Republican
Secretary of State Connie Lawson is facing Democratic Marion County Clerk
Beth White. Of the three statewide races being decided Tuesday, including
the auditor and treasurer's races, the secretary of state battle is
believed to be the closest.
Internal polling
has Democratic leaders quietly hoping for a statewide pickup in an
election cycle that is looking good for Indiana Republicans.
"Obviously
statewide races are tough for Democrats. This isn't news to us that we had
an uphill battle on these statewide races," said Democratic Party Chairman
John Zody said. The party has been out trying to push issues favorable to
White and trying to get supporters to the polls, he said.
"I think people
are still interested in that race, and that race obviously being at the
top of the ticket, it makes a difference at the Statehouse," he said.
It's been 24
years since a Democrat won the office, when Joe Hogsett won a full-term
after being appointed to serve the remainder of Evan Bayh's four-year term
in 1989. And it's been 12 years since the secretary of state's race was
the top-of-the-ticket battle in Indiana, with governor's races and U.S.
Senate races drawing attention in other years.
Speaking earlier
in the week, Republican Party Chairman Tim Berry said the key to victory
would be who ran the best ground game: getting supporters to the polls
through direct contact, as opposed major advertising battles that tend to
punctuate bigger races.
"It really will
be about get-out-the-vote efforts," Berry said Wednesday.
People casting
ballots at the Marion County clerk's office this week during the early
voting period said the economy was on their minds this year.
Robin Reese, a
48-year-old self-employed real estate broker from Indianapolis, said she
voted straight Democratic in part because she feels Republicans aren't
supporting initiatives in Indiana and in Congress that would help create
jobs.