Clinton or Obama? Even longtime friends divided

by Dustin Grove (grove@wsbt.com)

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Former South Bend Mayor and Indiana Gov. Joe Kernan and current South Bend Mayor Steve Luecke support different candidates in the Democratic presidential primary

Former South Bend Mayor and Indiana Gov. Joe Kernan and current South Bend Mayor Steve Luecke support different candidates in the Democratic presidential primary. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Apr 23, 2008 at 5:54 PM EST

Story Updated: Apr 26, 2008 at 11:47 AM EST

SOUTH BEND — As the Democratic race for the White House takes center stage in Indiana, even longtime Democrats can't agree on who to support.

In two weeks, Indiana will decide whether it should be Sen. Hillary Clinton or Sen. Barack Obama.

The entire country is now watching. It's a close race; polls have shown it's too close to call.

The Obama/Clinton divide is even splitting friends and family. That includes two famous faces in South Bend.

Silver Hawks owner and former Mayor and Gov. Joe Kernan will be at Coveleski Stadium where Clinton will make a stop on Saturday.

He's a huge Clinton supporter, hoping Hoosiers will vote for Clinton on May 6. But his friend, Mayor Steve Luecke, begs to differ.

They have known each other for years.

"Twenty and change, I think,” Kernan said.

They are personal friends and political allies on just about everything.

"Pretty much most issues,” confirmed Luecke.

Most issues that is, except for one — who they have endorsed for president.

“Hillary Clinton,” said Kernan.

“Barack Obama,” said Luecke.

In the race for the White House, former South Bend Mayor and Indiana Governor Joe Kernan and current Mayor Steve Luecke couldn't disagree more.

“I think there's just a real clear difference in terms of experience and the ability to be able to hit the ground running at full speed the day she is inaugurated,” Kernan said about Clinton.

"I think he provides us an opportunity to give a fresh look at the way we do things in this country and I think it's time for some of that freshness,” Luecke said of Obama.

That, he says, will draw young people and those normally fed up with politics.

But the former governor says it's Clinton's plan for Hoosier jobs that jives with him.

It's a deep divide that spans their party nationwide. But, here, they promise, it isn't personal.

"Certainly among the people I consider friends and acquaintances who are on the other side there's no animosity,” Kernan said. “There's just, ‘Good luck, let's have fun.’”

But could it hurt their party?

“There is some concern,” Luecke said. “It's been a long time since we've been this deep into the process to figure out who the nominee is going to be but again, I think both candidates bring great strengths, great plans.”

And a great debate, now centered in the Hoosier state, where voters could quite possibly make history.

“We could be making the decision on who the next President of the United States is going to be,” Kernan said.

Clinton plans to speak at The Cove Saturday, and Obama plans another stop in South Bend in the near future.

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