According to a recent Indianapolis news channel poll, Republican gubernatorial candidate David McIntosh leads by 30 points over his contenders.

Part of that is due to name recognition.

McIntosh served in Congress, representing the Sixth District, from 1994 to 2000, when the Republicans took over Congress. He previously worked with former Vice President Dan Quayle and under President Ronald Reagan in the Justice Department.

Now, as the leading contender for Indiana's governorship, McIntosh is touring the state focusing on three messages - economic development, property tax concerns and making Indiana the premier state in implementing President George W. Bush's faith-based initiative.

In a phone interview Tuesday afternoon, McIntosh said Indiana needs to take cities or towns in the state, like Warsaw, which has its major medical device companies, and make them centers of excellence. Instead of focusing all of the attention in Indiana on Indianapolis, the state needs to focus more on its regional successes.

"We need to focus on what works well in Warsaw and make that work well in other parts of the state," he said.

Technology needs to be encouraged in the state, which will provide more opportunities for young people who are leaving the state for lack of opportunity, he said. There already are some great opportunities in the state, he said, and he wants to market them so people are aware of their existence.

Young workers will become even more important for state tax revenues as the baby boom generation begins to retire in the next few years and beyond. To keep young workers and their tax dollars here, Indiana needs to have a good economy and job growth, he said.

As for property taxes, McIntosh said, he stands for all of Indiana's citizens, and the state needs to figure out how to protect its homeowners from being drastically affected by this year's reassessment. Many families live on fixed incomes. If their property taxes double, that's a huge hit on the family budget.

He said he has a record in Congress of helping to balance the budget and keeping spending down. As governor, McIntosh said, he can help Indiana do that also.

As for the faith-based initiative, the government can fund the secular purpose while churches can help with people's spiritual growth, he said.

"I want (Indiana) to lead so Indiana is a premier state in implementing that," he said. Indiana has very strong churches, he said, so the two will make very "good partners."

Asked about how people are reacting to his three main talking points, McIntosh said, "We've been getting very strong positive reaction." People recognize Indiana needs to change its direction, he said, and they like that he has very strong values.

If Bush does well in the campaign, McIntosh said, Republicans then will do well in the governor's race and other campaigns.

"It'll excite the voters," he said.

McIntosh, 45, grew up in Kendallville and teaches at Ball State University, Muncie, helping him to represent the small to medium-size cities and towns in the state, he said.

He and his wife, Ruthie, have two children - a daughter, 5 years old, and a son who will be 2 soon.

"I was blessed with two great kids," he said. [[In-content Ad]]