Indiana voters debate swing state status
By Sarah Hutchins, Youth Vote '08 correspondent
The Indiana Campaign for Change--a coalition of the Indiana University Students for Barack Obama and IU College Democrats--has one goal: to turn a traditionally red state blue.
However, in the weeks leading up to Election Day, Indiana is looking more like a vibrant shade of purple than red or blue. According to pollster.com, the Republican stronghold is now considered a toss up state. And while Indiana Democrats are not planning a victory party yet, it does give them reason to celebrate. Indiana's 11 electoral votes have not gone to a Democrat since 1964.
Part of the change is due to the Democratic Party's increased focus on Indiana starting as early as the primaries, said Ted Carmines, political science professor at Indiana University.
While the nominees are usually decided by the time the late Indiana primary rolls around in May, both Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ran vigorous campaigns to win Indiana. Despite Clinton's primary victory, Obama maintained his organizational strength in the state, Carmines said.
"The Republican label has been weakened," Carmines said.
"There's going to be a shift to places (like Indiana) to try and put those normally republican states in the winning column," Carmine said. "It's not like there's any other strategy."
But in a traditionally Republican state with a strong Democratic campaign, trying to determine where Indiana stands has become increasingly difficult.
Turning Indiana blue
Anna Strand, president of the IU College Democrats, said student organization has been key in helping Indiana switch from red to blue.
"Indiana like other traditionally Republican states such as Virginia have become swing states, because people are ready for a new leadership and see Senator Obama in that position," Strand said. "The strength of Obama's grassroots campaign is educating undecided voters and energizing volunteers to work to turn states like Indiana blue."
Now that voter registration is over, both Democrat and Republican student groups are educating voters and pushing early voting. Last week there was an early voting location available on campus and Strand said the Campaign for Change is continuing to shuttle students to an early voting location downtown.
The Campaign for Change has also brought well-known speakers to IU to stump for Obama. Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright and actor Kal Penn have both been to campus to endorse the Democrat.
Keeping Indiana red
While the IU College Republicans have not brought celebrities to campus, Chelsea Kane, president of the IU College Republicans, emphasized that the quality of a speaker is more important than quantity.
"The network for John McCain is very different," Kane said. "Barack Obama is endorsed by celebrities. They don't speak to his character and policies...The people we're going to bring here are going to be substantive. They are going to answer questions about John McCain properly."
As "Obama fever" (as Kane put it) continues to sweep through campus, Kane said the Republicans are feeling the pressure.
"John McCain is not going to do well here," she said in reference to Bloomington. "It's not surprising and it will not be a shock. It's just the precedent that's been set in the area. Republicans do not put a lot of money into the area because it's not worth the resources. It's a very liberal environment."
However, while Monroe County might be Obama's turf, Kane added that understanding Indiana voters means looking beyond the college campus.
"We've been a red state since the 60s with little flux," she said. "I hope that on Election Day Indiana voters will go back to their roots and find their identity with a candidate who has a vision and unwavering service to America."
Swing state students
While the campus political leaders see the election through rose--or blue--colored glasses, students on the Indiana University and Ball State University campuses seem relatively unmoved by Indiana's newfound, swing state status.
Many students decided to vote absentee from their hometowns before the race in Indiana became close. Others are from neighboring swing states like Missouri and Ohio where they feel their votes counts just as much as it would in Indiana.
"I'm voting absentee this election because I didn't know there was another choice," said Ashley Keebler, a junior from Ball State. "I feel like Indiana matters a lot less to me than Ohio anyways. I feel like Ohio is much more of a swing state where my vote will count."
But for some students, where they decide to vote is just as important as who they end up voting for.
"The fact that Indiana matters so much made me want to vote here," said Chris Spille, a junior at Ball State. "Illinois is always blue and that's never any fun."
