When Democratic nominee Barack Obama concluded his speech at Ball State University on April 12, the Illinois Senator proclaimed he wanted to turn Indiana blue this November.
Obama's words turned some heads. Indiana's traditionally conservative roots haven't classified it as a swing state since Lyndon Johnson won the 11 electoral votes for the Democrats in 1964.
However, during the last four months since Obama's narrow loss in the Indiana primary, the campaign has opened 18 new offices across the state and outspent Republican nominee John McCain in TV airtime.
With the general election less than three months away, the Democratic candidate's campaign is banking on Indiana's geography, economic issues and liberal-leaning cities to come through on election day.
But, the question of which way the state will swing Nov. 4 depends on who is asked.
"It's possible but highly unlikely Indiana will become a swing state," Vice President of Ball State Republicans Lee McIntire said. "I think the Republican Party as a whole is more organized. A lot of people who once supported Obama are starting to lose interest."
An Aug. 21 Rasmussen poll showed McCain up 49 percent to Obama's 43 percent among Indiana voters.
Along with the polling numbers, Obama's choice not to pick popular Indiana Democratic Senator Evan Bayh as his vice presidential nominee may hurt his chances within the state.
Even though he was not chosen, Bayh has come out in support of the Obama-Joe Biden ticket in a statement to the Obama Web site to rally the state's Democratic base.
Senior Matthew Kindig, a volunteer for the Obama Campaign, said issues other than Obama's VP choice will sway voters to Obama this fall.
"Since Indiana is a swing state this year, the state is going to get a lot of attention by the Obama campaign," Kindig said. "A lot of Republicans are looking to vote Democrat for Obama. People liked that we mattered in the primary, and I think they are just tired of the same stuff in Washington."
Bordering Obama's home state of Illinois and the economically torn state of Ohio, Indiana's location plays a large role in its possible political sway in November.
Indiana's economy, which lost more than 16,000 jobs in July according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, also is a traditionally strong issue among Democrats. Obama leads McCain by 19 points in economic issues according to a July 16 Washington Post-ABC News poll.
Overall, the Democratic candidate is outspending his rival in seven nontraditional battleground states, including Indiana. In contrast, McCain has focused his money on advertising in typical swing states like Ohio, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, according to the Campaign Media Analysis Group.
Kindig said Obama's manpower across Indiana could make a difference in the polls.
"We have 18 campaign offices and McCain has one," the Ball State political science major said. "The grass-roots matter a lot."
However, McIntire said the multitude of Obama offices won't shake the state of its red tint.
"The Obama campaign is welcome to spend money in Indiana and actually pay people to run their offices," McIntire said. "But the McCain people care enough to work harder and not get paid."
With both sides gearing up with for the general election, one thing will change in Indiana's political atmosphere. The state has had more attention in the last four months than the last 40 years and the 18 Obama offices across the state are hoping they can turn enough people's heads before Nov. 4.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
