13 WTHREllsworth looks for outsider status in Senate race
Rep. Brad Ellsworth, leftKevin Rader/Eyewitness News
Indianapolis - Indiana Congressman Brad Ellsworth has hit the ground running for the US Senate being vacated by Evan Bayh. The Democrat spent part of the day touring an Indianapolis factory.
As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, touring Thomas & Skinner of Indianapolis makes perfect sense for Congressman Brad Ellsworth. The magnets made at the company go into the Hellfire and Sidewinder missiles used by the military in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Thomas & Skinner employees had plenty of questions for the US Senate candidate.
"American made products are very important," said an employee.
"Magnets are going into our fighting machines are being built in other countries. I don't want that to go there," said Ellsworth.
This is the congressman's second visit to central Indiana in the last three days, but the one last Saturday was a direct meeting with the party, where he was asked some pointed questions.
"As far as gay marriage I believe the ceremony of marriage is between a man and a woman, something I believe and something my faith has taught me and that is where I stand," he said.
While Democrats are trying to figure out if Ellsworth is liberal enough, Hoosiers in Sullivan County the week before were trying to discern if he was too liberal. During questions and answers Monday in Indianapolis, he was just trying to find common ground with the voters.
"Republicans don't like this and Democrats don't like that. Why can't they all come together and get the jobs going, get the health care going?" one voter asked.
"All that kindergarten arguing in Washington, DC takes time away from concentrating on real problems. I couldn't agree with you more. Health care is important. It's a problem. Unfortunately there are those on both sides of the isle that care more about political power then they do about good policy," said Ellsworth.
Ellsworth says lawmakers agree on 80 percent of the health care issues and he would not be opposed to enacting some of what Washington can agree on incrementally if that's what it takes.
Congressman Ellsworth appears to be painting himself as an outsider - a sheriff who is expanding his patrol zone. Republicans may have something to say about that in the fall.
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