Published: August 09, 2008 10:24 pm         

Democrats talk ‘clean sweep’ during open house for Long Thompson

TERRE HAUTE — November’s elections may come down to “narrow margins” as one state official predicts, but Democrats rallying Saturday said they’re in it to win it — top to bottom.

“The way we’re going to win Indiana for [U.S. Sen. Barack] Obama is to get every Democrat working together,” said Terre Haute City Council President Todd Nation (D-4th) at a Jill Long Thompson for Governor Open House on Saturday afternoon.

“I didn’t want the Democrat party message to get diluted by having more than one location,” he explained, noting that the building at 509 Wabash Ave. is serving as a central location for all Democrat candidates this fall, all fighting for what Nation called a “clean sweep.”

Thompson’s representatives handed out literature and information to about 16 Vigo County residents while sharing BBQ ribs and homemade potato salad.

State Sen. Tim Skinner (D-Terre Haute), described the Democrat Party as a “family,” noting they might be dysfunctional and fight amongst themselves, but in the end “we stand shoulder to shoulder.”

Skinner predicted “a race by narrow margins,” but told the group of supporters that 2008 is definitely “our election to lose.”

In his sixth year as a state legislator, Skinner was open about working with the incumbent Gov. Mitch Daniels.

“Actually, you don’t work with Mitch Daniels,” he said. “He tells you what to do and expects you to be dumb enough to believe him.”

In launching her campaign for the state’s top seat, Thompson has solicited advice from a number of state officials, including Skinner. An act, he said, which differs greatly from the current administration.

“Mitch Daniels doesn’t care or ask what anyone thinks,” he said.

Also in attendance on Thompson’s behalf was Dora May Abel, the deputy chairwoman for Indiana’s Democrat Party, who emphasized “unity” and said Thompson has the best credentials to be governor.

“With Jill leading our state, we will go far,” she said.

Yohance Simon, Thompson’s Regional Director, told the group he had been working in “corporate America” up until this winter when he was laid off, part of a downward economy many in office don’t want to recognize.

“Our current administration doesn’t want to acknowledge we’re in a recession,” he said, but the fact that he was out of work led him to action.

Simon went to Indiana’s Democratic Party offices in Indianapolis and applied to help in this year’s campaigns “instead of sitting there yelling at the television.”

“We have an unbelievable year in 2008 for Democrats,” he said, encouraging those in attendance to help work the phones and knock on doors. “That’s what really wins elections,” he said.

Brian Boyce can be reached at (812) 231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.