By Mike Smith
The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS - While it isn't as pressing as other election-year issues, the perennial question of whether all of Indiana should observe daylight-saving time has candidates coming up with their answers - sort of.

Daylight-saving time has been an issue for more than three decades in Indiana, where people in some parts of the state will set their clocks ahead one hour tonight but most will not.

Some say the existing system hurts the state's image and stunts commerce. Others, such as former Indiana House Speaker John Gregg, scoff at such claims.

"It's still 24 hours," said Gregg, who retired in 2002. "If you want more daylight, get up earlier."

It's not just whether all of Indiana should be on daylight time. Should it be on New York or Chicago time?

Former White House Budget Director Mitch Daniels, considered the leading Republican candidate for governor, favors statewide observance of daylight-saving time, with "as much of the state as possible" in the Central time zone.

Democratic Gov. Joe Kernan backs daylight-saving time, but he has not specified a time zone.

Republican Eric Miller wants to put the question to a vote of the people, even though the state constitution does not include a mechanism for such ballot initiatives.

Of Indiana's 92 counties, 10 are in the Central time zone and will observe daylight time.

The remaining 82 are in the Eastern time zone. Five in Southeastern Indiana - three by Louisville and two by Cincinnati - observe daylight time to stay in sync with their big-city neighbors.