Author: Steve Brown

The field to replace disgraced former Indiana 3rd district Congressman Mark Souder on the general election and (yet-to-be-announced) special election ballots expanded again today.

According to the Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette, businessman Lonnie Powell is throwing his hat into the ring.

http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20100525/BLOGS01/100529722

That makes 11 candidates. What about an even dozen?

On Facebook, a draft Paul Helmke movement has emerged. The ‘Paul Helmke for Congress’ page states:

“Paul Helmke is the most reasonable political leader who ever came out of NE indiana. We don’t know if he has an interest in being a member of Congress, but we want to draft him to serve.”

Have a look for yourself:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Paul-Helmke-for-Congress/111929555516866?ref=search&sid=4veJJxnprEZ8DY5FEeUNjg.3878047291..1

Helmke served as Ft. Wayne’s mayor and is a something of a rarity as a gun-control Republican. He is currently the president of the DC-based Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

Today, there are reports the 520 GOP committeemen and women in Indiana’s 3rd Congressional district will  gather June 12th in Columbia City to select a replacement Republican candidate.

The winner of the GOP caucus will face Democrat Tom Hayhurst in the general election…and state partry officials have signaled Hayhurst is a shoe-in to be selected for the special election as well.

Described by one area Republican official as “the opportunity of a political lifetime”, the field of Republicans seeking to take Mark Souder’s place on the ballot continues to grow. The number of candidates stands at 10 and includes a local TV anchor, a city councilwoman, three members of the Indiana legislature, a trio of businessmen, an attorney and a sheriff’s deputy.

After winning the GOP primary, Souder resigned from Congress after confessing to an affair with part-time staffer, Tracy Jackson. The resignation means in the next thirty-days 500 Republican committeemen and women of  Indiana’s 3rd Congressional district will have to gather and vote for two replacement candidates.

One candidate will be for the yet-to-be scheduled special election for the remainder of Souder’s current term. Then another vote must be held to select a candidate to replace Souder on the November ballot for the next two-year term. Party leaders believe ultimately one Republican will be selected for both elections.

The current list of potential replacement candidates:

-Randy Borror / State Representative from Ft. Wayne area

-Liz Brown / Ft. Wayne City Councilwoman and only female candidate

-Wes Culver/ State Representative who proudly says on his website he was raised on a duck farm

-Greg Dickman / businessman and property manager from Auburn IN

-Ryan Elijah/ anchor of WPTA-TV’s morning show

-Mike Foster / sheriff’s deputy who ran unsuccessfully against Souder in 2000

-Bob Morris / owner of five health and nutrition stores and a beef cattle ranch

-Marlin Stutzman / State Senator who finished 2nd to Dan Coats in the Indiana Senate GOP primary

-Bob Thomas / car dealership owner who finished 2nd to Sounder in the 2010 GOP primary

-Phil Troyer /  attorney who worked for both Senators Richard Luger and Dan Coats, finished third in 2010 GOP primary

The Democratic picture is decidedly clearer. Indiana State Party Chairman Dan Parker says Tom Hayhurst, who won the Democratic primary will most likely be the party’s pick for the special election as well.

Governor Mitch Daniels has not set a date for the special election contest.

Politico.com offered today a “hold the phone” moment in the Illinois Senate race between Democrat Alexi Giannoulias and Republican Mark Kirk.

According to Politico: Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who did not endorse anyone in the Democratic primary, is flirting with the idea of backing Republican nominee Mark Kirk in the general election.

“I like Alexi Giannoulias, but I have great respect for Mark Kirk and his service to the people of Illinois,” Jackson told POLITICO.

Jackson and Kirk work together on the House Appropriations Committee, on which both are senior members of the subcommittee that provides foreign aid.

Fox News has learned that in 2008 Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind., was confronted by two members of his congressional staff about what then appeared to be an in appropriate relationship with staffer Tracy Jackson.

This is according to Marlin Stutzman, former U.S. Senate candidate in Indiana, who announced Thursday he wants to be Souder’s replacement on the Indiana’s 3rd District ballot.

Stutzman says he and another staffer confronted Souder on the allegations and Souder denied there was an inappropriate behavior or a relationship with Jackson.

On Tuesday, Souder announced his resignation from Congress, citing his affair with a staffer, later identified as Jackson.

Stutzman also confirms that he is friends with both Tracy Jackson and her husband, Brad, but Stutzman says he did not know about the Souder/Jackson affair until Souder’s announcement on Tuesday.

