Dems descend on Bloomington

In a whirlwind tour of the state, a storm of politicians descended on Bloomington on Monday night for Congressman Baron Hill’s fundraiser at the Showers Plaza.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jill Long Thompson took her entourage on the road in her “Road to Change Tour,” which aims to hit 56 different communities in 10 days.

“This is a very important county to any statewide election,” Long Thompson said. “I’m here to talk with voters and make sure that I’m doing everything I can to demonstrate how committed I am to rebuilding Indiana’s economy.”

Long Thompson originally scheduled a rally for Monday night, but she had to cancel because it conflicted with Hill’s fundraiser, which was not open to the press.

Long Thompson stopped to talk with the press before heading into Hill’s function, saying it was important in this election to vote a straight Democratic ticket.

“I have a number of friends, including Congressman Baron Hill,” Long Thompson said, “and I just think it’s important to recognize that even though you’re a governor and states have different responsibilities and authorities, that governors can be persuasive when it comes to broader policy that impacts the nation as a whole.”

Long Thompson, who received an MBA and a Ph.D. from the IU Kelley School of Business, promised to expand the 21st Century Scholars Program and also the number of college credits that can be earned at the high school level.

“Education is important not just to students, but it’s important to the overall state and the economy of our state,” Long Thompson said. “My life is completely different today because of the educational opportunities afforded me here in Indiana.”

Former Sen. Birch Bayh and current majority leader in the U.S. House of Representatives Steny Hoyer, D-Md., were also on hand. Hoyer, who was in town for Hill’s fundraiser, served with Long Thompson in Congress and strongly believes in her character.

“I came out for Baron Hill, but I am one enthusiastic supporter of Jill Long Thompson,” he said. “The people of Indiana would be extraordinarily well served to have as their governor Jill Long Thompson.”

Bayh joined Long Thompson’s tour for stops in southern Indiana and stressed the importance of supporting not only Long Thompson but Hill as well.

“He calls it just like he sees it,” Bayh said of Hill. “You never have to guess what he’s thinking.”

Bayh said a Democratic team of Long Thompson and Barack Obama would bring about change through fresh ideas.

“With new blood we’re going to have new solutions to old problems that won’t go away,” he said. “We’re going to put Indiana back in the blue column instead of the red.”