Long-Thompson picks running mate

State Rep. Dennie Oxley II sings gospel music in quartets, but now he'll be part of a duet -- as the running mate to Democratic nominee for governor Jill Long Thompson.

Oxley, 37, did not return calls Friday seeking comment, and Long Thompson would only say that she'll discuss her choice on Monday, during a series of news conferences around the state. However, other Democrats, including House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, confirmed that Oxley is Long Thompson's choice.

Bauer said Oxley brings both geographic balance and state government experience to the Democratic ticket as it competes against Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels and Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman.

Oxley is from English in Crawford County in Southern Indiana and has served in the Indiana House of Representatives since 1998. Long Thompson, 56, lives in Northern Indiana, on a Marshall County farm. She served in Congress from 1989 to 1995, and served as undersecretary of agriculture from 1995 to 2001.

"He's from the right part of the state and he's from the right part of government," Bauer said, who spoke to Oxley, a close ally who serves as majority whip in the House Democratic leadership team, to learn the news about his selection.

Oxley has been known for unsuccessfully trying to eliminate the state sales tax on gasoline, an issue that has gained traction as gasoline prices have now climbed to more than $4 per gallon.

In addition to being a lawmaker, Oxley is a former math teacher who currently is a project coordinator with the Indianapolis-based engineering firm of Beam, Longest and Neff LLC.

While not confirming the selection, former House Speaker John Gregg, D-Sandborn, said Oxley would bring strong credentials as a conservative Democrat, which will help the Democratic ticket in Southern Indiana.

"That's a key area for the Democrats," Gregg said. "Jill Long Thompson has great strength in the northern part of the sate. Central Indiana is Gov. Daniels' stronghold."

The Nov. 4 election between Long Thompson and Daniels, he predicted, "could be won or lost in Southern Indiana."

Read more from the Indiana Star.

NBC's Tim Russert dies at 58 after collapsing

By David Espo and Laurie Kellman
Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Tim Russert, a political lifer who made a TV career of his passion with unrelenting questioning of the powerful and influential, died suddenly Friday in the midst of a presidential campaign he'd covered with trademark intensity. Praise poured in from the biggest names in politics, some recalling their own meltdown moments on his hot seat.

Russert, 58, was a political operative before he was a journalist. He joined NBC a quarter century ago and ended up as the longest-tenured host of the Sunday talk show "Meet the Press."

He was an election-night fixture, with his whiteboard and scribbled figures, and was moderator for numerous political debates. He wrote two best-selling books, including the much-loved "Big Russ and Me" about his relationship with his father.

He was NBC's Washington bureau chief.

President Bush, informed of Russert's death while at dinner in Paris, saluted him as "a tough and hardworking newsman. He was always well-informed and thorough in his interviews. And he was as gregarious off the set as he was prepared on it."

NBC interrupted its regular programming with news of Russert's death and continued for several hours of coverage without commercial break. The network announced that Tom Brokaw would anchor a special edition of "Meet the Press" on Sunday, dedicated to Russert.

Competitors and friends jumped in with superlative praise and sad recognition of the loss of a key voice during a historic presidential election year. Known as a family man as well, he had been named Father of the Year by parenting organizations.

Familiar NBC faces such as Brokaw, Andrea Mitchell and Brian Williams took turns mourning his loss.

Williams called him "aggressively unfancy."

"Our hearts are broken," said Mitchell, who appeared emotional at times as she recalled her longtime colleague.

Bob Schieffer, Russert's competitor on CBS' "Face the Nation," said the two men delighted in scooping each other.

"When you slipped one past ol' Russert," he said, "you felt as though you had hit a home run off the best pitcher in the league. I just loved Tim and I will miss him more than I can say."

The cause of death was not immediately clear. The network initially said on its Web site that Russert died of a heart attack. Michael A. Newman, Russert's internist, later said that resuscitation was begun immediately and continued at Sibley Memorial Hospital, to no avail. An autopsy was pending, Newman said.

Read more online at www.indystar.com