In Indiana, the decision by Democrat Rep. Joe Donnelly to run for Senate is being described by the AP as a “recruiting victory” for “national Democrats.”
For those of you who read the Campaign Spot, this news is more accurately greeted as a win for Indiana Republican state legislators, who managed to redraw the congressional district lines in a way that makes Donnelly unlikely to repeat last year’s by-the-skin-of-his-teeth victory.
The Indiana Republican Senate primary appears set to be a big-time battle between incumbent Richard Lugar and Richard Mourdock, so it is possible that the GOP primary winner will enter the general election short on funds and with a fractured party. According to Indiana Democrats speaking to the AP, Donnelly expects to take on Mourdock.
Republican Jackie Walorski, who almost beat Donnelly last year, is now the favorite in Indiana’s Second District; a local lawyer, Andrew Straw, is now running on the Democrat side.
I would think that more top-tier Dems would want to run now with Obama's heightened standing and the fact that he's a likely shoe-in for another term (and don't fool yourselves, he's got it locked up).
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseLugar should avoid a tough primary fight by stepping aside.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse@mypalfish -- Obama could well win, but he does not have anything locked up. Check out Karl Rove's electoral map calcuations.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis could be as much a "recruiting victory" as Brad Ellsworth's recruitment to run against Dan Coats last year. Ellsworth was a sitting congressman, too. How badly did he get trounced?
And it isn't like Mourdock is some fringe crackpot. He's run for and won statewide office.
I suspect Donnelly loses, regardless of who is running against him. Indiana isn't as Republican as Utah, but to me this isn't much different than Lee beating Bennett and going on to win the general election.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"and don't fool yourselves, he's got it locked up"
You just keep telling yourself that.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseExpect Jackie Walorski to have to face a lot of "Straw Man" arguments in her campaign.
Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
There may be a reason why my Captcha says "less is more."
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI'm amazed mypalfish is still making political predictions under that nickname. Didn't he have Bush losing Wyoming?
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse