Campaign likely to test Bren Simon's zeal, grit (Indiana Govenor Race)

The Indianapolis Star ^ | August 17, 2003 | Mary Beth Schneider

[Miss Marple]

Only a year ago, the most boring story in politics revolved around the Democratic nomination for governor in 2004.

It was Lt. Gov. Joe Kernan's for the asking.

Except he didn't ask.

Ever since, it's been one surprise after the next, culminating last week when Joe Andrew, one of three Democrats seeking the 2004 nomination, announced that Bren Simon, wife of Indiana Pacers co-owner Mel Simon, would be his running mate.

[Miss Marple]

Bren Simon is married to Mel Simon, shopping mall multimillionaireas in Mall of America (for those who don't know who she is). She has been a big bucks Rat donor for years. She also is involved in liberal gooniness, like bringing Gorbachev here to receive an environmental award from Butler University. She has continued to give money to Clinton even after he left office (don't ask me how I know this but I do).

They are the ones who brought Clinton here for the 500 Race. It is obvious now that they were cooking up a deal to get her, AND HER MONEY, on the ticket with Joe Andrew (the evil dweeb candidate who was DNC chair during Gore's campaign).

Obviously, this is an attempt to make Mitch Daniels candidacy yet another surrogate campaign for Bush/Clinton. It means that Clinton will be campaigning here. UGH!

Here she is with some guests at the Moroccan Ball they threw at their estate Casa Luna,in the Dominican Republic.(She is in the blue gown.) The party took her a year to plan and included guests such as the Duke of Marlborough and George Hamilton. Anyone who thinks she isn't on the ticket strictly for her money is a fool.

[Miss Marple]

The jet set is now entering politics. This is a new tactic by cash-strapped state parties.

In Indiana, the governor and lieutenant governor run as a ticket. Bren Simon can dump as much of her money into the campaign as she wants to legally.

I wonder if this is going to be used in other states. Mitch Daniels has a formidable war chest accumulating, but I don't think he can match the Simon mall money.

[Iowa Granny]

Well, this isn't anything new. We've seen it here, as well. Placing a woman on the ticket in the second spot. She generally has plenty of connections and money to bring to the table, but little political experience. It's safer that way. There's no record to defend.

There is one exception here in Iowa. Former Governor Terry Branstad (R) had Joy Corning as his Lt. Gov. She came from a metro area (Waterloo), and had experience in the Iowa Senate. Her area of expertise was Education. When Branstad announced his retirement, she formed an exploratory committee with intentions of seeking his office. Her record was not very attractive to conservatives and she fell flat on her face.

This is the first female, that I'm aware of, who was selected due to her access to a corporate jet.

[smiley]

Well, this Hoosier and others are voting for Mitch Daniels....Snippy little Andrews and his running mate do NOT connect with the midwest voters here at all....especially after the way Governor O'Bannon has and continues to drive the deficit of the State of Indiana right down into a sink hole!

[Miss Marple]

I think it quite interesting. The Simons are big money and THAT is what they bring to the table. Bren also doesn't have business interests personally (just buckets of cash from her husband).

I think that Daniels would be wise to pay attention to this (which I am sure he is) and also we need to make sure that this "democrats for the little people" should be shown for the hogwash that it is. Bren Simon used to buy 7 Chanel lipsticks in the same color at a time, so she could put one in each of her houses and wouldn't have to worry about packing. (Don't ask me how I know this either, but it is quite true.)

[Miss Marple]

This isn't a bit of money. The Simons can finance the entire campaign without blinking. And they will.

This will mean a huge number of ad buys, as well as access to Hollywood for campaign commercials (the Simon brothers also produce movies).

[Iowa Granny]

This will mean a huge number of ad buys,

Well, perhaps this will be the time that Overkill Kills.

Will people see thru this? What's your take on it?

[lysie]

I wonder if they played a game of checkers after that shot.

[Miss Marple]

Indianapolis has ONE paper. If they don't cover it, it won't get covered. Although most people know that the Simons own the local malls (since they are called Simon malls) a lot of people don't know how extensive their business holdings are.

Bren Simon has always gotten gushing coverage because of the money (remember, the malls are the biggest advertisers through department stores in the local paper). Simon headquarters is here and emplys about 250 people who are pretty well-paid.

Not as well know is there jet-set life in other parts of the world. For example, that party I spoke about at the beginning of this thread was totally unknown to me until I went looking for a picture. The local paper didn't cover it.

I would say we are going to have to make such a stink that the local paper is afraid to not cover things. It will be tough to do. Their usual trick is to simply not cover a candidate at all. This is what they did with the McIntosh race.

Now, some of the smaller local papers in various counties are owoned by Republicans and may do some coverage of the Simon life-style and the use of private money in the campaign, which will hurt the democrats in the south of the state. I don't know the total answer to this, but I am certain Daniels is quite aware of it.

[Iowa Granny]

I hope you'll keep us posted. This will be an interesting one to follow.

[Common Tator]

All this says it that Democrats have a big problem raising money. That means they are willing to give up an experienced, capable candidate for someone with a fat check book.

Unless she is very very bright and very self controlled, she will be a disaster when she campaigns. The best things the Democrats can do is keep her away from the local media. They will likely do so.

Republicans for the most part do not have trouble raising money. The middle class Republican base donates lots of money. Money is rarely a republican problem. It is increasingly a Democratic problem.

I don't see picking a candidate just to get her bucks is much of an advantage. If the Democrat candidate for Governor had a very good chance of winning would he put that in jeopardy by selecting an inexperienced amateur as his running mate? Would he do it before getting the nomination? I don't think so.

When the football coach puts in the cutest Cheerleader as the Tight End.. You know the coach is trying to cause the other team to think about making passes .... not stopping them.

[Miss Marple]

Quite true. Thank you for your comment, spot on as usual.

Andrew has a primary opponent, a woman, Vi Simpson, who has some union support and is an experienced legislator. She is well-spoken, but does NOT have money.

It is interesting that Andrew (who has not provided any evidence of massive fund-raising, though his campaign keep saying he is a whiz at it) has added Bren Simon as his running mate even before the primary.

Entering into this equation is the property tax fiasco in Indiana. What happened is that there was a court judgement several years ago that ordered the State of Indiana to re-do the system on which they base property taxes. There was a huge discrpency between the bills of people who owned new houses vs. those who owned existing older structures.

The state government (under democrats for 16 years) avoided doing anything, constantly delaying. Now, AFTER O'Bannon's re-election the re-assessment is finally complete. Marion County (Indianapolis) has had many people whose property taxes have tripled. Many are democrats. They are NOT happy. Town hall meetings have revealed enraged older people who are afraid of losing their homes, widows who can't pay the bills, young home owners who say they are going to have to sell out, etc. etc. They are all angry at incumbents in the state...which are mostly democrats.

So I thought this was interesting. Apparently old Joe can't get money on his own. And to do this before the primary indicates that perhaps Vi Simpson is more formidable than he thought.

[Iowa Granny]

thanx for that additional insite. This is going to be interesting.