Published: September 06, 2008 04:54 pm            

Editorial: Obama brings personal touch to a pole barn

TERRE HAUTE — With Bayh leading way, Dem fights ‘elitist’ tag



“Your cause is his cause …”

— Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh



Barack Obama’s trademark as a public servant and politician is his ability to connect with people and generate sincere excitement about issues he believes in. If the first-term U.S. senator from Illinois ultimately succeeds in his quest to become president of the United States, it may well be his charisma and personal appeal that carry him through.

It doesn’t hurt, of course, that his message of change is coming at a time when so many Americans believe their country — and their government — is off course in so many ways.

It also didn’t hurt that Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, a Vigo County native and popular Democratic officeholder in a state that leans Republican, was front and center at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds Saturday afternoon to intone the litany of grievances against the current administration in Washington and, by association, Republican nominee John McCain.

Bayh’s rousing introduction of his fellow senator was certainly a highlight of Obama’s second visit to Vigo County and west-central Indiana in the past six months. When Obama first campaigned at Terre Haute North Vigo High School in April, Bayh was nowhere to be seen. That’s understandable because he was an ardent supporter of Obama’s Democratic primary opponent Hillary Clinton.

But there’s no question Bayh is on Obama’s side now as the Democrats try to wrestle the White House from the GOP. Bayh lent his political skills on Saturday to ensuring that the Republican ticket of McCain and runningmate Sarah Palin, a first-term governor from Alaska, cannot easily wrestle the mantel of “change” from Obama and the Democrats.

Bayh declared to the enthusiastic crowd gathered in the 4-H Arena that Obama is the candidate dedicated to moving the country toward profound change. “God knows we need it,” Bayh said.

Perhaps a not-so-subtle message being sent by the Obama campaign through its Terre Haute stop is that the Democratic nominee for president is willing to go straight to the people in rural areas with his message. The McCain campaign has worked hard to portray Obama as an elitist and a celebrity who doesn’t understand the problems of real people and does not have the experience to bring about the kind of change in Washington that is necessary.

For the people of Vigo County and Indiana, this campaign has already been one of tremendous change. Having presidential candidates visit here even once — let along twice — has been rare. Whatever happens when votes are cast and counted in early November, voters have been able to hear from candidates firsthand witness the dynamics of a presidential campaign up close.

Vigo County is unlikely to hear directly from McCain the way it has from Obama. Too bad. But political reality indicates Indiana is a Republican state and, despite evidence the state’s presidential race will be closer than usual, McCain probably won’t need to spend much time here.

Should Obama go on to win in November, the image of Obama strolling for more than an hour around the center of a large pole barn at the Fairgrounds during his campaign will be one worth clinging to for all who witnessed it.

These are important days in an important election campaign in America, and Vigo County has had the good fortune to play a visible role in it.

        

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