INDIANAPOLIS —
It was big news back in 1976 when then-President Gerald Ford departed sharply from political custom by deciding not to launch the formal start of his election campaign on Labor Day.
Ford waited until the holiday passed before he officially launched his bid to return to the White House. Four years later, Ronald Reagan returned to tradition and formally kicked off his campaign with a Labor Day speech delivered with the Statute of Liberty in the background.
What a long, long time ago that was.
Labor Day, the great American holiday that once marked the end of summer and the serious start of November election campaigns, has lost its place as a political mile marker.
This year’s Labor Day is bracketed by the national conventions, with the Republicans in Florida last week and Democrats in North Carolina this week.
But at most, it’s the start of the backstretch of the campaign season rather than the start of the race.
Consider this: In 1988, Republican presidential candidate George H.W. Bush didn’t begin his first paid advertising until Labor Day — about two months before Election Day. His Democratic challenger, Michael Dukakis, had a jump on him, but not by much.
Fast forward to this Labor Day. Since April, more than 500,000 presidential election ads have run on network, cable and local TV stations, according Bloomberg News and its data-gathering partner, the Campaign Media Analysis Group.
Andrew Downs, director of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, said the importance of Labor Day in campaigns has been on the decline for decades.
“These days, if you wait for Labor Day to get started, you’ve waited way too late,” Downs said.
There are myriad reasons why. On the national level, more primaries have shifted from summer to early spring, which means campaigns for the general election get started much earlier.
Downs also cites the steady decline since the late 1960s of the power of political parties to pick their candidates and turn out the vote.
Party-centered campaigns have been replaced by candidate-centered campaigns and that, Downs said, means candidates have to start raising money and boost their name recognition much earlier than they once did.
“If you’ve got to shake a million hands – or whatever the number of voters you want to reach – you’ve got to start a lot earlier.”
It’s true on the state level as well. Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Pence, who wants voters to elect him this November, launched his campaign in June 2011. His Democratic opponent, John Gregg, kicked off his campaign last November. The Libertarian candidate, Rupert Boneham, announced his candidacy last October.
Eight years ago, when Gov. Mitch Daniels was running for his first term, both he and the Democratic candidate, Lt. Gov. Joe Kernan, were airing TV ads long before Labor Day.
Ed Feigenbaum, publisher of Indiana Legislative Insight and longtime chronicler of state politics, said the entire election cycle has changed. He recalls a time in Indiana politics when the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve – after the November election and before legislative session started – was relatively quiet.
No more. Now the post-election holiday season is a time for major policy announcements and speculative chatter about what the next legislative session holds. “Basically,” said Feigenbaum, “over the past 15 years or so, politics and government has turned more year-round.”
Maureen Hayden covers the Statehouse for the CNHI newspapers, the parent company of the Tribune Star. She can be reached at maureen.hayden@indianamediagroup.com.
News
Related Photos
-
Labor Day used to signal the start of campaigning for the November election, but not anymore. Presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Barack Obama have been on the trail for some time, as have candidates at the state level.
Discussion
Campaign starter no more
Labor Day now just another day on way to election
- News
-
-
For Piper: Annual ‘Rush the Punter’ event dedicated to Dixie Bee student who died Wednesday after a short illness
Steve Weatherford’s “Rush the Punter” fundraiser at Fairbanks Park on Saturday was dedicated to a little girl who lost her life unexpectedly to pneumonia.
-
Vigo schools prepare to tighten belts
State funding for the Vigo County School Corp. will remain “pretty flat” for the next two years, said Donna Wilson, chief financial officer.
-
Veterans take to the trees
Cristal Bednar took photos of her husband, Justin, as he laboriously climbed his way up a “Dangle-Duo” to get to a zipline at Indiana State University’s Sycamore Outdoor Center.
-
Property owner seeks halt to Hulman Lake dam project
A Terre Haute property owner is seeking an injunction that would at least temporarily halt the city’s work on the Hulman Lake dam project.
-
Tornado veterans balance preparedness, practicality
Few things in nature are less predictable than a tornado. They can form quickly. They strike weirdly, leveling one building while leaving its neighbor untouched. They can fling a car a half-mile and turn a piece of lumber into a wall-piercing missile.
-
ISU unveils interactive Bayh Family Legacy Wall at school
A who’s who of Indiana Democrats paid tribute to Evan Bayh and several generations of the Bayh family Friday during a dedication of a new interactive display at Indiana State University.
-
Can you smell me now?
A contraband cell phone has been discovered by the Vigo County Jail’s youngest and most unique officer.
-
GIVING BACK: Steve Weatherford buys shoes for kids day before charity run
Terre Haute’s Steve Weatherford, punter for the 2012 Super Bowl champion New York Giants, showed once again his generosity Friday by donating new athletic shoes to more than two dozen Vigo County kids.
-
N.Y. Giants honor Weatherford as ‘Man of the Year’
Dan Tanoos, superintendent of Vigo County schools, remembers the first time he saw Steve Weatherford as a freshman at Terre Haute North Vigo High School.
-
Sunday recital at The Woods
A recital featuring songs from well-known composers is at 7 p.m. Sunday in the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
-
Police investigating rash of car window shootings
Terre Haute Police are investigating a rash of shootings that have shattered car windows throughout the city.
