There are three House Democrats being mentioned as possible candidates for Bayh’s seat: Congressmen Joe Donnelly, Brad Ellsworth, and Baron Hill. (Keep in mind they have about 48 hours to get 500 signatures in each of the state’s nine congressional districts.)

It’s quite possible some Republican House candidate is about to win the lottery and have the Democratic incumbent effectively disappear.

Rep. Joe Donnelly represents a South Bend–based district that Obama won 54 percent to 45 percent, but Bush carried it 56 percent to 43 percent. State representative Jackie Walorski and former Eli Lilly executive Jack Jordan are competing for the GOP nomination in this seat. There are no Democrats running against Donnelly in the primary.

Rep. Brad Ellsworth represents an Evansville-based district that McCain carried 51 percent to 47 percent and Bush carried 62 percent to 38 percent. Five Republicans are competing for the chance to take on Ellsworth: medical doctor Larry D. Bucshon, Billy Joseph Mahoney, Sunday-school teacher and volunteer Kristi Risk, businessman John K. Snyder, and motorcycle enthusiast Daniel Duane “Dan” Stockton. There are no Democrats running against Ellsworth in the primary.

Last time we checked on Archduke Czar Viscount Earl Pasha Baron Hill, he was trailing Mike Sodrel, 49 percent to 41 percent. He’s the one who wouldn’t allow a journalism student to record his town-hall meeting, lest something embarrassing “end up on YouTube.” You know, something like this:

Two little-known Democrats, John R. Bottorff and Lendall B. Terry, are running against Hill in the primary. Both appear to be perennial candidates with no discernable history of fundraising.