INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Democratic Party was expected to be the belle of the ball Sunday at its annual Jefferson Jackson Day dinner, a sold-out fundraising event aimed at energizing party faithful after weeks of wooing by Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"The J-J dinner is the ultimate show-off night," said political analyst Brian Vargus. "This is a chance to shine."

But will anyone be thinking of Indiana Democrats the morning after Tuesday's primary?

Party officials are enjoying the spotlight while they can.

"I love it," state chairman Dan Parker said.

Yet Democrats in this traditionally Republican state say they want more than just the political equivalent of a one-night stand. They want presidential hopefuls to continue to court voters for the general election, and they dream of becoming somewhat of a battleground state.

"We're going to be doing pretty well," Parker said. "I think this primary campaign could have built a foundation that could make Indiana competitive come November."

The Jefferson Jackson Day dinner is always a major fundraiser for the state party, although in years past it has not generated nearly as much excitement as Sunday's function. The last presidential candidate to attend was Jesse Jackson, Parker said.

This year was clearly different.

Clinton, Obama and national party chairman Howard Dean were scheduled to speak at the event in downtown Indianapolis.

Some Democrats gathered before the dinner, with many Obama supporters wearing white jerseys with Obama 08 printed on the back. Clinton fans, meanwhile, carried balloons spelling Hillary 2008 around downtown streets.

Enthusiasm ran high among those who shelled out $100 for dinner tickets or $500 for VIP reception tickets.

"It's very exciting," said Sandy Vance, a Clinton supporter who is running for Jennings County treasurer.

Lake County Commissioner Roosevelt Allen Jr. stood sipping drinks before the dinner, wearing a rhinestone Obama baseball hat.

"All across the country, everybody's excited," he said. "We are ready and looking for change."

The key for Democrats will be keeping Hoosiers who are drawn to the exciting Clinton-Obama race voting for their nominee in the general election. That could be a daunting task.

No Democratic presidential nominee has won Indiana since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. Republicans control the governor's office — and all statewide elected offices, for that matter — as well as the state Senate. The GOP is confident John McCain will carry Indiana in November.

The state Democratic Party has faced its share of struggles in past years, said Vargus, a political science professor at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis.

Republican Mitch Daniels was elected governor in 2004, ending 16 years of Democratic control of the governor's office. That same year, Republicans took control of the state House, which Democrats had narrowly controlled for eight consecutive years.

"Many people felt that the Democrats had not generated excitement," Vargus said. "It was the same old Democrats, the same old guys."

But Indiana Democrats have had some recent successes, Vargus noted. Democratic challengers unseated three Republican Congressmen in 2006 and took back their narrow majority in the House.

The presidential primary is breathing new life into the state party, he said, and the Jefferson Jackson dinner Sunday was a chance to show off the party's renewed spirit.

"It suggests to a few people that it's OK to be a Democrat in Indiana," Vargus said.