Democratic candidates for governor ready for a fight to the finish

by Troy Kehoe (tkehoe@wsbt.com)

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Democratic candidate for governor Jill Long Thompson arrives in Argos to cast her vote in the Indiana primary. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: May 6, 2008 at 5:44 PM EST

Story Updated: May 6, 2008 at 5:59 PM EST

FORT WAYNE — The Democratic presidential primary may be getting the most attention Tuesday night, but there is another high profile fight to the finish too: the race for governor.

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The latest Survey USA poll showed Democrat Jill Long Thompson with a 20-point lead over her challenger Jim Schellinger, with just 14 percent still undecided.

The last WSBT-South Bend Tribune poll showed just 10 percent undecided.

Even so, both candidates said again Tuesday, they are not taking anything for granted.

Long Thompson stopped to greet poll workers in her hometown of Argos before casting her ballot Tuesday afternoon.

Earlier in the day, she made campaign stops in Lake County, where her campaign says the race is still extremely tight.

Schellinger, meanwhile, spent his day in his hometown of Indianapolis, greeting before casting his ballot there.

Both candidates say they are "cautiously optimistic," but know the expected high voter turnout across the state could play a role in who ends up making a victory speech Tuesday night.

"It feels as if the momentum has been building in my campaign, but there's still the wild card,” Long Thompson told WSBT News. “And the wild card is, with all the new voters coming to the polls, how are they going to vote in the gubernatorial?"

“People agree that we should be doing a better job in the state,” Schellinger said. “Everybody's just filled with energy and excited for this election, and we're hopefully going to get some good news here in a few hours.”

Schellinger is expected to stay in Indianapolis Tuesday night, where he'll watch the returns with supporters and his family, many of whom still live in his hometown of South Bend.

Jill Long Thompson will watch the returns roll in from Fort Wayne. Reporter Troy Kehoe is there and will have a live report on WSBT News at 11 p.m.

For more election headlines and voter resources, go to WSBT.com's Campaign ‘08 section.

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