More on O'Bannon/Indiana politics  

According to the Indianapolis Star, Frank O'Bannon probably suffered some degree of brain damage during his cerebral hemhorrage yesterday. Cerebral hemhorrages are in general quite severe, and it seems unlikely O'Bannon will return to the governor's mansion. It's too bad - he seems to have been universally admired.

The politcal fallout will be an interesting story if you're following the Indiana governor's race, because Lt Governor Joe Kernan, who in all likelihood will now replace O'Bannon, indicated in February that he wouldn't be running in 2004 (O'Bannon couldn't run again because of Indiana term limits). That decision left Democrats scrambling to find a candidate to face probable Republican nominee and former White House budget secretary Mitch Daniels. Obviously it's not clear now what the implications are for 2004, but it'll definitely put the brakes on what was shaping up to be a vicious campaign.