Despite being lieutenant governor from 1996 until he took over on Sept. 13, 2003, he has campaigned on a platform that promotes a change for Indiana, according to Bill Blomquist, an associate professor at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

"We will not tolerate the status quo. We will embrace change and shape it. We will lead, not follow," Kernan told the audience at the 2004 Indiana State Democratic Convention. "And we, together, will build the Indiana we all dream of."
One of the things Kernan, a conservative, has in his favor, according to Blomquist, is that he brings to the election "reservoirs of goodwill."

"Nobody who has ever met him has had anything bad to say about the guy. … [Kernan is a] most genuine, sincere, likeable sort of fellow," Blomquist said.

Born on April 8, 1946 in Chicago, Kernan moved to South Bend when he was in the fifth grade. The oldest of nine children, Kernan, attended St. Joseph High School in South Bend and graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1968.

Kernan served in the U.S. Navy from 1969-74. He flew 26 missions over Laos and North Vietnam as a reconnaissance attack navigator, according to the Indianapolis Star. Kernan's plane was shot down over North Vietnam on May 7, 1972 when he was captured and held as a prisoner of war in Hanoi in a war camp known as "The Zoo" for 11 months.

He continued to serve after his release until December 1974. He received two Purple Heart medals, a Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Commendation Medal, two Air Medals and a Distinguished Flying Cross.

After leaving the military, Kernan worked for Proctor and Gamble in Cincinnati until 1976.

After his brief stint in Ohio, he returned to South Bend where he began work for Search for Special Children, an organization dedicated to integrating children with special needs into the public school system. From 1976 to 1980 Kernan worked for Schwarz Paper Co.

Kernan first entered politics in 1980 when he served as South Bend's city controller until 1984, when he returned to the private sector again where he worked for Mac Williams until 1987.

Kernan was first elected mayor in 1987 and was reelected in 1991 and 1995, making him the longest-serving mayor in the history of South Bend.

In 1996 gubernatorial candidate O'Bannon asked Kernan to be his running mate. When he was elected that fall, Kernan resigned as mayor to become lieutenant governor.

As lieutenant governor, Kernan was president of the Indiana Senate, director of the Indiana Department of Commerce and commissioner of Agriculture, which are all constitutional duties assigned to the post.

He gained recognition for helping pass tax restructuring and economic development packages, according to the National Journal. The plan was an effort to cut property taxes and keep traditional manufacturing and agricultural jobs in Indiana, while focusing on growing more technology jobs in the future.

The O'Bannon/Kernan team's first term produced budget surpluses and enjoyed a thriving economy, though the governor did suffer a few disappointments like being accused of mismanagment of a fish kill in the White River, supporting unpopular campaign finance reform plan and backing education proposals fought by the largely Democratic teachers' unions.

In their second term, O'Bannon and Kernan faced a sluggish economy resulting in significant job loss in the state. They also had to make cuts in government jobs and funding for the 21st Century Research and Development Fund, started by O'Bannon in 2002 to fund high-tech projects.

In June 2002 the administration raised taxes on cigarettes and riverboat casinos. Then, in 2002 O'Bannon and Kernan proposed a 10-year, $1.25 billion Energize Indiana plan.

Days after that plan was unveiled, on Dec. 8, 2002 Kernan announced he would not seek nomination for the governor's office, surprising many Hoosier-state political observers. Kernan said it was time for him to leave politics.

The lieutenant governor was considering buying South Bend's minor league baseball team, the South Bend Silver Hawks, The Indianapolis Star reported.

Even after Kernan took the role of governor after O'Bannon's death, he said he would only finish out the term. But on Nov. 6, 2003 he announced his candidacy.

"Circumstances changed to a degree that I not only never anticipated, but never would have imagined," Kernan said.

When Kernan announced his candidacy, two other Democratic candidates -- former state Democratic Chairman Joe Andrew and state Sen. Vi Simpson -- dropped out to support Kernan.

Kernan married his wife, Maggie McCullough, in 1974. The couple has no children.