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Party Leaders Differ on What Will Drive Hoosiers to the Polls

With the fall election coming Tuesday, Indiana’s Democratic and Republican Parties are working hard on direct voter contact in an effort to get people to the polls.  But party leaders have different ideas about what issues they think should be at the forefront of voters’ minds.

Indiana’s 2014 general election lacks a big ticket race – such as president or governor – and arguably lacks a marquee issue, after the proposed constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage failed to make its way onto the ballot. 

Indiana Democratic Party Chair John Zody says when people are filling out their ballots, he hopes they’re asking themselves if Indiana can do better, especially when it comes to education.

“We see the Republicans have been extraordinarily late to the game on trying to convince Hoosiers that they are supporting public education,” Zody said. “We’ve been fighting that battle for a long time and continue to do so.”

State GOP Chair Tim Berry says he thinks frustration with the federal government and satisfaction with state government will be what drives Hoosiers to the polls.

“Indiana stands head and shoulders above the rest in the Midwest as it relates to our economic standing, as it relates to our ability to recruit business and the direction that we’re moving our state under Republican leadership,” Berry said.

Three statewide offices – Secretary of State, Auditor, and Treasurer – are up for grabs Tuesday, while Democrats look to break the GOP’s supermajority in the Indiana House.

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.
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