Jeff Zeleny speaks at Franklin College

Photo: Jessica Wray

“I am not a witch,” was the first statement Jeff Zeleny, national political correspondent for The New York Times, made at his lecture on Oct. 12.

Zeleny’s statement emerged from the Tea Party Republican Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell and her ad stating, “I’m not a witch, I’m you.”  Zeleny kicked off his lecture with that to chuckles among the crowd.

Zeleny discussed in his lecture the importance of this year’s midterm elections, and the consequences that they might have on Capitol Hill and in the upcoming 2012 presidential election.

One of the main points that he emphasized is the House of Representative seats that are up for reelection this midterm and their importance in Congress.  Zeleny said that out of the approximate 75 seats up for reelection, the Republican Party only needs 39 to win back House majority. 

“It’s well attainable, they can come up with those 39 fairly easily, and perhaps a handful of them from here in Indiana,” Zeleny said.

One of the comments he also made was on the outlook of progress in national government for the United States, based on the increasing partisan division happening in Washington.

“At the end of all this, I think we’re probably heading towards a couple years of stalemate in Washington, and the outlook of that, I’m not too optimistic of the changes that will be done,” Zeleny said.

After discussing Congressional impacts, he also spoke on the emergence of Republican politicians who may be making a run for president in the 2012 elections.  Among national figures, Zeleny also mentioned two Indiana Republican leaders, Gov. Mitch Daniels and Rep. Mike Pence that he suspects might run.

Senior Franklin College student Matt Foreman said he enjoyed the lecture and found it to be informative. 

“For someone who spends a lot of time around politics, he was surprising neutral.  We all get enough partisan views floating around, so it’s refreshing,” Foreman said.