Baron Hill For Senate?
Last night, the Democratic primary in Indiana became even more contorted than it had been during the day. Progressive Democratic candidate Tamyra D’Ippolito was working to gain enough signatures to earn a place on the primary ballot.
The deadline is today at noon, with 4,500 legitimate signatures required. If no one can reach the 4,500 signature requirement, then a small group of people from the Indiana Democratic Committee would have the chance to name the Democratic Party nominee without giving rank and file Democratic voters a chance to have a say in a party primary. It looks as if depriving Democratic voters of a voice is what Evan Bayh had in mind with the last minute timing of his announcement that he won’t be running.
The presumptive insider favorite to be appointed would be right wing Blue Dog Congressman Brad Ellsworth, who has campaigned along with Evan Bayh, and can be seen as a sort of protege of Bayh’s. However, last night, D’Ippolito revealed that she had been told that another Blue Dog, Representative Baron Hill, had been given the tip-off of Bayh’s upcoming announcement, and had gathered the required number of signatures to run for Senate himself.
“I have been told Baron Hill, Congressman of the 9th District has 4,500 signatures that he is filing tomorrow at noon,” D’Ippolito wrote, though there was some question whether Hill’s signatures were actually for his re-election campaign to the House of Representatives.
The deadline is in an hour. Rumors say that D’Ippolito has enough signatures to be on the primary ballot. Stay tuned for the results: Will she be Democratic nominee, or will Indiana Democratic voters have to put up with an appointee?
we definately do not need a progressive candidate.
Who is “we”, Gary?