INDIANAPOLIS — Former Democratic Indiana House Speaker John Gregg set the tone for his 2012 gubernatorial bid Monday, telling supporters to expect a fun and energetic campaign focused on moderate policies that will bring people together.
Gregg filed paperwork to create an exploratory committee for the governor's race Monday and met with supporters at an Indianapolis produce market to announce his intentions. He plans to have an official campaign kickoff event later.
"Neither the extreme left or extreme right may fall in love with me, but I think probably 65, 70, 80 percent of the people will because we're going to guide down the middle of the road, taking ideas from both sides," said Gregg, known for his homespun personality and quick wit. "It's going to be people, not politics. It's going to be people, not ideology."
The comments are an obvious slam against Gregg's most likely Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, a tea party favorite. Democrats are trying to portray the front-running Pence as too conservative for mainstream Indiana residents. GOP businessman Jim Wallace also has announced his candidacy, saying he would bring a more business-focused attitude to the office.
Many Democrats believe Gregg is the party's best hope to claim the job currently held by Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels, who cannot seek a third consecutive term under state law. Former Sen. Evan Bayh and Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel both have declined to run, and U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly opted to run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Richard Lugar instead.
Republicans said Gregg's candidacy shows the weakness of the Democratic Party in Indiana, a state where Republicans control the state House, Senate and all statewide offices.
"We're not surprised Democrats are settling on John Gregg," Indiana Republican Party spokesman Pete Seat said. "They continue to look back while Republicans are leading this state forward."
Gregg's campaign website — greggforindiana.com — features a video of Gregg sitting on a porch swing with an Indiana flag in the background. He said he's traveled the state listening to Hoosiers and they "want a leader who will bring us together, not divide us."
Gregg was Indiana House Speaker from 1996 to 2002, including years when it was evenly split between 50 Republicans and 50 Democrats.
He hopes to attract both Democratic and Republican voters, but said the GOP went too far in this year's legislative session pushing bills he characterized as an attack on public education and labor unions. Democrats are banking on outrage over the Republican agenda — and Gregg's moderate message — to help them in the 2012 elections.
"It's going to provide Democrats an opportunity to capture the middle of the Hoosier electorate," Indiana Democratic Party Chairman Dan Parker said.
Pence, who often describes himself as "a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order," has said he hopes his gubernatorial campaign will allow voters to get to know him and realize that his "brand of conservatism is a mainstream, common-sense brand of conservatism."
Both Gregg and Pence are good communicators, and both have hosted radio talk shows. Republican supporters say Pence has the ability to explain the ideological reasons behind his policies, while Democrats say Gregg's outgoing personality allows him to relate well to voters.
AP reporter Deanna Martin can be reached at http://twitter.com/deanna_martin