Feigenbaum's Blockbuster Reporting On Carson's Future

While other area political reporters have been sitting on their butts, the Indiana Legislative Insight's Ed Feigenbaum has been conducting some in-depth research into Rep. Julia Carson's current health problems and what it means for her political future and that of others. His reporting this week contains a fascinating political insight into what may be shaping up as Indiana's most interesting congressional race next year. Feigenbaum, well aware of the heat bloggers like myself have taken for even trying to have a reasonable debate over Carson's future, offered this to critics: "Even though we’re going to run through the facts of political life for you, that shouldn’t serve as justification for folks to label us as racist (as commenters on many local blogs have intimated of those who suggest that Rep. Carson can’t do her job, should resign, or not seek re-election)." Now, let's get to details. Here's a highlight of what Feigenbaum has to share with us:

• Speculation about Carson's health woes will be further fueled next Tuesday when Carson fails to cast a vote in person. According to Feigenbaum, Carson will vote absentee.
• The Indiana Democratic Party is funding a direct mail piece for Carson's grandson, Andre Carson, in his District 15 Indianapolis city-county council race. He is running unopposed. This news is not likely to sit well with Democrats in hotly-contested races who are receiving no assistance from the state party.
• Local Democrats are growing restless. They believe Carson may be simply pretending to seek re-election with a plan to drop out at the last minute, allowing Andre Carson to be the only candidate prepared with papers to walk over to the State House to file for her seat at the last possible moment.
• There is a generational divide in thinking on the race between the old-timers like Rep. Bill Crawford and the new-comers like Rep. Carolene Mays. The younger generation feels it's their time to move up the political food chain.
• Rep. Jon Elrod (R) is emerging as a likely Republican candidate for the seat.
• "[W]hen [former state health commissioner Dr. Woody] Myers’ name was raised in some circles this Summer as a possible successor, he was “effectively assassinated .... decapitated” by “Julia’s people,” as one astute local observer describes it for us. Indeed, we’re told, “Anybody who’s ever said that they’ve even thought about [running] has encountered that paradigm.”
• "But there is already at least one white female elected official laying the ground work for a bid, another white lawmaker is also sending out feelers, a former Indiana Democratic Party chair is being encouraged by some to run, and no doubt others are also ensuring that they can quickly enter the contest if the opportunity arises."
• And here's the kicker. Former Rep. Andy Jacobs may come out of retirement and hold the seat down for the Democrats for one term while the party sorts out who the ultimate successor to Carson will be.

It's a fascinating read. If you want to read the whole story, you will have to subscribe to Feigenbaum's Indiana Legislative Insight.