4 of the 85 Indiana delegates to the Democratic National Convention were absent for the roll call vote on Barack Obama’s nomination this evening.  The Indiana total was 75 for Obama, 6 for Hillary Clinton.

Joe Andrew, the former Democratic National Chairman who followed a dramatic May first superdelegate endorsement of Obama by failing to vote in the Indiana Primary, was not among the no-shows.

I’m on a little vacation and that means I turned down an opportunity to take part in the State Fair debate between Lieutenant Governor candidates Dennie Oxley and Becky Skillman.  It is an unfortunate circumstance.

Four years ago I was able to pose what may be my best debate question ever at that event.  It was prompted by onetime candidate for governor Joe Andrew who, at a press conference, made reference to some “Heffords.”  I asked if he meant to say heifers or Herefords and he insisted that he meant what he said.

That led me to quiz then-Lieutenant Governor (and agriculture commissioner) Kathy Davis about the matter at the 2004 debate:  “What is the difference between a heifer and a Hereford?”

She answered that “heifer” refers to gender and that “Hereford” refers to breed.  Close enough.

I wonder if Dennie Oxley knows that.

Joe Andrew’s switch from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama caught Indiana politicians off guard but his behavior fits a pattern.

Andrew loves the spotlight and never misses an opportunity to make a headline.  He may be acting out of conscience but its hard to find people who know him who believe that.

I can’t remember a time when so many party leaders went off the record to call someone profane names. 

When the Clinton campaign moved into new office space in a building at Pennsylvania and Vermont today one of the first orders of business was to cover up the State seal (no tax money at work here) and the name of the previous occupant (Bosma Rehabilitation Services, named after a Republican, the late Charles Bosma) on the office door.  Hillary for President placards did the job just fine.

Maybe the campaign could use a bad omen alert, too.  Its the same building that once housed the Joe Andrew for Governor campaign, an aborted effort in the 2004 cycle.