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.

On December 15th at 10 in the morning the Indiana members of the Electoral College will meet in the Statehouse to vote for President.  There are 11 Indiana Electors and 11 alternates.

The Electors were chosen at the State Democratic Convention in June and, at the time, there was little interest.  In fact, there was no competition for any of the positions and state Democratic Chairman Dan Parker had to actively recruit someone to fill the final alternate post.

Oh, how things have changed since then.

Here are the lucky 11:

Jeff Chidester - 1st District
Butch Morgan - 2nd District
Michelle Boxell - 3rd District
Charlotte Martin - 4th District
Jerry Lux - 5th District
Connie Southworth - 6th District
Alan Hogan - 7th District
Myrna Brown - 8th District
Clarence Leatherbury - 9th District
Cordelia Lewis Burks - At Large
Dan Parker - At Large

The social scene is a big part of any national political convention and this week’s gathering in Denver is no different.  That’s why some in the Indiana delegation to the Democratic National Convention questioned the reason why Chairman Dan Parker missed this morning’s breakfast meeting.

Parker says he was legitimately ill and says the altitude may be a factor. 

For others in search of a fast cure there is a bar in the corner at the Indiana breakfast meetings stocked with screwdrivers and bloody Marys.  For the record, it doesn’t get much business.

Leftover thoughts from Barack Obama’s appearance at Concord High School:

-This morning’s event started almost a half hour late.  Was it held on Evan Bayh time?

-Obama first mispronounced the name of Mike Montagano (the Democrat challenging Congressman Mark Souder) before getting it right.  Its something Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry did at an earlier event and something I did on Indiana Week in Review.  Its mon-TAG-a-no.

-State Democratic Chairman Dan Parker and House Speaker Pat Bauer didn’t get acknowledged by Obama.

-House Speaker Pat Bauer had a new shorter haircut.

-Just two Chicago television stations made the trip to Elkhart and two from Indianapolis.

-A t-shirt and cap vendor outside said it was a bad day.  He blamed it on a small house (1600) and too many vendors.

Democratic candidates for the state legislature now join their candidate for governor, Jill Long Thompson, in her call for a suspension of the state sales tax on gasoline but, so far, the message is not on TV.  Without TV ads to drive the point home, the calls for action won’t accomplish much.

Which gets us to tomorrow and the reporting deadline for fundraising in the governor’s race.  Jill Long Thompson needs to make a good showing so that she can attract even more money and, therefore, get her message on TV.

Yet Friday on Indiana Week in Review Democratic Chairman Dan Parker did his best to reduce expectations.  He said that any sum over a million dollars would show success for Long Thompson.  You may recall that a previous IWIR discussion put the credibility level at 1.5-to-2 million.

Let’s see what tomorrow brings.

That Indiana Primary Tuesday was all about the delegates and the delegate count is still not official. 

State Democratic Chairman Dan Parker figures that the final will be 43 for Clinton and 39 for Obama.  Clinton won more delegates in the 6th, 8th, and 9th Congressional Districts.  Obama won the 7th.  All the others are evenly split.

 Democrats accused Evan Strange last week of being a Republican primary voter and a member of the Young Republicans.  They were in error.

Strange is the fellow who asked the Monica Lewinsky question of Chelsea Clinton at Butler University.  I e-mailed him today for a response to the accusations and this is his answer:

“This upcoming election will be the first time I have ever voted in any election. I am in no way, nor have I ever been, associated with Young Republicans, or any political group or club.”

When confronted with that response state Democratic Chairman Dan Parker admitted that his research found two people named Evan Strange in Indiana (from the same age group) and apparently confused the two.

To what degree does State Democratic Chairman Dan Parker think that the May Indiana primary might matter all of the sudden?

To the degree that he will move the state Jefferson Jackson Day Dinner in hopes that Hillary Clinton and/or Barack Obama will show up.

Parker canceled plans today to hold the fundraiser on April 18th.  He now wants it to take place after the Pennsylvania primary on April 22nd and before the May 6th Indiana primary.

Parker also wants district chairmen to get their events posted on the state party website so that presidential campaigns with a need for meaningful campaign stops will know where to go.

Andre Carson left state Democratic Headquarters with a handful of papers this morning, preparing to file as a candidate for Congress in the 7th Congressional district.

Carson confirmed his intention to run but declined an interview on the subject until he can send a letter to the precinct committeemen who will choose a replacement for his grandmother, the late Julia Carson.

As for the committeemen, Democratic chairman Dan Parker points out that 560 of them will take part in a caucus to choose the nominee (Andre’s the favorite, all of a sudden) on January 12.  On February 16th there will be slating for the May primary election and only 425 will take part.  Its the result of redistricting that was ordered after Parker scheduled his caucus.

Marion County Chairman Mike O’Connor determines which committeemen get cut out for slating.