Tough opponent got pushed aside

When Republican leaders sit down this week to fill Mike Pence’s spot as the GOP nominee for governor of Indiana, one obvious choice will probably be overlooked.
Sue Ellspermann will still be settling into her new job as president of Ivy Tech, and while that’s fine, it represents a missed opportunity for Hoosier Republicans.
As lieutenant governor, Ellspermann consistently impressed those who came in contact with her locally. She charmed business owners in Dunkirk and Portland, and she demonstrated an open-mindedness that was refreshing.
Articulate, intelligent and capable, she’d be a formidable opponent for Democrat John Gregg. She’s an experienced member of the Indiana General Assembly and strong on the campaign trail.
Clearly, Pence thought he was doing the right thing when he nudged her off the ticket this spring. For whatever reason, he thought Eric Holcomb — a virtual unknown outside of GOP leadership circles — was the better choice when it came to bolstering the chances for his own re-election.
But that was before Donald Trump came calling.
Now, instead of having an experienced lieutenant governor move up on the ballot, the party has Eric Holcomb, who is still essentially in training, and a pair of House members who can’t seem to decide what office they’re running for.
The winner in all this? That would probably be John Gregg. His toughest potential opponent is at work at Ivy Tech. — J.R.