Indiana's gubernatorial race heating up

Since popular Indiana governor Frank O'Bannon has exhausted his two allowed terms, new faces are showing up on the Indiana ballot.\nTop candidates -- most notably Republican Mitch Daniels and Democrats Joe Andrew and Vi Simpson -- are pulling out all the stops to bring in their party's support. \nIU political science professor Gerald Wright said all of the top candidates have strong traits under their belts, noting Daniels with his experience, Andrew with his service and Simpson with her community commitment. \n"We have a striking set of candidates, and it's really hard to tell at this point who will come out on top," Wright said. \nCandidate Mitch Daniels has an edge on the other candidates when it comes to government experience. A high-ranking official of the Republican party, Daniels served as the former director of the Office of Management and Budget under George W. Bush. Daniels was responsible for the national government's $2 trillion budget, a position often considered the second most powerful in the government. Daniels resigned the position just last June in order to submit his candidacy for governor and vie for his party's favor. \nDaniels' platform is built around standard Republican ideals, such as keeping free markets intact and providing limited government to the people. He is also set on improving Indiana's economy and making a more concentrated effort to the retain "homegrown talent," as he calls it, of Indiana's brightest scholars. \n"Mitch Daniels has two really big sticks. One, President Bush supports him, and the second is that he'll have a large sum of money," said David Lohr, the Republican County Chairman of Beagle county. "Mitch Daniels has access. He can pick up the phone and call the President." \nCandidates Joe Andrew and Vi Simpson are both at the forefront of the Democratic party at this point in the race. Andrew has recently served as the National Chairman of the National Democratic Party, and at the Indiana State Democratic Chairman. \nSimpson has spent 18 years in the state Senate and currently serves as Chairman of the State Budget Committee. \nAndrew's campaign is built around improving public education and law enforcement, as well as keeping taxes in check, while Simpson's focuses on improving education, health care, and creating jobs in Indiana. As a graduate of IU's law school and a former auditor for Monroe County, Simpson hopes to acquire support from Bloomington residents. \n"Vi Simpson is very qualified, and I think that the Democratic party is very fortunate to have [Andrew and Simpson]," said Indianapolis Democratic councilwoman Jackie Nytes. "I will be happy with whoever wins."\n-- State editor Aaron Uslan contributed to this story. Contact staff writer Kelly Phillips at kephilli@indiana.edu.