Republican governor candidate Mike Pence (center) celebrates the opening of the first Victory Center with Lake County GOP chairperson Kim Krull (left) and congressional candidate Joel Phelps in St. John, Ind. Saturday June 16, 2012. The Lake County location is the first of nine centers to open across the state. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media
Republican candidate for governor Mike Pence (third from right) cuts the ribbon for the opening of the Victory Center in St. John, Ind. Saturday June 16, 2012. The Lake County location is the first of nine centers to open across the state. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media
Supporters, including Genny Gasparovic of Crown Point, (far right) applaud as Republican candidate for governor Mike Pence attends the opening of the Northwest Indiana Victory Center in St. John, Ind. Saturday June 16, 2012. The Lake County location is the first of nine centers to open across the state. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media
Republican candidate for governor Mike Pence (second from left) greets Noah Staub, 7, of Crown Point, as his friend Matthew Wolf, 10, and his father Bill Wolf of unincorporated Lake County wait their turn during the opening of the Northwest Indiana Victory Center in St. John, Ind. Saturday June 16, 2012. The Lake County location is the first of nine centers to open across the state. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media
Republican candidate for governor Mike Pence (center) thanks Allan Katz, a Crown Point precinct committeeman, (left) for a rousing introduction as he attends the opening of the Victory Center in St. John, Ind. Saturday June 16, 2012. The Lake County location is the first of nine centers to open across the state. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media
ST. JOHN — Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Pence staked out his claim in Lake County by opening the first of his campaign offices here Saturday morning. Pence, who drove up from a breakfast in Rensselaer to attend the office’s ribbon-cutting, said the 10-phone, so-called victory …
