Earlier this year Indiana became the center of attention during the 2008 presidential primaries, and it appears the national attention -¡will continue through the election on Nov. 4, Joseph Losco, Ball State University political science department chairman, said. While the state has voted for the Republican candidate in every presidential election since 1964, most observers believe Indiana will be contested by Democratic nominee Barack Obama and Republican nominee John McCain.
Losco said while the prospects of Obama winning the state were low, the Democrat's campaign would try to make the election a little more difficult for McCain.
"He is running a campaign in every state, not just swing states that might be important in winning the Electoral College," Losco said.
The goal of this 50-state strategy, Losco said, is for Obama to force McCain to use a large amount of his campaign money to defend states that are normally Republican strongholds.
Losco said both candidates faced uphill battles not only in Indiana, but in nearly every state across the nation. Both candidates have strengths they need to highlight and weaknesses they must strive to remedy, he said.
During a recent trip overseas, Obama met with numerous foreign leaders, which Losco said could help him appear stronger on issues of foreign policy, an area in which many doubt Obama's strength.
"Obama needs to bolster his credibility on foreign policy issues, and he cannot afford a misstep," Losco said.
Losco noted that while the conflict in Iraq was still important, other issues must also be addressed by the candidates.
"Recent opinion polls have shown that the public is more concerned with the economy than the war in Iraq," Losco said.
Both campaigns have recognized the necessity for a strong economic policy and have already outlined the policies they hope to bring to the White House in early 2009.
On their campaign Web sites, both candidates outline their plans for aiding the faltering economy.
On the Web site for McCain's campaign, McCain says he will lower the corporate tax rate from 35 to 25 percent. This, he says, will make the nation more attractive to employers who otherwise could be drawn to other nations where business could be cheaper.
McCain has repeatedly said the current economic downturn can be attributed to people and corporations being fiscally irresponsible. During a Feb. 9 speech in Hilton Head, S.C., McCain tried to emphasize the point that he is sure the economy will rebound.
"In our economy, I think our fundamentals are strong, and America's greatest days are ahead of us economically and every other way," McCain said in the speech.
Obama's campaign Web site said he believes an economic upturn is only possible if more help is given to the struggling American middle class.
On the Web site, Obama outlines three ways in which he hopes to improve the lives of the American middle class: provide tax cuts to working families, eliminate income taxes for seniors making less than $50,000 a year per year and simplify tax filing for the American middle class.
While numerous other issues will be discussed by the candidates, Losco said the economic policies of the candidates are what will earn one of them a victory in Indiana.
"Because of gas prices, foreclosures and the number of jobs leaving," Losco said, "the economy will continue to be the big issue here."
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