Today’s taping of Indiana Week in Review produced a first, an on air apology.

During a discussion of the governor’s race Republican Luke Messer said that under Mitch Daniels property taxes went down.  “Not on my house!” said Democrat Ann DeLaney.  That led Messer to refer to her “fancy” house.

DeLaney later found an opening to mention Messer’s partner status at the big law firm IceMiller (neither Messer nor DeLaney used the term elitist, by the way.)

Messer immediately took back the fancy house comment in a move unlike any I remember in 17 years of broadcasts.

So far, all the talk about Senator Evan Bayh possibly becoming Barack Obama’s running mate stops right there.  But what if Bayh gets the job, and then gets elected Vice President?

That would create a vacancy in the U. S. Senate and the vacancy gets filled through an appointment by the governor.  Because the next Indiana governor takes office before the Vice President does, the winner of the Mitch Daniels/Jill Long Thompson race will get the honor. 

If its Daniels, there is already speculation that Congressman Mike Pence would get top consideration.  A Pence appointment to the Senate would create a vacancy in Congress and, therefore, a 2009 special election in a year with no other elections.  Former Republican state lawmaker Luke Messer might be a candidate for that opening (a Republican governor won’t create the opening without some idea of how he wants it filled.)

If its Long Thompson, it makes sense that Evan Bayh will get considerable input into the selection of his replacement.  That makes Bart Peterson a possibility, or maybe Bill Moreau. 

Make your own projections.  Isn’t this fun?

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.