."

Love that he included the fact that his advisors were oil and gas lobbyists.  It's as if Barack Obama suddenly woke up and realized all the material he had to work with in going after McCain.  But there's much more great stuff:

I’m Barry Welsh and I am the Democratic Candidate for Congress running for a second time against Mike Pence for the privilege of serving the people of Indiana’s 6th District.

You might have heard Mike on CNN saying they were going to be staying indefinitely, as long as it took for The Honorable Speaker Pelosi (My words not his) to bring the House back into session and have an up or down vote on drilling.

More

Mike Pence the wingnut currently responsible for Indiana's 6th Congressional District is currently having a temper tantrum on the floor of the House over offshore drilling.

 Meanwhile, Barry Welsh, the Democratic challenger in 2008 has the district all to himself for a whole month, assuming Pence actually does what he said he'll do. (Republican, remember?)

 I think it would be right Kossack like of us to show up and assist in turning this district a nice, pretty shade of blue, don't you?