By Armen Toumajan
Congressional Quarterly

Electoral votes: 12

Delegates: 55

Chairman: Mike McDaniel

Hotel: Sheraton Society Hill (215) 238-6000

1996 Election:
Dole – 47%
Clinton – 42%
Perot – 11%

Indiana's 55-member delegation to the Republican convention will be as solidly in favor of Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush as any. A holdout for its traditional late primary, Indiana did not get around to expressing its presidential preference until May 2 - almost two months after the Texas governor had clinched the nomination. Bush ended up with 81 percent of the Indiana Republican vote.

Yet despite the goodwill toward Bush, there may be a few in the Indiana delegation who are feeling some regret - because they once hoped that they would be cheering a home- state son, former Vice President Dan Quayle, as the party's presidential choice.

Quayle - whose political career has not recovered from poor public approval ratings during his 1989-93 tenure as vice president under the elder George Bush - entered the 2000 race for president last year. But his weak performance in an Iowa Republican straw poll that summer persuaded him to leave the race, and he ultimately endorsed the son of his former boss.

The Indiana delegation to the 1988 convention in New Orleans had shared in the drama of Quayle's unexpected selection for the Republican ticket and the immediate media firestorm over allegations that Quayle had used connections to avoid serving in the Vietnam War. The 1992 delegation to the convention in Houston hailed Quayle's re-nomination despite the series of gaffes that had made him the target of barbs from Democrats and stand-up comedians.

Indiana Republicans held out some hope this summer for a return to national prominence, as Sen. Richard G. Lugar was mentioned on some lists of potential vice presidential running mates for George W. Bush. Widely respected for his serious manner and expertise on issues such as agriculture and foreign policy, Lugar briefly sought the 1996 Republican presidential nomination and is strongly favored to win a fifth Senate term this year.

Though not a delegate, Lugar is expected to make an appearance in Philadelphia. So is Republican Rep. David M. McIntosh, who this year is challenging Democratic Gov. Frank L. O'Bannon.

State Republican Chairman Mike McDaniel is chairing the Indiana convention delegation for the second time. McDaniel also is this year's chairman of the organization of all state Republican Party chairmen.

Rep. Steve Buyer is the only one of Indiana's six Republican U.S. House members who will attend the convention as a delegate.

Buyer once appeared a possible target this year for Democratic campaign strategists after he acted as a House prosecutor in the early 1999 Senate trial of President Clinton. But a lack of a candidate pool in Buyer's heavily Republican 5th District dissuaded the Democrats from making a strong effort; the contest is ranked "Safe Republican" by Congressional Quarterly.

On hot-button issues such as abortion, the Indiana delegation consists of a large cross-section of opinion. "We range from pro-choice to strongly pro-life people," said state Sen. Luke Kenley, a convention delegate.

The Indiana Republicans are trying to set aside their ideological differences in the cause of party victory. The Indiana delegation's "primary role is to elect a Republican president," stated longtime state Sen. Johnny Nugent.

The state Republican Party platform includes a statement on abortion that reads: "Recognizing the diversity of opinion among members of our party, Indiana Republicans support current Indiana law that says, 'Childbirth is preferred, encouraged, and supported over abortion.' "

INDIANA NOTABLES: Mike McDaniel, chairman of the state Republican Party and the convention delegation; Rep. Steve Buyer; Republican National Committeeman Robert Hiler Jr.; Indiana Secretary of State Sue Ann Gilroy; former Indiana GOP chairman Rex Early.