Its time to start the end of the year stuff.  Here are my nominees for top Indiana political stories of 2008:

1.  Barack Obama carries Indiana

2.  Mitch Daniels wins re-election

3.  Hillary Clinton wins Indiana primary

4.  Evan Bayh considered for Obama running mate after assisting Clinton primary win.

5.  Democrats maintain control of Indiana House of Representatives.

6.  Mike Pence becomes GOP Conference Chairman in Congress.

7.  Township Assessors voted out of office. 

8.  Greg Zoeller wins Attorney General race.

9.  Tony Bennett wins Superintendent of Public Instruction race.

10.  Jill Long Thompson defeats Jim Schellinger in Indiana primary.

Things to remember from today’s meeting of the Electoral College at the Statehouse:

-Butch Morgan took Secretary of State Todd Rokita off guard by asking if he and the other Indiana Electors needed a valid photo ID.

-Rokita also seemed flustered when alternate Elector Jenny Hill Weiser answered the roll call from the balcony.  The Secretary offered her a seat on the floor.

-On the floor of the House Chamber was a documentary crew from New York City.  I first told you about the Voting Film Project when the crew was in St. Paul at the Republican National Convention trying to decide whether to focus its documentary on Missouri or Indiana.  They picked Indiana and now feel like they won the lottery thanks to the Barack Obama win here.

-In the hallway watching was former state Representative and former Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor Dennie Oxley.  Oxley confirmed that he will be on the Indiana House staff in 2009 saying, “I’ll be around.”

(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Still photos on the web and video on television newscasts keep showing Governor Mitch Daniels standing alongside Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich during a meeting with President-elect Barack Obama last week.

According to Daniels press secretary Jane Jankowski the governors at the meeting were assigned to sit in the order the state was admitted to the Union (Indiana 19, Illinois 21.)   That alone accounts for the close proximity, she says.

Somehow, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour (state #20) is out of view.

One week from today Indiana electors will meet at the Statehouse to cast 11 votes for Barack Obama.  State Democratic Chairman (and elector) Dan Parker reports that it will be just the fifth time in state history that Democrats perform the role.

In the meantime, Parker and the others field mail from around the country that encourages them to refrain from voting for Obama.  The letters question Obama’s qualifications to serve based on theories that he was born outside the country.  One such letter came to Parker’s home by certified mail.

Parker shared one letter from a gentleman in Virginia who argues that there is “reasonable doubt” as to whether Obama is a naturalized citizen as the Constitution requires.  The letter contends that Obama will be “vulnerable to blackmail” if he takes office with questions lingering.

Parker ignored it.

Barack Obama’s book The Audacity of Hope is available for $16.50 at Amazon.com (free shipping available.)  But an autographed copy is worth much more.

The ARC of Indiana concluded an online auction this week and a book signed by Obama during an Indiana campaign stop sold for $711 helping ARC to exceed its fundraising goal.

It’s just one more example of how the campaign activity we saw here this year is a positive.

President George W. Bush pardons a turkey today in an announcement delayed by the Barack Obama news conference (first delay.)  

Meantime, the annual donation of turkey and other frozen poultry products given to the Indiana governor and lieutenant governor by the Indiana Poultry Association takes place next Tuesday (second delay.)

No, Sarah Palin’s public execution of a turkey didn’t force a change in routine.  Lt. Governor Becky Skillman is on vacation and the Thanksgiving week tradition requires her attendance.

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels will take part in a meeting with President-elect Barack Obama next week.

The Tuesday meeting in Philadelphia will focus on states and their budgets in the face of the economic crisis.  Governors from both parties are invited.   Democrat Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania is the host.

I’m a little late with a list of Indiana Winners and Losers from Election night but that won’t stop me.

BIG WINNERS

Barack Obama.  No more references to 1964. 

Kip Tew, Jonathan Swain, Evan Bayh and everybody else who got on the Obama bandwagon.

Mitch Daniels.   He has a mandate.

Pat Bauer.  His majority grew.

Beth White.  No disasters.

BIG LOSERS

Early voting opponents.

Jennifer Hallowell.  McCain’s regional coordinator came off a failed Guiliani campaign for this.

Mike Montagano.  All those upset predictions were way off.  Time to find a job.

Brian Bosma.  He needs to win the majority in 2010 and can’t think about higher office till he does.

All the township assessors who lost their jobs.

Who will be the Republican to take on Barack Obama in 2012?

The speculation is everywhere and some of it focuses on Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels.

David Broder in the Washington Post suggests there is a lesson for Republicans in the re-election of Daniels,  whom he says may offer the best example of a distinctive approach to government.  He quotes Daniels saying “fiscal restraint works” and “effective government works” and, as for social issues, ”I’m trying to bring the state together to do hard things — not look for ways to divide us.”

Likewise, in a New York Times opinion piece WillIam Kristol labels Daniels as a “possible 2012 G.O.P. nominee.”

Apparently neither of those writers saw the final Daniels TV ad of the 2008 campaign.  He looks into the camera and says, “This is the last time you’ll have to watch me in an ad like this.  See, governor’s the only office I’ve run for, or ever will.”

You only do that if you mean it.

Anyone who makes Election day predictions has a responsibility to own up to them.  Here’s how I did:

CORRECT PICKS:

Barack Obama wins Indiana

Mitch Daniels wins governor (also correct about a double digit margin)

Greg  Zoeller wins Attorney General

Tony Bennett wins Superintendent of Public Instruction

Democrats maintain control of the Indiana House of Representatives

Voters do away with township assessors (in most cases)

INCORRECT PICK:

Mark Souder loses bid for re-election to Congress

That makes my record 6 right, 1 wrong.