Presidential candidates Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., left, and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y. (AP Photo)
Story Created:
Mar 7, 2008 at 7:52 AM EDT
Story Updated:
Mar 7, 2008 at 6:48 PM EDT
SOUTH BEND — Owen “Butch" Morgan, St. Joseph County Democratic Party chairman, hopes to find out next week whether either Hillary Rodham Clinton or Barack Obama will schedule a visit to South Bend for Dyngus Day.
Morgan, who also is the 2nd Congressional District party chairman, said he has been contacted by officials of both Democratic candidates about the possibility of a visit to South Bend and other places in Indiana.
He said the campaign coordinators were interested in Dyngus Day/Solidarity Day and asked some questions about it, but didn’t limit their conversations to that. Morgan said both campaigns indicated they might be scheduling visits to other parts of the state before the May 6 primary.
Dyngus Day, celebrated the day after Easter, will be March 24. Although it has its roots in Polish religious history, Dyngus Day has evolved into a political holiday locally. Solidarity Day is a more recent holiday started in the black community on the same day to celebrate black heritage and promote political activism.
One of the most noted Dyngus Day visits occurred in 1968, when presidential candidate Robert Kennedy stumped through the city.
The primary election schedules were different then, without all of the early primaries and caucuses. Indiana was viewed as a key state in the contest for delegates.
Kennedy was involved in a close race with Eugene McCarthy, and favorite son Gov. Roger D. Branigan also was on the ballot. All three visited South Bend at some point during the campaign.
Morgan said he thinks both Clinton and Obama will visit Indiana before May 6, but he doesn’t know yet whether they plan to visit the South Bend area.
