John McCain resumed all campaign activities today and shortly thereafter the Republican National Committee made an Indiana television buy.

It is an historic strategic move.  While its the RNC and not the McCain campaign you can anticipate that the ads will be in support of the Republican nominee.  Bob Dole was the last Republican Presidential candidate to run TV ads here.  That was 1996 and he did so only on the final weekend of the campaign.

We’ll have details and reaction on 24 Hour News 8 at 6.

I sometimes encounter people who question my choice of vocation as a political reporter.  They ask how I can deal with politics and politicians on a constant basis.  I have a quick answer.  I say, “Politics exist everywhere, at work, at church, even at home.  I work in the only arena where they call it what it is.” 

Plus, its important.

Look at the current financial crisis, the war in Iraq, John McCain’s idea to forgo a debate, Barack Obama’s idea to go ahead with it, the property tax crisis, schools, streets, police staffing, and on and on.

They are all circumstances or actions created and influenced by political decisions.  This is an extraordinary year in politics, both in Indiana and America.

How can you not be interested?

I just saw a bumper sticker for John McCain.  It is the first one.

The small black and white sticker contrasts with the many Obama bumper strips around town that carry a colorful and recognizable logo. 

There are also a lot of Obama yard signs in Indy, no doubt as a result of the May primary.  Yet the lack of a McCain presence is noteworthy, especially in light of the Obamamania that is hard to miss.  I know, campaign professionals say that TV advertising is all that counts.

But Obama is on the air here and McCain isn’t.

Is McCain taking Indiana for granted, or is it still too early to devote meaningful resources here?

Is Indiana in play?

Here’s your answer:

Look for Barack Obama to campaign in Indiana next week.

John McCain last week.  Obama next week.  That’s “in play.”

Its a day for parades and that means a day for politicians to ride in parades but that’s not the only activity for some of them.

-Greg Zoeller, the Republican for Attorney General launched a new website today.

-Mike Sodrel, the Republican running for Congress in the 9th District, issued a news release in which he managed to quote Janis Joplin singing “Freedom’s just another word for nothing’s left to lose.”  If I could explain the context, I would (and I read it twice.) 

-John McCain took the day off (no one questions his patriotism) and Barack Obama campaigned in Montana (his patriotism gets questioned all the time.)

-Governor Mitch Daniels remains on vacation.

A ticket to the John McCain fundraiser in Indianapolis today cost a thousand dollars and some people paid as much as $2300.  What did they get to eat for that?

Angel hair pasta

Asparagus and baby carrots

Herb crusted chicken breast

White Chocolate raspberry cheesecake

Tea and coffee

John McCain promised during a one-on-one interview today (excerpts on 24 Hour News 8 at 5 and 5:30 with an extended version at 6)  to campaign in Indiana with town hall meetings and other stops.  Plus, his campaign now has a front person here, if not field staff.

Luke Messer, former state legislator and former executive director of the Indiana Republican Party, now carries the title of Indiana co-chair for the McCain campaign.  Look for him to be the primary spokesman here.

-Why is former Mayor Steve Goldsmith (who now lives in the Washington area) sending out invitations to next week’s John McCain fundraiser in Indianapolis?

-Is it to attract local donors, or to impress the McCain people?

-Will Goldmsith do a better job impressing the McCain crowd than he did with the Bush folks eight years ago?

-Why does Governor Mitch Daniels use so many superlatives when he refers to outgoing Correction Commission David Donahue?

-If Donahue is that good, why is he going back to Kentucky to manage a single prison?

-Is former Fort Wayne Mayor and Brady Campaign President Paul Helmke’s profile higher today than ever before?

-Will any current Indiana politicians speak out against the Supreme Court gun ruling?

60 second Barack Obama TV ads hit the air in 18 states tomorrow and Indiana is one of them.

General election ads in this state are almost unheard of and they signal the belief that the Obama campaign thinks it can carry Indiana.

Can John McCain ads be far behind?

There seems to be little confidence on either side in the fight for the GOP nomination for Attorney General.

Both Jon Costas and Greg Zoeller say they will win if delegates do what they say they will, but, they both admit, that’s hard to predict.

Costas keeps selling his vote getting ability, though I wonder how you can compare a Valparaiso election with a statewide election.  Supporters talk about what a good candidate he’s become in a short amount of time.

Zoeller wins support from people who remember him as a staffer for Dan Quayle.  He also hopes to win support from delegates who back Ron Paul. 

That causes problems for his primary sponsor, Steve Carter, who is the Indiana point man for John McCain.