Hoosier Advocate has the results from a GOP poll (one of the candidates’ internal polling) that indicates that with a little under a month to go, it is a two horse race. The results are:

Dan Coats  - 29%
John Hostettler  - 26%
Marlin Stutzman  - 18%
Don Bates, Jr.  - 5%
Richard Beheny  -  3%
Undecided  - 19%

Some might say that Stutzman is in it because there are 19% undecided, but it is unreasonable to think that more than half of the Undecided will break to Stutzman at this late date. An observer at Hoosier Access accurately points out, the contenders are splitting the vote giving Dan Coats the advantage. I disagree with the analysis that Coats is a “moderate”, but there is no question that a Hostettler or Stutzman is newer blood that is able to pull off a more conservative rhetoric at this stage of the game.

If you have the time, you can view a recent debate between the 5 candidates at Hoosier Access. From a content perspective, there is really not that much difference between any of the candidates. The question in my mind is what will be their relative effectiveness in the Senate.

I was reminded of my college history professor’s biography of Homer Capehart a couple of weeks ago when I saw the unusual book cover in an Indianapolis local TV news segment. On a lark, I found my copy and decided to reread it. I am glad I did.

Who was Homer Capehart? I didn’t know before I bought and read this book some 15 years ago. He was the son of a poor farmer in southern Indiana who made a small fortune in the jukebox and radio industries by ingenuity and salesmanship. In the mid-1930’s he decided to become involved in Republican politics, and did so by holding the “Cornfield Conference” on his southern Indiana farm that drew at least 15,000 Republicans from across the state and nation. He galvanized the Republican Party to oppose the New Deal and gave energy to a Party that was down and out.

Capehart became more involved in Republican politics and narrowly won a Senate seat in 1944. He served in the Senate for 18 years before losing that seat to Birch Bayh, Jr.

As Professor Emeritus William Pickett told the story of Capehart’s revitalization of the Republican Party in the late 30’s and 40’s, I saw many parallels to our situation today. Pickett writes:

Capehart helped lead the national party out of the wilderness by showing its confused leaders that conservatism, not me-too-ism, was the way to the hearts of many American voters. (p. 50)

I don’t think that there is a better prescription for the Republican Party today than that observation.

The parallels between the 1930’s and now continue below the fold.

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I just got back from the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra where I listened to what I consider the best piece of music ever written–Beethoven’s 5th Symphony. Rather than link to the first movement here, I thought I would link to the 4th movement.

Enjoy music that reminds us that we live in a world of hope and beauty.