Politicians mingles with pork producers

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indiana's elected leaders and would-be leaders are empathizing with the state's drought-stricken pork producers.

Gov. Mitch Daniels told farmers at the Indiana Pork Producers' annual ham breakfast that although the drought may have hit them hard they should be proud for carrying the state economy through the Great Recession.

The breakfast kicked off the Indiana State Fair's 17-day run Friday.

Indiana's Democratic and Republican candidates for U.S. Senate and governor worked the crowd early Friday morning shortly before Daniels spoke. The breakfast is a traditional chance for politicos to glad-hand before November's elections.

Indiana's hog farmers have been hit hard by the ongoing drought. Pork Producers' Executive Director Michael Platt said last week that farmers were selling livestock at nearly twice the rate they did last year.