“I drive fast,” says David Adams, campaign manager for Kentucky Republican Senate candidate Rand Paul.

And hours before the polls closed in the Bluegrass State, Adams explained when he first knew that Paul could buck the establishment and win the Republican primary as a Tea Party-backed candidate.

It was March. The race was in flux and the Paul campaign was gaining a toe-hold. This meant Adams was logging lots of miles in his car and as he admits, at speeds above the limit.

With a smile Adams explains, “Twice in March, I was pulled over.”

(Don’t ask where. Don’t ask which police forces were involved. Adams won’t tell.)

In both instances, Adams says a large pile of Rand Paul campaign signs were stuffed and quite visible in the back seat.

Adams says in both cases, the officers caught  glimpses of the campaign signs. Then, they asked Adams to be careful…and sent Adams along his way without a speeding ticket.

“(It said to me) ‘you guys are doing something right,’ ” says Adams.

It’s a curious measurement of campaign success. And now that Paul has claimed the Republican nomination, there will be six-months more campaigning ahead.

Meaning, the lead-footed Adams will get to do some more driving through the state and do some more ‘polling’ of Kentucky cops.

…here’s what he’ll say at a 10:00am news copnference in Ft. Wayne according to Indiana ‘blogger Angry White Man:

“IT IS WITH GREAT REGRET I ANNOUNCE THAT I AM RESIGNING FROM THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS WELL AS RESIGNING AS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR CONGRESS IN THIS FALL’S ELECTION.

I BELIEVE IT IS THE BEST DECISION FOR MY FAMILY, THE PEOPLE OF NORTHEAST INDIANA, AND OUR COUNTRY.

I WILL SUBMIT MY RESIGNATION TO SPEAKER PELOSI EFFECTIVE THIS FRIDAY.

I CAN NEVER FULLY THANK ALL THOSE WHO HAVE WORKED SO HARD, GIVEN SO MUCH AND SUPPORTED ME THROUGH EIGHT CONTESTED PRIMARIES AND EIGHT GENERAL ELECTIONS.

ONLY WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN THE RECIPIENT CAN YOU REALLY FEEL THE HUMBLING POWER OF SUCH GENEROSITY.

IT HAS BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO BE A PART OF THE BATTLE FOR FREEDOM AND THE VALUES WE SHARE.

IT HAS BEEN A GREAT HONOR TO FIGHT FOR THE NEEDS, THE JOBS, AND THE FUTURE OF THIS REGION WHERE MY FAMILY HAS LIVED FOR OVER 160 YEARS.

IT HAS BEEN ALL CONSUMING FOR ME TO DO THIS JOB WELL, ESPECIALLY IN A DISTRICT WITH COSTLY, COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS EVERY TWO YEARS.

I DO NOT HAVE ANY SORT OF “NORMAL” LIFE – FOR FAMILY, FOR FRIENDS, FOR CHURCH, FOR COMMUNITY.
TO SERVE HAS BEEN A BLESSING AND A RESPONSIBILITY GIVEN FROM GOD.

I WISH I COULD HAVE BEEN A BETTER EXAMPLE.

I SINNED AGAINST GOD, MY WIFE AND MY FAMILY BY HAVING A MUTUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH A PART-TIME MEMBER OF MY STAFF.

IN THE POISONOUS ENVIRONMENT OF WASHINGTON DC, ANY PERSONAL FAILING IS SEIZED UPON, OFTEN TWISTED, FOR POLITICAL GAIN.

I AM RESIGNING RATHER THAN TO PUT MY FAMILY THROUGH THAT PAINFUL, DRAWN-OUT PROCESS.
DIANE AND MY FAMILY WERE MORE THAN WILLING TO STAND HERE WITH ME.

WE ARE A COMMITTED FAMILY.

BUT THE ERROR IS MINE AND I SHOULD BEAR THE RESPONSIBILITY, NOT ONLY AM I THANKFUL FOR A LOVING FAMILY BUT FOR A LOVING GOD.

MY COMFORT IS THAT GOD IS A GRACIOUS AND FORGIVING GOD TO THOSE WHO SINCERELY SEEK HIS FORGIVENESS AS I DO.

BUT I AM SO ASHAMED TO HAVE HURT THOSE I LOVE.

I AM SO SORRY TO HAVE LET SO MANY FRIENDS DOWN, PEOPLE WHO HAVE FOUGHT SO HARD FOR ME.

