Editorial: Visits show votes will matter in race for White House

For the first time in a long time, Indiana will factor into a presidential election.

Usually the nominee race is decided months before our May primary date, and Indiana’s reputation of being a solid Republican state means candidates skip over the Hoosier state during the hottest-contested times.

However, both Democratic presidential candidates showed up in our state in the span of a week—with Sen. Hillary Clinton’s husband Bill preceding her. He just happens to be that Bill Clinton, the former president.

As of press time, Clinton was set to tour the state yesterday.

Other presidential candidates stopped by in the previous months—the presumptive GOP nominee for president, John McCain, was in Indianapolis last month and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani visited our state last fall.

But, there’s much more mystique to a visit when votes, and delegates, are at stake. Sen. Barack Obama, who spoke at Plainfield High School Saturday, is considered the front-runner after a long string of recent victories, but Clinton is close behind.

Clinton, for the record, received the endorsement of popular former Indiana governor Sen. Evan Bayh late last year.

The deadline for absentee-by mail applications is April 28.

Even voters registered as Republicans can vote in this contested race if they choose. Indiana has an open primary, which means citizens can choose which primary to vote in, regardless of party affiliation. Though it appears neither candidate will earn enough pledged delegates to secure the nomination before the Democratic National Convention—delegate-rich Florida and Michigan were stripped of their electorates—any support is important, and every vote matters.

For the first time in a long time that includes Hoosier votes.

Go make them matter.