Barack Obama, John McCain Visiting Indiana Just Before Election Day 2008

Indianapolis -- As noted in previous reports about the Indiana election, this has been a historic year for the Hoosier battleground state. Polls have been all over the place, with some Indiana polls showing McCain having a slight edge and others leaning toward McCain. Today, Real Clear Politics indicates that McCain may have the edge, as shown here although the state is considered a toss up, as shown in the latest map here . How close is it? So close, that both Barack Obama and John McCain are set to visit Indiana. Barack Obama arrives in Indiana on Election Day, November 4. McCain may be speaking right now at the Indianapolis International Airport (details below).

Barack Obama and John McCain set their sights on the Hoosier battleground state, Indiana

McCain is set to speak at 4 pm (Eastern time) in Indiana and the doors opened at 1 pm. He is set to speak at Indianapolis International Airport, 7001 Pierson Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46241.He'll be at the International Arrivals Building. Although tickets are offered free online, there could still be a chance to arrive in person and see McCain. To see live video of his speech, you can go here and wait for breaking video, set to appear later in the day.

This is McCain's third visit this year. I called the Indiana Republican Party headquarters on South Meridian Street to confirm his visit and speaking time. Even though some earlier media reports had indicated that there was a possibility that McCain would be in Indiana on November 4, Election Day, I was told that would not actually occur.

Although there isn't word yet where Obama will stop in Indiana on Election Day, when I called a local Democratic headquarters, I confirmed that he will be in Indiana on Election Day. Voters actually have a chance to see him, however briefly, as they stand in line to vote. This will be Obama's 49th visit to Indiana, with three visits in just the last 12 days. We received email announcements for both his and McCain's scheduled stops and saw the notifications at their respective websites.

I also called the National Obama headquarters and was told that he is not expected to conduct a rally but instead intended to meet voters in person on Election Day, urge people to get out and vote and similar activities. I spoke with Whitney Babbitt in Indianapolis at state headquarters for Barack Obama and she said he might even appear in local diners or restaurants.

Indiana election issue: as some states, including Ohio, consider closing schools on Election Day, should Indiana follow suit?

I called the Superintendent's office for our school township because of concerns about long lines of Indiana voters at schools which are in session. Having voted at a local school in previous elections (and I will be voting tomorrow, too), I know the parking lot at may local schools are small and lines could snake around the building. I talked to friends in Hamilton County who stood in line for hours for early voting.

This is a concern in Ohio, another battleground state, with questions being raised about traffic and safety, as noted here . Schools in parts of Ohio are set to be closed tomorrow. With so much at stake and with the polls closing early in Indiana, perhaps the election should take priority and students - and school buses - should be safely out of the mix. At one local voting location in Indiana, Greenbriar School, I called and was told that school would absolutely be in session. The parking lot is not huge and it can be hard to find a parking spot on a normal school day (depending on the event, school conferences, etc). With voting predicted to be at record highs, there seems to be some potential for trouble or delays as voters make their way to their voting location.

On Election Day, Indiana polls close earlier than many in the country, at 6 pm. It could be risky and dangerous for students going home as cars try to get into the parking lot at some voting locations. I think schools should be closed - but I'm not the one in charge of that decision so I'll be hoping for a safe, efficient election process, with a minimum of problems and delays.

Why McCain may be visiting Indiana now, a historically Republican state

This was an issue pondered in previous articles, including one written only weeks ago, on Oct 16 here At the time, it seemed odd that McCain hadn't showed up much, particularly compared to Obama's continued visits to Indiana. Now McCain is finally making an appearance, perhaps underscoring Indiana's importance in this year's election. You can also see a video interview with McCain here at the Indy Channel, one where McCain notes that he is the underdog and that "things are tough." At the same time, he stated that he expected to win Indiana, using the words "of course" when asked about that but also noting that he needed Indiana to win. If so, his lack of appearances have been baffling to some Hoosiers that he hasn't appeared till the day before the election. A tight campaign budget may have left him little choice.

Why Indiana matters this year and what the latest polls indicate

Historically, the state has voted for Republican presidential candidates most of the time. It is unique to even see things get so tight in an election year and even people who've lived in Indiana for years have to think back to 1964 to remember when a Democrat (Lyndon Johnson) took the state. Could it happen again this year? Clearly, neither McCain nor Obama are taking the state for granted. With high levels of unemployment, homes sitting unsold and McCain noting that Indiana is definitely in a recession, record turnouts are expected at this year's election. Indiana could well be a predictor for the rest of the country when it comes to this year's election.

Sources

Personal experience

John McCain calendar: http://www.johnmccain.com/Calendar/ found here

Barack Obama website: here

Real Clear Politics polls and maps: here

Board of Elections: Close all Butler County Schools, (Sweigert) Cox Media here

Live video of John McCain's appearance slated to appear here: here