INDIANAPOLIS — People at the state capitol didn't talkaround the water cooler Monday; they silently asked what wouldhappen next.
"This can be a rather boisterous place," said Leslie, a memberof the House of Representatives' staff, who couldn't give her lastname. "(But) not a lot of chit chat today. We are all praying andcrying and reflecting right now."
As Gov. Frank O'Bannon, 73, lay comatose in Chicago, employeeswaited among the limestone halls of Indiana's capital building,hoping for news about their boss -- and about his position.
"I think everybody just wants to find out together," said JudsonKring, an assistant media director who was watching the news withfour of his colleagues.
An Indiana governor has never died while in office, and onlyonce in the past century has the governor resigned during histerm.
O'Bannon suffered a cerebral hemorrhage Monday morning, a strokethat leads to death in 20 percent of the cases, said Kent Bullis,Ball State's medical director.
"I'd say there is a substantial risk that (O'Bannon) won't beable to return to his duties as governor," Bullis said. "It wouldbe a miracle if he had a rapid recovery."
As of late Monday night, O'Bannon had been in a coma for morethan 12 hours. Doctors estimate it will take another 24 to 48 hoursbefore they know how well he recovered.
Until then, Lt. Gov. Joe Kernan has assumed O'Bannon'spowers.
Kernan emphasized on Monday afternoon, however, that O'Bannon isstill the governor.
The Indiana Constitution allows the lieutenant governor to moveup if the governor is out of contact with the state. Normally, thisclause is evoked when the governor is out of the country, said RayScheele, a political science professor at Ball State.
Kernan's new position is only temporary, but he wouldn't saywhen -- or if -- he'll step down.
"Any further step down the road would be pure speculation atthis time," Kernan said. "I would ask that all Hoosiers ... say aprayer for the governor and Mrs. O'Bannon at this time.
"It's early, and we are hopeful."
For Kernan to officially become governor, the speaker of theHouse and the President Pro Tem of the Senate would have torecommend him to the chief justice of the Indiana SupremeCourt.
The chief justice would then have 48 hours to act on therecommendation.
Mary Dieter, spokeswoman for the governor's office, told theAssociated Press the process to transfer power had not begun, butofficials expected to draft the paperwork soon.
Speaker B. Patrick Bauer said the paperwork is ready toofficially appoint Kernan governor, and he and President Pro TemRobert Garton will sign it if need be.
Before he does he'll need written confirmation from doctors thatO'Bannon can no longer serve.
Like Kernan, Bauer wouldn't speculate further.
"We're moving deliberately and cautiously," Bauer said.
O'Bannon was in Chicago today for a U.S. Midwest-JapanConference when he suffered the stroke. He was scheduled to givethe welcoming remarks.
A hotel employee called him at 8 a.m. to wake him up. He didn'trespond, so the hotel tried again at 8:30 a.m.
After O'Bannon didn't respond the second time, security wascalled to break into his room.
Kernan came shortly afterwards. O'Bannon was breathing, he said,but wouldn't respond.
O'Bannon was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital at 9:30a.m. He went into surgery at about 11 a.m.
Kernan said O'Bannon wasn't feeling well Monday, and Kernan waspreparing to give the governor's opening remarks for him.
Press Secretary Andrew Stoner said O'Bannon, who was vacationingin Corydon last week, showed no signs of fatigue before Monday.
O'Bannon, who was elected in 1996, still had more than a yearleft in his last session.
During his tenure, he created the Education Roundtable, acombination of politicians, business leaders and educator, toimprove education. He pushed for full-day kindergarten andextending health coverage for poor families.
The governor was scheduled to visit an Indianapolis home todayto proclaim the day "Weatherize Indiana" day. Along with theproclamation, he would have emphasized the importance of energyefficiency because of projected high energy costs this winter.
The governor was also touring the state to tout his EnergizeIndiana plan.
His popularity has fluctuated this term with the court-orderproperty tax reassessment and budget cuts, including millions infunding cuts to Ball State.
Still, O'Bannon survive the recession, cuts and politicalattacks, and he established a "firm foundation for the nextgovernor," Scheele said.
"Gov. O'Bannon has left a whole lot of things in place for hissuccessors," Scheele said. "He set the agenda."
Bauer said he doesn't expect any issues to surface that wouldneed the governor's attention.
"I certainly hope and pray that he will be here to see his actsbear fruit," Bauer said.
Asst. News Editor Teresa Auch contributed to thisreport.
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