By James Polston
TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS—Democratic Senate incumbent Joe Donnelly appears to have a slight advantage over Republican Mike Braun in Indiana’s hotly contested Senate race, according to a new NBC News/Marist poll.

The poll shows in a head-to-head race, Donnelly has a six percent advantage over Braun. Donnelly comes in at 49 percent of support from likely voters and Braun with 43 percent. Among all registered voters, there is not much difference. Donnelly has 48 percent and Braun has 42 percent.

Adding Libertarian Lucy Brenton to the mix narrowed the gap between Donnelly and Braun to three percent — Donnelly with 44 percent, Braun with 41 percent and Brenton with eight percent among likely voters.

NBC News/Marist said the margin of error for likely voters in the poll is plus or minus five percent.

The campaign staffs of Donnelly, Braun, and Brenton declined to speak directly with a reporter from TheStatehouseFile.com about the poll.

Instead, both Donnelly and Braun’s spokesmen released statements that did little more than rehashing their campaign themes. Brenton did not respond to a request for comment by deadline.

“We don’t need a poll to tell us that Joe’s message of hard work, bipartisanship, and Hoosier common sense is resonating with voters,” said Peter Hanscom, Donnelly’s campaign manager, in a news release. “For the next 60-plus days, we’re continuing to keep our heads down, work hard, and talk to every voter to listen to their concerns and discuss how Joe will fight for Hoosiers in Washington next year.”

“Mike Braun is surging in the polls because Hoosiers are sick of talk from career politicians like Joe Donnelly and are ready for the solutions a job creator like Mike Braun will bring to Washington,” said Josh Kelley, spokesman for Braun’s campaign, in a news release. “Joe Donnelly will tell Hoosiers anything, Mike Braun will get things done: that’s why Hoosier momentum is clearly building behind Braun.”

Although the Senate race is heating up, Donnelly issued a statement saying the campaign plans to halt all activities on Sept. 11 out of respect for the 17^thanniversary of 9/11 attacks in New York City, Washington D.C. and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

“Instead of campaigning, Senator Joe Donnelly and campaign staff will participate in a service project that afternoon assembling trauma kits at the Central Indiana Police Foundation,” Hanscom wrote in a letter to Braun’s campaign manager, Ben Mitchell, inviting Braun’s campaign to do the same and join the Donnelly campaign at the Central Indiana Police Foundation.

FOOTNOTE: James Polston is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

By James Polston
TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS— While in times of trouble, the Indiana Department of Child Services has launched an Instagram account aiming to share the daily lives of agency employees, stakeholders, and partners, as well as the children and families helped by the agency.

“DCS touches real families and real communities in every corner of our state,” Director Terry Stigdon said in a news release. “Each person has an important story to tell, and I think it’s crucial that we capture and share their unique and oftentimes poignant snapshots.”

As of the middle of Tuesday afternoon, the newly-created account had 88 followers and three posts, including one with a statement from the general manager of the Indianapolis Colts, Chris Ballard.

“Every kid needs a chance in life. Don’t ever let anybody tell you can’t do what you want to do. Sometimes, all it takes is for somebody to inspire you in some way,” Ballard wrote.

The other two posts include a statement from Stigdon and from a former DCS collaborative care case manager who adopted a boy after he was placed in her care.

“The bottom line is DCS is here to help Hoosier children and families,” Stigdon posted. “I’ve witnessed firsthand the incredible dedication and compassion are more than 4,000 employees bring to this hard work on a daily basis.”

The former DCS employee wrote about her experience:

“My son was placed with me when he was 10 months old. I chose to be his mom simply because he needed one, and I was able to do that. It’s by far the best decision I have ever made. Some people say things like ‘He’s so lucky to have you’ and make comments about my decision to adopt. In reality, my son saved me. I don’t know where I would be today if I never held that little boy.”

These DCS posts can be found @voicesofdcs on Instagram.

FOOTNOTE: James Polston is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.