There may not be much electioneering this year, but there is plenty of interest in the election if one can use the number of absentee voting applications as an indication. County Clerk Kathy Williams said Friday at least 28,000 residents have requested absentee ballots for the Nov. 3 presidential election. That’s by far a record.
Very few candidate appearances or rallies have been set so far due to continuing health concerns. Republicans are continuing their monthly breakfast series and the Clay Township GOP will hold an outdoor chili supper Oct. 29, but Democrats are planning no such gatherings.
The county Republican Party has begun newspaper advertising which says GOP officeholders’ leadership has gotten the county listed by national publications as “among the best places to live in America.”
A walk-in campaign office is planned in Carmel, and GOP chairwoman Laura Campbell says volunteers are walking the neighborhoods on Saturdays until election distributing campaign material.
Democrats have 60,000 “door hangers” ready to disburse before election, according to chairman Joe Weingarten. Quietly, some Democratic candidates are known to have approached prominent Republicans seeking crossover support. But, in a couple of reported cases those approached have declined.
Democratic candidate for county treasurer Jake Madore, perhaps sensing a possible vulnerable spot in the GOP ticket, has invited former Treasurer Kim Good to work for him if elected. Good lost to Susan Byer in a heated GOP primary contest.
Overall, Democrats see the upcoming election as their big chance to score in the historically Republican county. Republicans say they are just as determined to maintain their majority position.