INDIANA
      Nov. 6, 2012 Governor

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+Mike Pence/Sue Ellspermann (R)
1,275,424 49.49%
John Gregg/Vi Simpson (D)
 1,200,016
 46.56%
Rupert Boneham/Brad Klopfenstein (L)
 101,868
 3.95%
Donnie Harris (w/in)
 21
  

2,577,329
Registered voters: 4,555,257.  Voters voting: 2,663,368.
Plurality: 75,408 votes (2.93 percentage points).
 IN Sec. of State Election Division



Notes: Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) was term-limited.  Seeking to succeed him were U.S. Rep. Mike Pence (R), former Indiana House Speaker John Gregg (D) and former "Survivor" contestant Rupert Boneham (L).

Pence, first elected to Congress in 2000 after unsuccessful runs in 1988 and 1990, was a former radio show host known for his social conservative credentials; he frequently described himself as "a Christian, a conservative and a Republican."  Some saw him as a possible 2012 presidential candidate (>), but he ruled out a White House run on Jan. 27, 2011 (>). On May 5, 2011 Pence announced his candidacy for Governor via video (>), and he later did a formal launch from his hometown of Columbus.  On May 21, 2012 he announced State Rep. Sue Ellspermann as his running mate.  On the campaign trail Pence frequently referred to his "Roadmap for Indiana."

Gregg was first elected to the Indiana House in 1986 and served for 16 years, including as Speaker from for six years until he finished his service in Jan. 2003.  He then served for about a year as interim president of Vincennes University.  On May 16, 2011 he announced he would run for Governor, and he did formal launch events in his hometown of Sandborn and in Indianapolis on Nov. 12.  Gregg announced state Sen. Vi Simpson as his running mate on May 22, 2012.  He sought to appeal to "Lugar Republicans," painting Pence as too ideological.

Boneham announced his candidacy as a libertarian on Oct. 22.   In 2004 he won the "Survivor All-Stars" fan poll and a prize of $1 million and founded Rupert's Kids, a 501(c)(3) helping disadvantaged youth.

 The three candidates participated in three debates sponsored by the Indiana Debate Commission:
Oct. 10 at Zanesville Performing Arts Center (>)
Oct. 17 at DebBartolo Performing Arts Center at Notre Dame University (>)
Oct. 25 WFWA-TV (PBS 39) studios in Fort Wayne (>)

On a lighter note, in addition to their policy differences, the three candidates had very different hair styles.  Gregg made his handlebar mustache a signature element of his campaign, Pence had distinctive well-coiffed white hair, and Boneham a bushy beard.

FollowtheMoney.org shows the Pence campaign received contributions totaling $15.3 million compared to $6.9 million for the Gregg campaign and $80,720 for the Boneham campaign (>).


Campaign Managers:
Mike Pence: Kyle Robertson
Campaign manager for Pence from Nov. 2009.  Director of outreach for the U.S. House Small Business Committee, Jan.-Nov. 2009.  Campaign manager on Blaine Luetkemeyer for Congress (MO), Aug.-Nov. 2008.  Campaign manager on Jim Ryun for Congress (KS), May 2007-Aug. 2008.  Midwest field representative for the NRCC, Jan.-Dec. 2006.  Legislative assistant to U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis (KY-4), Jan.-Dec. 2005.  Political director on Geoff Davis for Congress, Dec. 2003-Jan. 2005.  Campaign manager on Sean Connaughton for Prince William County Chairman, Apr.-Nov. 2003.  Studied at University of Kentucky.
 
John Gregg: Rebecca Pearcey
(Aug. 2011). HIV counseling and testing campaign director at the Clinton Health Access Initiative, 2010-11.  Penn National Gaming, 2009-10.  Ohio political director at Obama for America, Fall 2008.  Political director at the Ohio Democratic Party, March 2007-June 2008.  Field director on Strickland for Governor, 2006.  Deputy field director at Wal-Mart Watch, Jan. 2005-March 2006.  Canvass director for ACT Florida, 2004.  Regional field director on Rep. Dick Gephardt's Iowa caucus campaign in 2003-4.  Administrative aide to Oregon State Sen. Margaret Carter.  Graduate of Oregon State University with a degree in liberal studies, 2000 after transferring from Chemeketa Community College.


See also:
Victoria Ison.  "It's official: Gregg picks Simpson as his running mate."  The Herald-Times, May 22, 2012.

Stan Jastrzebski.  "Pence Announces Sue Ellspermann As Running Mate."  Indiana Public Media, May 21, 2012.

Tom LoBianco.  "Gregg campaign could live and die by the 'stache."  Associated Press, Nov. 20, 2011.

Staff.  "'Survivor's' Rupert Boneham Announces He'll Run for Governor of Indiana."  The Hollywood Reporter, Oct. 22, 2011.

Associated Press.  "Former Speaker Gregg running for Indiana governor."  Deseret News, May 16, 2011.

Susan Guyett.  "Republican Rep. Mike Pence to run for Indiana governor."  Reuters, May 5, 2011.






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