THE IDEAS WE ADVOCATE ARE STILL JUST AND RIGHT.

AMERICA WILL SURVIVE AND THRIVE WHEN ANCHORED IN THOSE VALUES.

HUMAN BEINGS, LIKE ME, WILL FAIL, BUT OUR CAUSE IS GREATER THAN INDIVIDUALS.

IT IS BASED UPON ETERNAL TRUTHS.

BY STEPPING ASIDE, MY MISTAKE CANNOT BE USED AS A POLITICAL FOOTBALL IN A PARTISAN ATTEMPT TO UNDERMINE THE CAUSE FOR WHICH I HAVE LABORED ALL MY ADULT LIFE.

I LOVE THIS AREA.

THIS IS MY HOME.

IT HAS BEEN SUCH AN HONOR TO SERVE YOU.

FOR SIXTEEN YEARS, MY FAMILY AND I HAVE GIVEN OUR ALL FOR THIS AREA.

THE TOLL HAS BEEN HIGH.

AS I LEAVE PUBLIC OFFICE, MY PLANS ARE FOCUSED UPON REPAIRING MY MARRIAGE, EARNING BACK THE TRUST OF MY FAMILY AND MY COMMUNITY, AND RENEWING MY WALK WITH MY LORD.

I HUMBLY ASK YOU, FOR THE SAKE OF MY FAMILY THAT YOU RESPECT OUR PRIVACY IN THIS DIFFICULT TIME.

I HAVE NO FURTHER COMMENTS.”

New poll in the IN Senate race’s GOP primary!

Done yesterday. Out today. It was commissioned by SC Senator Jim DeMint’s PAC…the Senate Conservatives Fund. Wenzel Strategies Research out of Columbus OH did the work. Here are the results:

Undecided            30%

Dan Coats             28%

John Hostettler   18%

Marlin Stutzman 18%

Richard Behney     3%

Don Bates Jr.          3%

The survey was of 801 like Republican primary voters…again all spoken to yesterday over the phone. The margin of error for this poll is plus/minus 3.43%.

REPORTER INTERPRETATION: Coats…the best known candidate is out in front outside the margin of error. But…and this is a huge qualifier…”Undecided/Not Sure” was ahead at the time of this poll…which was yesterday…5-days before primary day coming up on Tuesday, May 4th.

The poll is also commissioned by DeMint’s PAC and is solidly behind the Stutzman campaign. The Senate Conservatives Fund has reportedly poured in $200,000 into the Stutzman campaign (via internet donations) in the final two weeks of the primary contact.

There is a good argument to make that Stutzman is the candidate with the momentum now. The question is whether he can make up the gap in the last four-plus days of the campaign.

The undecideds apparently could throw this race is any direction.

Dan Coats appears to have broken through in Indiana’s GOP primary for that state’s US Senate race. A poll out this morning from the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics has Coats in front outside the margin of error. Here’s the breakdown:

Dan Coats               36%

John Hostettler    24%

Marlin Stutzman  18%

Undecided              13%

Don Bates, Jr.         6%

Richard Behney     4%

The poll was conducted by SurveyUSA via recorded message delivered by random telephone calls (refered to as a ‘robo-poll’). There were 407 Hoosiers questioned who said they were likely to vote in the Republican primary. Calls were conducted from April 22nd-27th. The margin of error in the poll is plus/minus 5%.

The primary is Tuesday, May 4th.

UPDATE: The most surprising single piece of data in the poll was Coats strong standing among likely voters who “identify with the Tea Party movement”. In that group…Coats got 30%…Stutzman 23%…Hostettler 21%…Undecided 11%…Bates 9% and Behney 4%.

Why is that surprising? Coats did not win a single straw poll at any of the debates sponsored by Tea Party groups. Organizers have repeatedly told me that of the five Republican candidates…the Tea Party favorites are Stutzman, Behney and Bates.

In fact, Behney is a Tea Party organizer himself. Stutzman has courted the Tea Party vote and has won four Tea Party debate straw polls. The one candidate who has seemed to struggle for support among Tea Party activists is Coats.

Yet, this polls suggests Coats may have mended fences with Tea Partiers on issues such as Coats’ voting for a semi-automatic weapons ban while a Senator in the 1990’s…and Coats work as a DC lobbyist.

Tea Partiers may have grown pragmatic here in the waning days of the primary campaign…getting behind Coats because of his base of support among the regulars of the Indiana Republican Party. But if that’s true…it’s the first time this reporter has heard it.

