O'Bannon wins '4 more years'

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana gubernatorial race ended Tuesday evening with a victory for the Democratic Party. Incumbent Gov. Frank O'Bannon and Lt. Gov. Joe Kernan celebrated their victory with the exuberant crowd that filled the Indianapolis Convention Center's 500 Ballroom.\nThe evening peaked when the winning candidates gave their acceptance speeches. Kernan spoke first, loosening up the crowd with the question: "Who has more fun than Democrats?" Kernan continued by recognizing the people who made the campaign a success.\n"I would like to thank my family, but most importantly, the thousands of volunteers and leadership of the party," he said.\nKernan said he looks forward to tackling another four years in office.\n"This keeps getting funner and funner, and I look forward to serving with one of the best governors in the nation," Kernan said. "... I look forward to the next four years because I will meet new challenges."\nKernan handed the stage to O'Bannon after remarking that "we have had four years of distinction, but there is still a lot to do."\nO'Bannon's acceptance speech followed Kernan's and was focused on family and education. It ignited the crowd into a chanting of "four more years."\nThe governor began his address by saying, "It is such an honor to be here with so many people we need to thank for being part of what we have wanted to do. I would like to thank all the people in the state of Indiana that said we are moving in the right direction."\nO'Bannon addressed the issues key to the election, such as education.\nHe continued with his support of the Community College initiative.\n"Over the next four years, we intend to have the Community College spread all the way across Indiana," O'Bannon said.\nHe said he has his confidence in the state's budget.\n"We were able to cut $1.5 billion in taxes, and with the surplus, if there are hard times we won't have to raise taxes. We also have the highest credit rating in our history," O'Bannon said.\nAfter his address, O'Bannon spoke of the phone call he received around 7:45 p.m. that confirmed the decision of Republican gubernatorial candidate David McIntosh to concede the race. This decision, spurred by the poll numbers, was based on many factors.\n"I don't feel like we lost, I feel like O'Bannon won," McIntosh said. "I feel like we also won because we share that vision, that hope, that dream."\nMike McDaniel, chairman of Indiana Republican Party said it's very tough to run against an incumbent.\nHe attributed three elements to O'Bannon's re-election.\nHe said the economy is strong, and the Governor put off dealing with the property tax issue until after the elections whereas "(McIntosh) didn't have the luxury of putting it off until after the election like the Governor did." McDaniel also said suspending the gas tax was a politically good move.\nO'Bannon commented on his opponent's decision to concede the race, saying, "I do truly wish the congressman and (McIntosh's wife) Ruthie the best."\nThe speech ended with a final word on O'Bannon's vision for of the future of the state.\n"This place is great for new things, new people and new places to see and go. There is no better place than the state of Indiana."\nStaff writer Brian Holman contributed to this story.