Putnam County Republicans hear from Gubernatorial candidates at Lincoln Day Dinner

Sunday, April 7, 2024 at 9:43 AM

With a message that its county party is strong, Putnam County Republicans came together for its annual Lincoln Day Dinner at Tiger Pointe Golf and Event Center.
The evening highlighted the current success the party has had, as well as allowing an opportunity for four of the six Gubernatorial candidates to talk about their plans and how they would move the state forward.

"I think the local party is doing a good job, but I think that is really reflective they are doing the will of the people, we are listening to the constituents of Putnam County, we are trying to elect candidates and put candidates forward that truly represent what their beliefs and core values are. I think that is the responsibilities of a county party, to listen and put people forward that will be good representatives of those concerns," county chairman Beau Baird told The Putnam County Post.

Republicans heard from candidates Suzanne Crouch, Eric Doden, Brad Chambers and Curtis Hill. Mike Braun and Jamie Reitenour did not attend despite being invited.

Baird said it was important for his party to hear from each candidate.

WIBC personality Abdul-Hakim Shabazz offered some recent polling information before the gubernatorial candidates spoke.
Shabazz said in a poll of 500 likely Republican primary voters, 33 percent said they would vote for Braun, while 11 percent said they would vote for Crouch and Doden, 10 percent said they would vote for Chambers, five percent said Hill and one percent said Reitenour. The biggest takeaway, however, for Shabazz was 30 percent say they are still undecided.

"It will be a very competitive race and the undecided voters will make a difference," Shabazz said.

With the early voting right around the corner for the Republican May Primary, all four candidates touched on what issues they thought were most important, as well as bringing a message to Putnam County voters, especially undecided voters.

Doden said he is the only candidate in the race with a plan for small cities and has enjoyed meeting people across Indiana, including voters in Putnam County.