Fair Campaigning

BICKNELL, IND. (WTHI) - Indiana Democrat Gubernatorial candidate John Gregg did some campaigning in his own back yard.

Gregg went down the road from his hometown of Sanborn to the Knox County Fair.

The candidate kept some old commitments and used some old campaign style techniques at the fair.

John Gregg didn't spend hours coming to this event.

The Knox County Fair is home for him.

The fair this year is producing a diversion from the struggling crops.

A situation that also provided a chance for him to talk about leadership.

"If I were governor what I'd be doing would be on the horn to our congressional delegation, our president, the Secretary of Agriculture and getting them in here so they could see about declaring the state a disaster area," said Gregg.

Much about running for statewide office these days is about raising money and building that big campaign war chest, so for John Gregg coming home and doing some old time campaigning is a welcome change.

"The old school part about coming to the county fairs, going to parades, visiting basketball games and local watering holes and festivals, that's a lot of fun," said Gregg.

The fun at the fair was tempered with a semi-serious commitment.

Gregg has spent several years as the taste judge for the beets and salsa competition at the fair and the run for governor had to take a back seat until he could pick some winners.

The beet open class winner was Marcia Carter, but she says Gregg had her vote before he ever began tasting the food.

"I love John so it has nothing to do with whether he picked my beets or not," said Carter.

While this trip to fair may not be swaying many voters, it still provides a good chance to open conversations and connect with people.

Gregg is running against Republican Mike Pence and Libertarian Rupert Bonham for Governor.