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Governor Holcomb's advice on running 100-day campaigns: 'Takes a commitment to go without sleep'

Eric Holcomb became the Republican nominee for governor in 2016 just 106 days before the polls closed on Election Day.
Eric Holcomb became the Republican nominee for governor in 2016 just 106 days before the polls closed on Election Day.

Vice President Kamala Harris is in the midst of a campaign for president that’s just three months long after  officially becoming the nominee — and Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb knows something about running such an abbreviated campaign for major office.

In 2016,  then-Gov. Mike Pence became  Donald Trump’s running mate, vacating his place as the GOP nominee for governor.

The Indiana Republican Party state committee chose then-Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb to  replace Pence on the ballot, just 106 days before the polls closed on Election Day.

When President Joe Biden  dropped out of the race last month and Harris took the reins, there were just 107 days before Election Day.

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Holcomb said the Harris campaign needs to be prepared to go without sleep.

“So, it was really just a high-octane, 106-day — 100 day, for them — campaign to build the aircraft in flight and then to make sure you land it with no fuel left,” Holcomb said.

Holcomb said Harris must also share a clear plan for the country with supporters.

Brandon is our Statehouse bureau chief. Contact him at  bsmith@ipbs.org  or follow him on Twitter at  @brandonjsmith5 .

Brandon J. Smith has previously worked as a reporter and anchor for KBIA Radio in Columbia, MO. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, IL as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.