Democratic candidates blaze campaign trail by bus

The team filed out of the statehouse parking lot and loaded a charter bus Friday afternoon as managers checked the drink cooler and got ready to call roll. Gov. Frank O'Bannon -- here, Lt. Gov. Joe Kernan -- here, the Johnson team -- here … \nThe Democratic candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, superintendent and senator made the first three of 30 stops on the O'Bannon Victory Express leading up to Nov. 7.\nThe team included two Harvard graduates, an alumnus of IU's law school and others who never took the LSAT. But they had a common goal of getting their party elected.\n"We need a Democratic sweep from the White House to the courthouse in Brownstown," said Gerald McCullum, the Democratic nominee for state superintendent of public instruction.\nWireless phones pressed to passengers' ears, and red, white and blue signs taped to bus windows made the trip a cross between a corporate flight and a high school road game.\nThe candidates sat with their staffs and families. Karen Freeman-Wilson put her arm around her 6-year-old daughter, Jordan, on the way to Seymour. Other candidates re-thought their remarks, talked about the Democratic tilt of Southern Indiana's towns and reviewed the routine of introductions with campaign managers. \nAbout 150 people greeted them in Seymour to cheer on O'Bannon and the Democratic Party. Seymour resident John Martindale said he planned to vote for O'Bannon because "he's just one of those good ole' boys."\nThe candidates were out of Seymour in 20 minutes and headed to Columbus with a gift basket from Seymour Democrats. \nBack on the bus, McCullum and his wife talked about how sad it was that one of their old friends in Seymour had to have his legs amputated. Communications director Doug Davidoff told O'Bannon about all of the media who would want to talk with him in Columbus. \nWhen they arrived in Columbus, David Johnson, the Democratic nominee for senator, looked at the crowd and said it was different than in 1988, when Gov. Evan Bayh became the first Democratic governor in Indiana in more than 25 years.\nAlong with about 150 Columbus residents, former Senator Birch Bayh met the Democratic candidates and gave them his support. \n"In one day, Dave Johnson did more for farmers than Dick Lugar has in 24 years," he said.\nKernan gave the crowd a "McUpdate," referring to Congressman David McIntosh, O'Bannon's main competition for governor. Kernan attacked McIntosh's missed votes and negative comments in his campaign for governor. \nAt 6:30 p.m., the team filed back on the bus and headed for Bloomington.\nThe bus stopped at the Barnes and Nobles bookstore on Third Street to pick up Dr. Paul Perry, who is running for congressman in the 8th District against Republican incumbent John Hostettler.\nHe told about 200 students, professors, union workers and other Bloomington residents outside the Plumbers and Steam Fitters Union Hall, 1650 W. Bloomfield Rd., that he would work for a patients' bill of rights and cheaper prescription drugs as part of his healthcare plan.\n"Let's put a doctor in the house!" Perry said.\nIndiana first lady Judy O'Bannon reminded the audience that no one had voted yet and warned them not to be apathetic.\n"All of you are the ones who are really, from now on, going to determine the outcome of this election," she said. \nGov. O'Bannon closed out the night. He told those in attendance he enjoyed the last four years and wanted another four to work on issues like education. On the way home, he talked about the improvement Indiana has seen over the past five years and keeping high standards.\n"I end up being a cheerleader for the state," he said. "But it's about honest facts and figures."\nLater, he went around to others on the bus who were talking casually about the campaign and the positive changes they thought should be made for healthcare and education.\n"As you can tell, this is the fun part of campaigning because we've got a family with us," O'Bannon said.\nThe team returned to the statehouse at 9:30 p.m. The candidates told each other they enjoyed the trip and then headed to their homes and hotels to get ready to go again at 8:30 a.m.\n"When you travel around the state, you better like the people on the bus," said Robin Winston, chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party.