Dr. Woody Myers and former Rep. Linda Lawson are effusive in their praise for each other as they begin to campaign as the Indiana Democrats’ gubernatorial ticket.

Myers has been the Democrats’ presumptive nominee for governor for three months, after his primary opponents dropped out. But the state party’s central committee had to postpone the deadline for Myers to name his running mate after no name had been secured.

But Myers, a former state health commissioner, insists he was just taking the necessary time to find the right person – which he says he found in former Hammond lawmaker Linda Lawson.

“I don’t know a better way to describe it than there was a sparkle,” Myers says. “The pilot light got turned way up.”

Lawson, who served 20 years in the General Assembly, says it was her belief in Myers that brought her back into Indiana politics.

“I’m a fighter. I can tell a joke with the best,” Lawson says. “I can blend into any community.”

The Indiana Democratic Party state convention will officially confirm Lawson’s nomination next month.

Contact Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.