Bayh Begins Statewide Campaign Tour

FORT WAYNE -- U.S. Senate candidate Evan Bayh kicked off a statewide tour Thursday. He started in Fort Wayne for his first campaign stop since joining the Senate race last week. He’s visiting cities across Indiana before he’s officially nominated Friday as the Democratic candidate.

Bayh met with Sweetwater Sound owner Chuck Surack, who gave him a tour of the building.

“Our warehouse is about twice as big, you can’t really see it, it’s on the other side over there,” Surack said. “We do about 5-6,000 orders a day.”

Bayh said job growth is an important part of his campaign, and asked Surack questions about his plans to expand.

The former governor said his name recognition will help him win the open U.S. Senate seat, which he has held in the past. But his opponent, Congressman Todd Young, has criticized Bayh’s ties to Washington.

“I think it’s unfortunate that Congressman Young has chosen to attack me,” Bayh said. “I don’t want to go down that road. I choose to attack the problems that face the people of Indiana. I want to build our state and country up, not tear some politician down.”

Bayh said he doesn’t want to run a negative campaign, and instead hopes to focus on the economy and making college affordable, issues that Young says are a priorities in his campaign as well.

Bayh also traveled to General Sheet Metal Works in South Bend and Tri-State Automation in Hammond Thursday. He’s planning trips to Terre Haute and Evansville Friday.