Politics

N.W. Indiana Holds Key To Win For Clinton, Obama

GARY, Ind. (CBS) ― Voters are flocking to the polls in both Indiana and North Carolina today.

One of the final polls out, shows Obama in a seven point advantage in North Carolina, where 115 delegates are at stake and Clinton ahead in Indiana, where 72 delegates are on the line.

Monday night it's a family affair as both candidates crisscross Indiana in the hunt for delegates. As CBS 2's political editor Mike Flannery reports, Northwest Indiana is a must win in order for either candidate to carry Indiana.

There's been an extraordinary amount of attention paid to the 18.4 percents a gallon gasoline tax that has been debated from one side of the state to the other. But in a Gary, Ind. high school Monday night, Michelle Obama tried to explain just how vital Tuesday's event will be.

"We're working hard -- because tomorrow is important, it is critical and thank goodness Indiana it begins here with you all," Michelle Obama said.

Earlier Monday evening, her husband was mocked by Hillary Clinton in southern Indiana for opposing a temporary elimination of a federal tax on gasoline.

"I have proposed is let the oil companies pay for it this summer – they've got these record profits; it's time we start making them part of the solution, instead of a continuing problem," Clinton said.

Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh said Barack Obama must have changed his mind. He says Obama voted for the gas tax holiday three times when he was in the state legislature in Illinois.

"I don't think he thought it was a gimmick then; but people are more pressed now," Bayh said. "And if it's a choice between $10 billion in company oil profits or $10 billion in motorists' pockets during these tough times, Hillary sides with the motorists."

With Stevie Wonder performing as his warm-up act, Barack Obama rallied supporters in Indianapolis.

Obama has paid at least $220,000 to air, on Chicago stations, an unusual two-minute TV commercial. Among other things, it belittles the temporary gas tax reduction proposed by Republican John McCain and supported by Clinton.

"You know that it's a gimmick, you know that you are being tricked," Obama said. "You know politicians are saying something just to get through to the next election instead of solving the problem and we've had enough of that."

We'll see how that argument works at the polls in both states.

Monday evening there is a statement that has been signed by 230 economists ridiculing this idea of a temporary gas tax reduction – they say it won't d a doggone thing to help the nation's energy problems in the long run. But the Clinton campaign is convinced as a political issue, it's a winner.

Senator Clinton has been campaigning across the Hoosier state with Ind. Sen. Evan Bayh, who has agreed to co-sponsor her temporary reduction of the gasoline tax.

"My opponent Sen. Obama disagrees with me, he wants you to pay, not the oil companies," Clinton said in Merrillville, Ind. "And he's always going on TV saying 'that's like only $20', but to a lot of people $20 is something, right?"

"There is not a single person out there -- who studied the oil markets who believes this will solve the problem," Obama said in Evansville, Ind.

The Voters' View
After talking to residents from several cities in the Gary area, it's still a tight race where neither candidate can afford to take a breather. Obama supporters have camped out three hours before Michelle Obama's speech here. Case in point is Obama campaign volunteer Jan Rowland, who switched camps.

"To be honest with you, I was a Hillary delegate alternate. When the campaign went negative, I thought I'd come out and do some work for Obama," Rowland said.

Each holds some different reasons why they're hitting the streets. But they want the same end result.

The Obama campaign is sending crews to target households where they've been before, but no one's been home.

"It's all about knocking on doors and doing everything you can to connect with voters," said Obama campaign volunteer Debra Shore.

In Hammond, volunteers for the Clinton campaign are calling voters from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m.

"We would really like to be able to count on your vote for Hillary Clinton," said Belinda Galanos. "It's very important because some people just need that final push. I tell everybody I've been waiting for her to run for 16 years."

But some voters in Indiana say they believe both campaigns should have done more to reach them individually.

"Well, I haven't seen too much of candidates' volunteers here myself personally," said voter Lorenzo Perkins. "Not at the rate that they should be."

At the Conservative Café in Crown Point, one Army mother says she's voting for John McCain.

"I like his conservative values," Nancy Ceglarek said.

These voters are from Jasper County, where CBS 2 is told many voters remain undecided.

"I appreciate that Hillary and Barack have both been here, but I think it's kind of a dog-eat-dog fight and if they're not careful, people may choose McCain," said voter Eva Tokarz.

Voters like Brian Dominguez, though, are sticking with their first choice. Obama has his vote.

"I actually believe him a little bit more," he said. 

CBS 2's Pamela Jones contributed to this report.

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