-
City hospitals get passing grades for patient safety
Two Terre Haute hospitals have been ranked for patient safety by an independent organization that assesses safety, quality and affordability of healthcare for Americans.
-
Three from Operation Turn and Burn sentenced in federal court
Three co-conspirators in a Wabash Valley methamphetamine trafficking ring were sentenced this week to several years in federal prison.
-
Skateboarders, BMX bike riders working to improve area of city park they use
The sound of small wheels rolling across smooth concrete fills the air, accented by the clacking noise of a wooden skateboard coming to an instant stop on a metal edge before rolling on again.
-
Indiana State to host 2014 MVC baseball tourney
Build it… and they will come. The Missouri Valley Conference and Indiana State University made that famous line from the movie “Fields Of Dreams” reality Thursday.
-
Overlay recommended for 812 area code
The state agency that represents Hoosier utility customers is calling for a ten-digit solution to southern Indiana’s vanishing supply of 812 area code telephone numbers.
-
Elementary school saddened by student’s death
A 9-year-old Dixie Bee Elementary student died unexpectedly Wednesday evening as the result of pneumonia, said Vigo County Coroner Susan Amos on Thursday.
-
Vermillion CSX crossings undergoing maintenance
CSX maintenance crews are working on railroad crossings between Dana and Chrisman, Ill. this week and next, a CSX official said Thursday.
-
Beware of scams everywhere
Ever get a phone call in the middle of the night from a person claiming to be your grandchild, who unfortunately has been jailed in Canada and needs bail money?
-
INDOT to start work on Indiana 163 in Vermillion County
Maintenance crews will begin a pavement preservation project Monday on Indiana 163, between Indiana 63 and the Illinois state line west of Clinton.
-
Union Hospital community garden spots now available
Community gardening spots are now available at the Union Hospital Community Garden for Wabash Valley residents interested in planting and maintaining a garden but may not have the space. The garden is located west of the intersection of North Sixth Street and Seventh Avenue in Terre Haute at 1430 N. Sixth St.
-
Correctional officer remembered at memorial
Greene County native and Wabash Valley Correctional Facility Officer Timothy Betts was honored during a memorial ceremony at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
-
Money donated for Dresser sculpture
100+ Women Who Care of Vigo County on Thursday awarded a $20,200 grant to Art Spaces that will help make the Paul Dresser sculpture, “A Song for Indiana,” a reality.
-
Powerball jackpot quickly jumps to $550 million
The Powerball jackpot jumped to $550 million on Thursday — the third largest lottery in history — as dreamers in all but the seven states where the game isn’t played snatched up tickets for the minuscule chance at a life on easy street.
-
About 200 channel catfish find new home in Dobbs Park pond
About 200 channel catfish transferred into a new home at the Dobbs Park pond on Wednesday, but it’s unclear how long they’ll remain there. That depends upon the people fishing.
-
GED grads turn the tassels
Michelle McClendon’s first child was born when she was 15.
She tried to stay in school, but it was just too much, so she dropped out to take care of her daughter. -
MARK BENNETT: Local summer music series idea remains a good one
One-of-a-kind ideas happen rarely.
As the biblical adage goes, there is nothing new under the sun. We humans succeed occasionally, inventing electricity, automobiles, telephones and the Internet. Invariably, though, someone else insists, “Hey, my grandpa thought of that years before Edison.” -
State to spend $2M to clean up voter rolls
Indiana’s bloated voter registration rolls, which officials say make elections more susceptible to fraud, will soon come under more scrutiny by the state.
-
Community tips lead to arrest on methamphetamine charges
Acting on community tips and other information, Indiana State Police troopers from the Putnamville District Meth Lab Enforcement Team were led to a rural Vigo County residence where they arrested the homeowner on meth-related charges and a female companion on a Clay County warrant for driving while suspended.
-
Historic National Road Yard Sale begins May 29
Bargains galore are expected along a 824-mile stretch of U.S. 40 as the annual The Historic National Road Yard Sale begins May 29 and continues through June 2
- More News Headlines
-
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Texas Gov. Flies Over Tornado Damage
Raw: Gun Scare Mars Cannes Film Festival
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Germany Protestors Picket Barbie House
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
China, Others Want What's Under the Arctic Ice
One Million Evacuated As Cyclone Hits Bangladesh
Raw: Suicide Bomber Kills 2 Americans, 13 Others
Raw: 6 Die in Russian Ship Fire
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Twiggy, the Water Skiing Squirrel
Sailor Surprises His Mom At Her CU Denver Graduation Ceremony
Official: ‘Amazing’ No One Was Killed In CT Train Crash
Coffee Stop Leads To Arrest Of YouTube Sensation Wanted For Murder
Bearded Dragon Reunited With Owner
Marine Reunited with Warzone Companion
Beyonce Is Pregnant!
SF baseball player overpaid $500,000 RETURNS money -- and team says KEEP IT
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
Dad returns from Afghanistan, surprises family during Rays' first pitch
See Jennifer Lopez's New $10m Hamptons Mansion
Woman tricked into taking abortion pill
Emma Watson Goes Pantless
IRS scandal: Republicans seek to tie Obama to agency's woes
Play of the Day: Flipping to Safety
Pregnant Kim Kardashian Squeezes Her Swollen Feet Into Stilettos
Top Videos of the Week: Angry Taco Bell Guy, Glacier Moves on House, Dog Hates Baths
Cindy Crawford Stuns At Cannes
