by Rick Pearson
Joe Hogsett, the former Indiana secretary of state who co-chairs Sen. Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in the state, contended today that rival Sen. Barack Obama enjoys a substantial advantage over her in the early going for the May 6 primary because the Chicago media dominates neighboring northwest Indiana.
Hogsett discounted any potential negatives for Obama as a result of the daily reporting from Chicago about revelations at the federal corruption trial of Obama friend and fundraiser Antoin “Tony” Rezko on charges of allegedly trying to seek kickbacks from investors and others involved in two Illinois state government boards.
Obama’s name has not popped up frequently in the trial, and nowhere near the number of times that Rezko’s close adviser and fundraiser, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s name has been discussed. But it would be difficult for Hogsett to offer up a coach's chalkboard diagram on why he believes Obama is popular and might not have been tarnished in the minds of northwest Indiana voters by reports of his association with Rezko.
“With all due respect to the coverage of the Rezko trial and the like, the point is they are very familiar with Illinois’ governor, they are very familiar with the senators from Illinois, because the voters of northwest Indiana are Bears fans. They’re not Colts fans,” Hogsett said of the Chicago and Indianapolis NFL teams.
“I don’t need to tell you that in a Democratic primary, some 25 to 30 percent of the Democratic primary vote in Indiana will come directly from the Chicago media market,” Hogsett said. “To start with that kind of exposure and that kind of advantage is an enviable place to be.”
That exposure and advantage sure has worked for the Bears.
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Comments
This is hilarious! (TM)
I was a NWI Hoosier for over 50 years. It's a Chicago bedroom community, for sure.
Any time I wanted to rattle the cage of one of the local Indiana 'John D'Mime's' I would turn in a letter to the editor urging Lake and Porter counties to succeed from Indiana and merge with Illinois, as seriously worded as possible.
The response was always beyond humorous. The local little minds equated Chicago with something beyond Red China.
Posted by: C.Morris | April 8, 2008 6:33 PM
Correction;
I meant 'secede'.
Posted by: C.Morris | April 8, 2008 6:58 PM
As a former resident of "the region", and a firm believer that Hillary Clinton will do ANYTHING to secure this nomination, I say:
Run with it Barack!! Go Bears! Go Obama!
I now live surrounded by Eagles fans, who are most likely Hillary fans....
Let's Go Bears! All the way to the White House!!!
Posted by: PA Voter | April 8, 2008 9:17 PM
Hey PA voter;
You know you are a 'Region Rat' if;
1. At night the sky turns orange, not black
2. Rust is your favorite car color
3. You wear your belt buckle to the side
4. You wear your watch facing down
5. Other Hoosiers are afraid of you
6. Still marveling at 'The Skyway'.
7. Actually know the difference between Griffith, Highland, Hammond and East Chicago
8. Have an old aunt living in Black Oak.
ha, ha, I could go on...
Posted by: C.Morris | April 8, 2008 10:07 PM
Mo,
Thanks for clarifying, I started to worry. "Dude, lay off the gin already"
All I know about NW IN (driving-wise) is that I can get a massage and buy lots of fireworks and cigarettes.
Of course, I'm an Eastern ID snob :)
Posted by: Bubba | April 8, 2008 10:22 PM
C. Morris:
Clearly you have lived there a long time. You point out many reasons I don't live there anymore. Funny, though!
But wow, that Skyway is pretty cool!!!
GO BEARS! GOBAMA!!
Posted by: PA Voter | April 9, 2008 8:16 AM
Bub,
NWI is to Chicago as New Jersey is to NYC.
Posted by: C.Morris | April 9, 2008 9:07 AM