In recent days, the blog buzz in the Indiana Senate race has been about a poll nobody’s seen. Erick Erickson of Redstate described it this way:

“There is a rumor of a poll that went out in Indiana that was then not made public. Well, heck, I only call it a rumor because it happened but nobody wants to talk about it. My guess is, based on the Coats campaign’s behavior, the poll was either done for them or the results then given to them, making it an NRSC poll. That it has not been leaked means it could not be good news for Dan Coats.”

It turns out there IS a poll. It IS coming out tomorrow (April 29th). It IS a Survey USA poll (as many speculated/guessed/reported). But it IS NOT a Dan Coats internal poll. It was commissioned by the (take a deep breath before saying this aloud) Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics at Indiana University-Purdue University Ft. Wayne.

The release of the poll is scheduled for Thursday “morning”. When I get it. I WILL post it.

This poll will be out just five-days before Primary Day (May 4th). The five-candidate GOP battle for the party nomination between Coats, Marlin Stutzman, John Hostettler, Richard Behney and Don Bates, Jr. has divided the Republican vote so well that many party regulars refuse to be quoted on their guess as to who might give the victory speech Tuesday night.

The winner gets Democrat Brad Ellsworth in the general election come November.

The latest entry to the Wisconsin senate race asked us to meet him Sunday at a neighborhood bar called Spanky’s in a blue collar section of Kenosha (near the Illinois border).

The tavern is owned by a friend of Dick Leinenkugel. This morning, Leinenkugel will announce what’s been rumored for weeks, that the former Wisconsin Commerce Secretary for Democratic Governor Jim Doyle will enter the Republican primary for the US Senate seat held for the last 17-years by Russ Feingold.

Leinenkugel is well-known statewide largely because of the family business…beer. Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company out of Chippewa Falls may not be as big as Milwaukee brewing behemoth Miller-Coors…but it’s a popular line of beers. Dick Leinenkugel left the company when he joined the Doyle administration in 2007.

When Leinenkugel officially joins the GOP contest…he will enter a race where two candidates have been at work for months getting ready for the September primary. They are Terrence Wall, a real estate entreprenuer  from Madison and Dave Westlake, a West Point grad and Army vet turned small businessman from Watertown.

Just last week, former Governor Tommy Thompson said no to a bid for the Senate seat even though polls suggested a Feingold-Thompson race was a deadheat. So…why did Leinenkugel decide to jump into the Senate battle?

That’s the question we started with when we sat down at Spanky’s for Leinenkugel’s first campaign interview. The bar was busy and a Brewers/Cubs game was on…so there were some interruptions. And yes, “Leinies” were in the hands of more than a few patrons.

(Click on the attached video to see and hear the Leinenkugel interview.)

What’s your definition of news?

Is it information that’s 2 1/2 months old?

It was for Dan Coats last night.

In a five-candidate race, Coats is considered a slight favorite in the May 4th Indiana Republican primary for the US Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Evan Bayh. After Tuesday night’s televised GOP Senate debate, Coats told reporters he had an announcement to make, before taking questions.

Coats said, “Lemme just pass on some news that I’d like to give you here. I’m really pleased to announce tonight that uh…in fact I just got off the phone with Mike Pence. He’s given me his unqualified endorsement and support for this race which I’m thrilled to have. He said some very good things about me when I indicated my intention to run. He’s been supportive but uh…to say he’s given me now his unqualified support is…is…is very important to me and I’m very appreciative.” (You can watch Coats says this for yourself on the video linked to this story.)

The endorsement announcement was bigger than anything that happened in the debate. Congressman Mike Pence is very influential among Indiana Republicans. In the minds of many Hooiser GOP’ers only Governor Mitch Daniels endorsement would be bigger. (And Daniels in not endorsing. He says he’ll back the primary winner.)

Wednesday morning, on Coats’ campaign FaceBook page, the status trumpeted the Pence endorsement:

Dan Coats for Indiana Big News! Congressman Mike Pence has given Dan his unqualified endorsement for the U.S. Senate!

The thing is…Pence’s backing was old news. That’s how Pence’s chief of staff Bill Smith described it when  contacted by Fox News.

In early February, a statement of support for Coats candidacy was issued. This was shortly after Coats’ announcement that he intended to join the race. The Pence statement was picked up by some DC media outlets.

