When Sen. Evan Bayh appears on stage this afternoon with Barack Obama at Purdue University the eyes of Indiana political junkies will be focused on an event designed to change the political landscape in this state.   Jill Long Thompson won’t be there.

The Democratic candidate for governor will continue on her Hoosier Hometown tour visiting five cities in southern Indiana, including Boonville and Tell City.  Long Thompson spokesman Jeff Harris says the candidate already had a schedule set when she learned of the Obama visit.

He says the campaign hopes there will be opportunities to get Obama and Long Thompson together in the future.