Ind. Democrats expecting boost from Washington

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The battle for control of the Indiana House of Representatives is now on the list of priority races for Democrats in Washington, DC. It's all about the redistricting that will take place after the election.

Pat Bauer is House Speaker because Democrats currently hold 52 of the 100 seats in the Indiana House. Because the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee in Washington wants to keep Bauer in that seat, Indiana is now one of 10 races targeted by the DLCC.

State Democratic Chairman Dan Parker said, "It just shows how important Indiana is."

But that's no surprise at Republican Headquarters where state GOP Chairman Murray Clark said, "Gaining back the majority in the House is probably our top priority and has been really for the last 15 months."

Governor Mitch Daniels (R-Indiana) said as much on Monday.

"The taxpayers would be a lot safer if we were able to work with a different General Assembly," he said.

Two years ago, the Washington help for Indiana Democrats came in the form of half a million dollars. This time party leaders expect more. They also expect that the outcome will be close no matter how much outside help comes in.

"The legislature's always just a few hundred votes here and there," said Parker. "Even when one party or the other has a very good year, it's still just a few hundred votes that separate who controls the Indiana House."

And Republicans may get Washington help, too.

"The stakes are high we think for all Hoosiers," said Clark.

And none more than Pat Bauer.

The winning party gets to draw new districts for the legislature and Congress.

But Democrats have another motivation, too. With the GOP in solid control in the state Senate and Mitch Daniels in the governor's office for two more years, they want to avoid one party rule.