MARK KIESLING: Indiana Dems provide some roller coaster excitement

That the Democratic Party in Indiana is now in a free fall is not in dispute.

The question is whether the party can find the parachute ripcord before it hits the ground.

Former (perhaps) state party Chairman Dan Parker quit his position, saying it was time for new blood, but it turns out the new blood he'd envisioned was not entirely acceptable to the party elders.

The Democratic Central Committee would not support the chairmanship of Tim Jeffers, which threw several things into motion, most of them unpleasant for Parker.

The scenario was for Jeffers to leave the architectural firm of Jim Schellinger, CSO Architects, and for Parker to slide into Jeffers' empty slot.

But the state central committee did not opt for Jeffers, which left no comfy place for Parker to fall when he left office. So now he's back.

This is bad timing as 2012 will be a gubernatorial election year with an empty seat as Republican Mitch Daniels, having served two terms, cannot run again.

Former Indiana House Speaker John Gregg was supposed to be an odds-on favorite for governor, but it looks like Gregg could not get enough support and that another "big gun" will announce.

This gun, one must figure, is someone who will need the support of Parker, or at least this is what the state's Democratic central committee believes.

Who it is remains to be seen, but it was not a feather in the cap of Lake County when Schellinger failed to win our little Democratic corner of Indiana in the last race against Daniels four years ago. (Jeffers was Schellinger's campaign manager.)

Instead, he was beaten by Jill Long Thompson, known in certain circles as Jill "Long Shot" Thompson and who failed to poll well statewide. She is, however, somewhat of a favorite daughter here as she is a former Valparaiso City Council member.

Still, Schellinger was from South Bend originally, although he now makes his home in Indianapolis, that center of the Indiana universe.

And he got the backing of Lake County's Democratic chairman, Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott Jr., although that might be because both are fellow Notre Dame grads.

Never underestimate the power of a Domer.

Anyhow, the Dems have a very short time to get their house in order, and it is apparent that the party leadership thinks Parker is the guy who can best right the ship.

I'll grant you that Parker is a pretty sharp guy, but when your ship has hit an iceberg, sometimes the best thing you can do is to get the women and children off first.

Will Parker go down with this ship in 2012? Only time will tell.

The opinions are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at mark.kiesling@nwi.com or (219) 933-4170.