Roll Call on February 3rd ran the following quote attributed to Pence:

“I am very excited about the possibility that former Senator Dan Coats may run for the United States Senate in 2010 and I sincerely hope he does it,” Pence said in a statement. “His integrity and conservative record would make him the ideal candidate for Hoosiers. If he runs, I will support him.”

Fifteen days later, Coats filed to run in the Indiana Senate election.

Smith says since that February statement, “The Congressman has not been hesitant” to tell reporters who asked that he was a Coats-backer. Smith made it clear in a telephone interview that while the February statement did not contain the word ‘endorsement’, it was certainly considered one by Pence.

Still, there was at least some confusion about Pence’s backing of Coats. Some supporters had contacted Pence’s offices asking who the Representative liked in the primary. Smith says all who inquired were told the same thing, “Coats”.

But it shouldn’t have been confusing for people who visit Coats campaign website. On a page titled “What They’re Saying” a Pence quote sits atop the list:

Congressman Mike Pence: “His integrity and conservative record would make him the ideal candidate for Hoosiers.” (Congressional Quarterly, 2/3/10)

So, did Coats just plain get it the timing wrong with his post-debate “news” announcement?

Apparently.

Kevin Kellems of the Coats campaign sent an e-mail this morning which reads in part:

“Cong. Pence called Dan after the debate.  I don’t speak for him, but I believe the reason the Congressman reached out to Dan was to make it clear that his statement of support that came very early on was indeed an endorsement.”

So, Coats did have Pence’s endorsement all along…even before Coats was officially in the race. And certainly a lot of people missed it (including this reporter). But was Coats post-debate announcement last night “news” as he said?

As we says around here at Fox, “You decide.”

Too late?

Just in the nick of time?

With the Republican primary in Indiana’s US Senate race just two weeks out, candidate Marlin Stutzman picked-up an endorsement from a potential future colleague. Senator Jim DeMint from South Carolina told Fox News exclueively that Stutzman was his choice in the Hoosier State’s five-candidate GOP primary.

DeMint disclosed to Fox News senior producer Trish Turner late Monday about his decision to back Stutzman.

“I like Dan (Coats). I like John (Hostettler), but we need new faces here,” said DeMint.

The Palmetto State Senator continued, “(Stutzman’s) not as well known as the other two, but what we’ve seen …(Stutzman’s) won just about all the straw polls. The activists are beginning to know who he is, and that’s the reason I decided to get in. I’m trying to give some spotlight to the underdogs.”

Stutzman has won a series of straw polls at Republican Senate candidate debates held by Indiana Tea Party groups. What Stutzman does not have is a lot of campaign cash. At a recent debate, Stutzman reportedly disclosed he had just $50,000 cash on hand as of March 31st.

Campaigns typically squirrel away money for last-stage expenses like TV ad buys. But that’s a luxury it does not appear Stutzman has. Meanwhile, Stutzman’s primary rival, Dan Coats is up with TV and radio ads and has announced the campaign with remain on the air through the May 4th primary. But DeMint’s political backers might provide a last-minute financial boost.

“We can raise some money, ” says DeMint, “and we’re going to do that with a money bomb over the next week, try to draw some attention.”

10,000 Iowans.

Just the thought of THAT bloc of folks in the state where the first presidential contest of 2012 is…is enough to make a White House wannabe drool.

10,000 Iowans!

And that’s the number Des Moines Tea Party founder Charlie Gruschow gives when asked what the movement’s strength is in the Hawkeye State. Gruschow notes not all 10,000 are dedicated members attending each event. But those folks have at least been to or inquired about a Tea Party event.

Still…it’s a number that gets attention. And that’s the idea. Because of the rapid development of the Tea Party movement in the last six months…Gruschow predicts, “We will have a dramatic effect on the caucuses as well as the general election.”

“The question,” says Drake University political science professor Arthur Sanders, “is how large an impact?”

First, a check of the numbers. A record 350,000 people participated in 2008 Iowa Caucuses. 230,000 attended a Democratic caucus. Republicans counted 120,000 at their caucuses.

Most observers and many G-O-P leaders believe most Tea Party folks lean Republican…because they generally follow mutual principals of smaller government and less government spending.

“We certainly hope to get most of the Tea Party activists’ votes in November and I’m confident we will,” says Matt Strawn, the chairman of the Iowa GOP.

If (and it’s a big if) Tea Party folks all voted Republican…10,000 would be one of every 12 Iowa GOP caucus-goers. It’s a substantial number…but alone would not cinch a victory.

