Why Endorse? Bayh Asks Hoosier Reps
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., tours Allison Transmission, Inc., in Indianapolis on April 12, 2008. Left is Jim Wanaselja, VP North America Sales and marketing, third from left is U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., and right is Karen Caswelch VP of Purchasing. (Associated Press)
By Jonathan Weisman
With his state's critical primary in two short weeks, Democratic Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh -- a strong supporter of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton -- has been leaning on the Hoosier State's freshman House members to stay on the sidelines rather than endorse Sen. Barack Obama.
Obama is hoping to win the outspoken support of Reps. Brad Ellsworth, Baron Hill and Joe Donnolly. He campaigned for them ahead of their 2006 Democratic sweep, and their districts sprawl across the southern half and central heartland of Indiana -- white, working class areas that favor Clinton. Even a good showing in those districts could be enough for Obama to take the state, given his strength in Indianapolis and the largely African American north near Chicago.
In an interview today, Bayh said he has appealed to Ellsworth, Hill and Donnolly to stay out of the race until their voters have spoken. Clinton will take all three of their districts, he said.
"Why should they get crosswise with some of their friends if they really don't need to?" asked Bayh, perhaps the most powerful elected Democrat in the state.
Already, according to three House sources, one member has defied that appeal. Newly elected Rep. Andre Carson of Indianapolis had been in Bayh's sights before he broke for Obama.
The effect of any endorsement -- his included -- "really is pretty marginal," Bayh said.
But with 25 percent of Indiana's Democratic voters in Chicago's media market, Clinton is going to have to run up her margins downstate. She doesn't need any headwind from the region's new House members.
"My advice to you is to follow the voters of your district," Bayh said he has been telling them.
He has not overtly asked them not to endorse, but, he added, his advice "would have that effect."
