As we approach this afternoon’s Republican state convention, we keep hearing more stories about strong-arm tactics in the only contested race, that for attorney general.

When Steve Carter threw everyone for a loop by announcing he was stepping down back in March, his chief aide, Greg Zoeller, decided to run. But then Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas threw his hat into the ring and quickly got the endorsement of Gov. Mitch Daniels. Daniels’ stated reason was that Costas would give the ticket geographic balance. Since Daniels is from Indianapolis, Becky Skillman from Bedford, and Tony Bennett from the Louisville suburbs (where Zoeller also hails from), Costas is allegedly needed to give northern Indiana residents, still angry with Daniels about the Toll Road lease, a reason to vote Republican.

But what was not reported widely was the supposed interest by the big Indianapolis law firms in erasing one of Carter’s policies, that of doing as much legal work of the state as possible in-house, using the attorneys paid by the taxpayers for that purpose. The law firms like to have that work farmed out to them (at much higher prices, of course) and hope Costas will do this. They know Zoeller won’t, so they’re backing Costas big time.

Marion County Republican Chairman Tom John is a big Costas supporter, and he’s putting pressure on the township party officials and delegates to support him. Reportedly that includes loyalty oaths for those appointed to fill vacant delegate slots. John recently fired Dave Miller, a longtime Carter ally, as Perry Twp. Republican chairman. Miller says he was notified of the firing by voice mail from John, who he says cited an Internet column quoting Miller as being critical of the loyalty oaths. Miller says he doesn’t know if his support for Zoeller was the real reason.

Some Republicans are also uneasy about the fact that Costas’ law firm is defending many of the politicians the attorney general’s office has been going after in Lake County on issues like voter fraud and where all that casino money is going. Costas stresses that he has had nothing to do personally with those cases.

So where is all this pressure coming from? Is the Costas campaign orchestrating it, or is John acting on his own? Or is it being ordered from the governor’s office? And will it have the desired effect of electing Costas? Or will delegates resentful of the pressure turn to Zoeller, who’s supposedly doing very well? Stay tuned this afternoon.

That’s the number to look out for at today’s State GOP Convention in Indianapolis.  It’s the number of Ron Paul supporters who are expected to show up and throw a potential monkey wrench into today’s nomination process.

The Paul supporters are mad that the state party changed the rules for selecting delegates to the national convention.  Instead of voting on individual candidates, the party changed the rules so that the national delegates will be presented as a slate and would have to be voted up or down by the convention.  That has the Ron Paul crowd crying foul and they may try to disrupt the convention.  One thing I am hearing is that is the Ron Paul group may throw their support behind AG candidate Greg Zoeller as a way to stick it to the state party.  We’ll see. 

I don’t think it will be Chicago 1968, but it is definitely going to be fun to watch today. I’ll be live blogging from the convention to check back later today.
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Scratch another name off the list of potential Democratic candidates for Lt. Governor. Former Speaker of the House John Gregg told me this morning that he has taken his name off the list of possible running mates for Jill Long Thompson.

Gregg is the second Southern Indiana Democrat to say no the the lite gov spot. Last week Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel put out a statement saying that he was staying put.

Two other names that are still being circulated are State Rep and former Posey County Prosecutor Trent Van Haaften and Lake County Sheriff Roy Dominguez.

Who knew that faith and family values were the key ingredients to being a good Attorney General? Shame on me for thinking we might just want to hire the best lawyer for the job.

There aren’t too many absolute truths in politics. Among them:

• Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.
• People get their feelings hurt.
• When you have the Governor’s Office, you’re supposed to have control of the party.

Oops. That last one’s not working out so well for Mitch Daniels.

Non-insiders probably aren’t paying too much attention to the brewing battle for the Republican Attorney General nomination, but there is, indeed, a mighty battle brewin’ between the Guv’s pick, Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas, and outgoing Attorney General Steve Carter’s chief deputy, Greg Zoeller, whom Carter is backing.

While the GOPers duke it out, every indication is that Democrats will nominate and rally behind Linda Pence, a prominent Indianapolis attorney with impressive credentials to do the job.

But don’t worry, average voters, this is one fight that won’t be coming to a ballot box — or television screen — near you: The nomination process takes place at the Republican State Convention on June 2.

It’ll be a test of political truths — and Daniels’ ability to hold his party together in times that are proving ever-tougher for Republicans across the nation.