Baron's Long Nightmare Has Only Begun

Baron Hill carried less than 70% of the votes cast in the 9th District Democratic primary, a record low for him. He carried only 60% of the vote in Bloomington.

These figures exclude undervotes, where people left the ballot blank rather than vote for Baron or any of his challengers. In Harrison County, there over a thousand Democrat undervotes in the Congressional race.

In all, more than one Democratic primary voter in three voted against Baron Hill, or at least declined via undervote to vote for him (in terms of undervotes). The bedrock of the Democratic Party in the 9th District has been betrayed. Baron's base may be in Bloomington now, but the rest of the district has gone in a different direction from him.

Hillary Clinton carried the 9th District by better than 63%. The only county in the district that Obama carried was Monroe. Most counties in the 9th (including my own, Harrison) gave Hillary Clinton margins upward of 70%.

Moreover, if Hillary Clinton loses Indiana (as is entirely possible given the shenanigans going on in Lake County as I type this), then the long knives will be out by Evan Bayh for Baron Hill and the others who dared upset the apple cart upon which the vice presidential (and presidential) fortunes of Birch's son were riding.

The county chairs, which Baron told he intended to hold back his endorsement until after the primary, remain unhappy. Their girl losing will not reconcile them. Calling one of the most prominent among them a liar will not help either.

The general election campaign is just starting. Baron's long nightmare has just begun. And it's not from Mike Sodrel. He brought it upon himself by going against his own supporters.