Posted on 06/18/2008 12:53:59 PM PDT by Sir Hailstone
The following is a press release issued by Republican Congressional Candidate Jon Elrod:
"Today I announce my decision to forego my candidacy for Congress, and to seek re-election to the statehouse.
Much has happened in the past eight months since I announced last November. Our campaign reached out to voters with a positive message, fresh ideas, and a vision of a government that works. We ran on issues: balanced budgets, fully funded social security, and an end to earmarks. Two elections have passed, and the voters have chosen the victor. In the meantime, none stepped forward to continue my efforts in the statehouse.
Whenever a public servant is at a crossroads, the question should always be: where can I do the most good? How can I most positively influence public policy? I have come to the conclusion that we need state legislators committed to eliminating the property tax, reforming education, and bringing jobs to Indianapolis. We need positive, common sense leadership. We must protect our neighborhoods from the blight of abandoned homes. We must fund our neighborhood development corporations. We will have those opportunities in the next two years in the Statehouse. As I weigh all of this, I feel compelled to seek re-election
This decision was not made lightly- I take no pleasure in walking away from a fight. The easy path would be to stay in the race.
I also know many supporters will be disappointed. But this is not about ego or ideology. The only question is how I can best serve Indianapolis. I am resolute that the greater good is in a hard-fought return to the statehouse, rather than a long-shot run for Congress.
Rudyard Kipling wrote words every politician should consider:
If you can dream- and not make dreams your master, If you can think- and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet Triumph and Disaster And treat those two Imposters the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build’em up with worn out tools….
If you can do all this, you are ready for the public arena.
And so, I pick up my worn-out shoes and turn fully to the task at hand. I promise a determined campaign focused on protecting and preserving the neighborhoods that make Indianapolis home. I will continue to fight for the abolition of the property tax. I will seek legislation empowering cities to more quickly combat abandoned houses.
I will continue to seek bipartisan solutions for the problems we face.
Together we can do better, and together we will do better."
Indiana Ping!
Can someone explain this?
Carson’s seat? We are giving up on it?
what about the 3 seat the Dems stole in 2006? Are we fighting back on them?
Elrod already lost the Special to Andre X. He figures he’ll be better off seeking reelection to the IN House where we are just short a majority. I can’t say as I blame the guy.
As for the other 3 seats, I’d say we only stand a shot at reclaiming the 9th in the umpteenth rematch between Sodrel and Hill. The Republicans in the 2nd and 8th are second-tier candidates.
This was just a formality. The Indiana GOP gave up on it a long time before today.
Elrod is probably right to go for a seat he can win rather than be a token candidate in a district the gop has already sold out.
It's still possible to snatch away the Carson seat.
Does anyone know if Eric Dickerson will enter the race now that Elrod is out? Dickeron, who gave Andre X’s granny a scare in 2006, had expressed interest in running in the special if Elrod didn’t run. Frankly, I think that if Elrod couldn’t come closer to victory in the special that he would face long odds in the general with Obama atop the ticket boosting black turnout, and a black Republican such as Dickerson would have a better chance of winning.
Too bad.
I thought he had a good chance against his Muslim opponent.
I didn’t even know he was running, but hopefully he will again.
Oh, I agree in theory, but that seems pretty unlikely given the current state of affairs in Marion county. The party doesn't seem particularly interested in reclaiming the seat, and unless that changes, any Republican running there is going to lose. And they wonder why they can't attract good candidates.
By the way, I'm glad that Elrod dropped out. I never understood why he was running a second time. Let someone else take a crack at Carson.
No idea. They currently have no fallback GOP candidates. A caucus will decide who (if anyone) gets it.
From what I could see they were never behind him.
It appears we are going to let them be elected at the state and national level.
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