The other catch is drawing in Tea Party folks. For tax and privacy purposes…many Tea Party groups are non-partisan. They may promote stances on issues but cannot (or will not) promote a candidate or party. So…each Tea Party activist will have to measure candidates based on individual priorities…and make an individual decision. For political hands in Iowa, it’s the usual business of the old-fashioned one-at-a-time method of collecting votes.

And then there’s the question of the nature of the Iowa Republican party. Two years ago, Mike Huckabee…a social conservative won the 2008 GOP caucuses. Tea Partiers are much more interested in fiscal conservative issues of taxes and spending.

Plus, given their tendency of being very independent…it may ultimately mean Iowa Tea Partiers votes will be among the hardest to collect…all 10,000 of them.

If you’re promoting a new book and maybe interested in running for President…a swing through Iowa (home of the first in the nation White House contest) might be a good idea.

That’s what Mitt Romney did today in Des Moines. The former Massachusetts Governor’s book “No Apology” is now in its third week on the New York Times best seller list. One of Romney’s central themes in the book is the federal government as a hurdle to the American way.

“Washington is smothering that spirit of innovativeness and pioneering and technology,” Romney told a gathering of about 300 at the Des Moines Public Library. He continued, “They’re weakening America’s capacity to be America.”

Of late…when not talking about his book Romney has been talking about health care. Romney called new health care reform bill signed into law by President Obama “an unconscionable abuse of power”.

Today, Romney went further…casting doubt on whether the federal government could handle its new health care responsibilities, “If you like how they managed Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac and the Post Office…uh and the railroads…Amtrak…well then you’ll like how they manage health care.”

One of the things Republican critics of the health care law focus on is the new requirement that people must buy medical insurance. Recently in New Hampshire, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty slammed the mandate saying, “We have the United States federal government telling citizens they must buy a good or a service for no other reason than they’re alive and if you don’t you’re going to be fined.”

This is where Romney has a potential problem. Health care reform cobbled together in Massachusetts while Romney was Governor had a similar individual mandate to buy coverage…or pay a penalty. In fact when Romney signed the legislation into law in 2006…standing behind him was Sen. Edward Kennedy…a champion of the federal bill (although he died before it became law).

Now…Romney and his supporters contend there are differences between health care reform Massachusetts-style and the federal version. How’s that going to play in Iowa?

“When he goes into people’s kitchens and stands on people’s porches…he’s going to have to explain the difference,” says Ed Failor, president of the Iowans for Tax Relief (the largest PAC in Iowa and decidedly conservative in nature). Failor says that will be a difficult sales pitch.

Romney does have assets as a potential presidental candidate. He has wealth…and has spent it on his campaigns before. He has knowledge of the inner workings of business…at a time when voters demand the government do things to help businesses grow. And he’s experienced…he’s run the race before.

Those are all good things.

But for awhile…Romney may have to explain health care bills and mandates…and the differences to voters with seemingly little patience these days…in Iowa and elsewhere.

“…and the home of the brave!

At most sports stadiums, the last line of the Star Spangled Banner is often harder to hear because of the cheering from spectators. For folks at Chicago Blackhawks games, the cheering starts at the BEGINNING…at ‘Oh, say can you see…’.

Legend (and some ‘Hawks fans) has it that the enthusiastic cheering and clapping throughout the entire National Anthem began during a home play-off game in the mid-80’s. Since then, the din has become as much a part of the hockey games as sticks and skates.

Season ticket holder Terry Hansen said, “I first started coming to games when I was a little kid with my cousins at the (Chicago Stadium), and it was even louder there.”

“Oh, I love it…it’s great. You know, everyone is standing up and cheering. It really makes you proud to live in the U.S.,” said Maggie Pucher, a Blackhawks fan.

Well…not everybody.

Sports blogger Rob Otto has a problem with the Blackhawks pre-game anthem ritual. We need to mention here as a disclaimer that Rob is from Michigan…home of the Blackhawk’s arch-rivals, the Detroit Red Wings.

But Otto does have a point.

“There is a specific way you’re supposed to be for the national anthem,” said Otto, “and when flag is being raised  in official capacity.”

The U.S. Code states during playing of the national anthem: “…all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart.”

So…the cheering then isn’t polite?…maybe un-patriotic, too?

