Defeated Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Schellinger wrote a rather odd guest column published in the Journal Gazette this morning.
Odd because it is a plaintive lament from a candidate who had the most money and the most support from the state Democratic establishment and then proceeded to squander his advantage in what many considered to be one of the most poorly run statewide primary campaigns in memory.
Odd because he failed to take the opportunity to do what most gracious competitors would do for their party after losing a spirited but fair primary. That is, he failed to take the opportunity to endorse Jill Long Thompson. It's something he didn't do in the days following the primary and something he didn't do in the weeks running up to the Democratic state convention which was held this last weekend.
The appearance of his column on the first business day after the conclusion of his party's convention was not gracious timing, either.
As the Louisville Courier Journal' Lesly Stedman Weidenbener noted last Friday in her preview of the Democratic state convention:
Thompson narrowly defeated party leaders' choice -- Indianapolis architect Jim Schellinger -- and is working to bring his supporters into her campaign. Schellinger, however, has yet to publicly endorse her, and party leaders didn't say whether he will be at the convention.
Mr. Schellinger asked in his column that those wishing to seek office in the future should seek his sage advice:
I want all of those would-be candidates to know that my door is always open. I would be delighted to help those who might not otherwise run for office understand what a wonderful, life-changing experience it can be.
Can there be many who would seek his political insight?
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