I was not trying to prove anything. This was an analysis, not an editorial. I was, as the title suggests, taking the pulse of the heartland—particularly this small town.

And to answer you second query, I don’t think McCain needs to worry about these folks. If Obama were more centrist perhaps, but BHO is a far left candidate with little experience, a naive world vision and antipathy to “bitter” small town folks. The moderates will not vote for him, and that includes most Democrats in small towns, i.e. Hillary voters.

Bob, thank you for the info on Allison.

The Allison aircraft engine plants were renamed Roll-Royce Corporation years ago after a transition period as Rolls-Royce Allison.
The automotive transmission business goes as Allison Transmission, which was sold to private equity firms last year.

GM has no ownership in either now.

I just finished a long project at one Rolls-Royce plant in Indy, and the non-union engineering people I worked with there were generally staunchly conservative.

For Pete’s sake, if McCain has to be even slightly worried about rural Indiana,or indeed about Indiana in general, he might as well concede now and save on campaign funds.

Unions are a destructive socialist force that encourages mediocrity, protects bad employees and kills the American individualist spirit. So of course, the GOP would nt support them, and the Dems would.

As to your middle class America comment, the Dem Machine is run by billionaires like Soros, Hollywood, Heinz Kerry, Buffet and so on. They care NOTHING about the poor and middle class but their votes. They are the party of the elites. The GOP is the party of hard work, blue collar military types who embody America.

Stop with your corporations stuff. That’s what CNN and MSNBC say but there’s no proof of that, other than WalMart, which has been the best thing to happen to America the past decade. The elites hate it because it’s way to rebuild communities and aid the poor. The far left elite Democrats don’t want that or else those folks will start voting Republican.

But buttom line: unions are evil. Most know they’ve outlived any usefulness.

75k per year for union teachers who work 30 hr weeks, 6 hr days and have summers off. Union workers elsewhere make $30 per hour to sit in a chair and wait for 5…er…4pm to leave. Totally UN-American.

Marty, I stand corrected. Tippecanoe is, I believe, a region of the old Northwest Territory, with the name being formed from an indigenous dialect. Though the county did not form until well after the battle (1826), I assume the river had the name by 1811 when the one day skirmish occurred. Pulaksi, however, was definitely named for the Polish Count!

Thanks for the heads up, and your thorough comments—which I respect greatly, coming from a local resident, rather than someone who has never visited the area.

Although I live in Wisconsin, this article bears the ring of truth, and my acquaintances from Indiana say that its a true reflection of attitudes in their state. I also recognize the thought processes from other places I’ve lived — Central California and Texas, to be specific.

Well done, Mr. K.

I live (and am a native of) a neighboring town, and my work takes me to Winamac frequently. While I’m a moderate/liberal, and an Obama supporter, I think you’ve painted a pretty accurate picture of attitudes in this area. Of course you’re mostly not going to find the liberals/progressives in the coffee shop.

I do think there are some rural folks who will find it difficult to vote for a non-white for POTUS. For many, there has never been a non-white candidate on their ballot for any position. Sadly, I think there is an element of racism there too.

But there is also lots of unhappiness with what the Bush administration has been doing, and the ’support the military’ argument isn’t heard much anymore, because we all now military folks and many in the military are disillusioned with the fruits of neo-conservatism. So it will be interesting.

Off politics for a sec…Ari, are you sure that the river is named after the battle? Wasn’t it more the other way around?