Not to US servicemen and women who’ve seen the anthem spectacle in person. Regularly before each Blackhawks game, a pair of military members stand on the ice…as honored guests of the team.

At a recent game US Army specialist Steve Baskis stood there at attention during the anthem. Baskis lost his eye-sight from a roadside bomb while serving in Iraq. But Baskis’ hearing works quite well.

Afterwards Baskis said, “It was very moving. You don’t normally hear that many Americans cheering and making some noise and when you got US military on the ice and when the anthem’s playing, I think that’s great.”

Such endorsements from America’s military men and women are typical.

Given that…and the absence of any complaints from folks at the games, the Blackhawks organization has no intention of trying to quiet the crowd as the Star Spangled Banner begins.

The Chicago Tribune has posted this on it’s website:

“The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is preparing to put about a half a dozen struggling Chicago-area banks out for bid to healthy institutions that might want buy their deposits and assets, people familiar with the process said.”

Among the banks being shopped…according to the Tribune…is Chicago’s Broadway Bank. This is the bank owned by the family of Democratic US Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias. The bank lost $75-million dollars last year and Giannoulias himself has recently said the bank would likely fail.

(*NEW*) FDIC spokesman Greg Hernandez would not confirm or deny the Tribune report. Hernandez saying via e-mail, “The FDIC does not comment on open and operating institutions.” And Broadway Bank is both open and remains in operation.

However dark the long-term outlook for Broadway Bank…spokesman Tilden Katz says efforts to find investors willing to inject money into the struggling institution are on-going.

“We’re getting real interest from investor groups and are working hard to recapitalize the bank,” says Katz.

Broadway Bank has been the single biggest issue in the campaign…and it’s believed to have hurt Giannoulias in the February Democratic primary where he won by a slim margin over political newcomer David Hoffman.

Still…recent polls have Giannoulias in a neck-and-neck race with Republican nominee Mark Kirk.

Oh, yes.

Not one…but two former bankers with close ties to President Obama. (This from a President who’s been publically quite critical of bankers in recent months.)

We posted earlier that Alexi Giannoulias was visiting the Obama White House today as a part of a celebration of Greek heritage. Giannoulias is facing yet another round of questions back in Illinois about the beleaguered family business Broadway Bank. In a series of interviews last week (although not with Fox News)…Giannoulias says Broadway (which lost $75-million last year) would not likely survive.

Before getting elected state treasurer (with then-Senator Obama’s endorsement)…Giannoulias was a senior loan officer at Broadway Bank. In fact…Giannoulias ran a TV ad during that 2006 campaign which Senator Obama appeared and spoke about how in a State Treasurer people need “somebody who knows how money works…and how to manage it…and makes sound investments.”

The White House also put out a list today of four business people President Obama was hosting at a working lunch where the talk would be about the economy and job creation. One of those business leaders was Penny Pritzker.

She also was a banker. The institution was Superior Bank based in the Chicago suburb of Hinsdale. Pritzker (of the billionaire Pritzker family) was in fact part owner of Superior. The bank failed in 2001. The FDIC says the reason for the bank demise was that it was too heavily involved in one-kind of lending…sub-prime mortgages and automobile loans. Superior’s undoing was one of the biggest bank failures in the nation’s history…at the time.

Years later, Pritzker signed on to raise money for State Senator Barack Obama’s seemingly improbable bid for a US Senate seat. Four years after that, Pritzker was Finance Chairwoman for Obama’s presidential bid. Later in 2008, she was co-chair of the Obama Tranisition.

So…there you have it. Two former-bankers at the White House. One of their banks gone…the other…headed in the same direction.

…is very familiar with the US Senate campaign. He is Jordan Kaplan. His title is National Finance Director. In a press release issued today from the campaign of the Illinois Democratic nominee…Kaplan’s resume is listed this way:

“Kaplan, a Joliet, Illinois native, joins Alexi for Illinois from the New Partners Consulting firm. Kaplan played a pivotal role on President Obama’s 2004 Senate campaign, continued to work for him through his national PAC Hopefund and went on to serve as the Illinois Finance Director at Obama for America in 2008.”

Not mentioned in the release is that this is a return engagement for Kaplan . Campaign advisor Kathleen Strand confirms Kaplan worked for Giannoulias’ campaign early on…after he announced an exploratory committee for a possible senate bid.

With Kaplan’s assistance…Giannoulias raised a $1.1-million dollars in just the first 28-days.

Kaplan and the Giannoulias campaign have to play a bit of campaign-cash-catch-up. According to the Center of Responsive Politics…as of January 13th…Giannoulias had $963,000 cash on-hand. His Republican opponent…Mark Kirk…had over three-times as much…with nearly $3.2-million in ready cash.

The Democratic nominee in Illinois’ US Senate race…Alexi Giannoulias…is at the White House to help celebrate the contributions Greek-Americans have made to the nation. This while questions still linger on whether Giannoulias knew for some time the family-business…Broadway Bank…was in serious trouble.

After submitting to a round of interviews (but not with Fox News) last week. Giannoulias conceded in those interviews it was not likely his family could raise the $70-million dollars or more to keep the bank afloat. Then…the latest development was raised by Crain’s Chicago Business on Monday:

“The family of Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Alexi Giannoulias stands to collect more than $10 million in federal tax refunds even if its Broadway Bank fails.”

This sets off a new round of questions for Giannoulias…who despite the on-going bad news about Broadway…remains (according to polls) in a tight race with Republican nominee Mark Kirk.

The Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times editorial boards felt Giannoulias’ answers about Broadway during their interviews with the candidate left the panels wanting. With the possibility of profiting from a bank likely to fail…there’s little doubt reporters and voters will be wanting more in the form of details from Giannoulias.

(It IS March…so a basketball reference seems appropriate.)

Like basketball referees…reporters covering a campaign expect to be “spun”. That is to say…coaches and players often talk to a referee during a game to get an official to see things their way.

“That’s a foul, ref!”

“Did you see the travel?”

“My team is getting elbowed out there!”

Same thing for us in the news media. We are called and e-mailed and tapped on the shoulder about this poll…that column…or some piece of opposition research (dirt) we should do a story on. It’s okay. News outlets want an open dialog with campaigns and candidates. Reporters know what they’re up to. Generally…news organizations don’t mind when they try to spin the coverage in their favor this way.

What reporters do mind…is when campaigns spin a reporter’s story. That’s a foul. This one’s on the Dan Coats campaign.

Coats is running to get his seat in the US Senate back. He was appointed to the post when then-Senator Dan Quayle vacated the job to be George H.W. Bush’s Vice President. Coats gave up the seat and in 1998…the job went to Democrat Evan Bayh. Now…Bayh doesn’t want the post any longer…and Coats is after it.

Saturday, Coats entered potentially hostile territory…a Tea Party debate in Warsaw IN. All five Republicans running for the GOP nomination were there…including Coats. It was a dicey venue for Coats because Tea Party folks generally don’t like people in office. They see elected officials as the problem with government. Tea Partiers have similar opinions about lobbyists. Coats has been both an elected official…AND a lobbyist.

So…as a reporter…I was VERY interested in how he would be received. I was there and posted a brief account about Coats reception. Generally, Coats was politely received by the Tea Party group. So today…the Coats campaign used portions of that ‘blog post in a press release today.

They got the quotes right. Here’s the exerpt:

Fox News’ Steve Brown: “Through it all…Coats kept his cool. He talked about his faith. He talked about freedom. He talked about eliminating federal ‘earmarks’. He talked about abolishing the US Department of Education. All met with approval of the Tea Partiers gathered.” Brown added, “Afterwards…Coats told Fox News he was ready to talk to Hoosiers anywhere in the state…and that includes Tea Party folks.” (Fox News, Facing the Tea Party, 3/6/10)

It’s the last line which is…at best…incomplete. It’s the one that reads:

“Afterwards…Coats told Fox News he was ready to talk to Hoosiers anywhere in the state…and that includes Tea Party folks.”

The line suggests that if there were more Tea Party debates…Coats would likely be there. Except THIS is the three sentences which closed the story:

“Later this month…there is another Tea Party debate. This time in Huntington. To that event, Coats is the only candidate yet to confirm he’ll be there.”

And I just checked with Cindy Gamrat of the Huntington Tea Party group. Gamrat says on Saturday at the Warsaw event she asked Coats personally to the debate. Prior to Saturday…she had phoned and e-mailed the Coats campaign. So far…no commitment to take part in the March 26th Huntington Tea Party debate.

So…in this referee/reporter’s opinion…that’s a foul.

Now…I did contact Pete Seat…the communications director for the Coats campaign. It’s his/the-campaign’s position that their use of portions of the story was not misleading or inaccurate.

We at Fox News like to remind viewers that ultimately you decide. If you think there’s a foul here…that’s your call.