Lugar’s struggles increase as Tea Party’s other targets fall

The Hill ^ | April 10, 2012 | Cameron Joseph

[Clintonfatigued]

The Tea Party has lost a number of its top election targets this year, leaving Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) to emerge as public enemy No. 1 for national conservative groups — and poll numbers suggest they could get their man.

Groups including the fiscally conservative Club for Growth, Tea Party-affiliated FreedomWorks and the National Rifle Association have increasingly prioritized defeating Lugar, and social-conservative groups like Gary Bauer’s Campaign for Working Families and the Eagle Forum have endorsed Indiana state Treasurer Richard Mourdock (R), Lugar’s primary opponent.

Mourdock remains largely unknown to voters, but in a recent poll he trailed Lugar by just 7 points, 35 percent to 42. The Club for Growth and NRA are already both up with major ad buys against Lugar, and other groups plan to follow suit.

“It is a big focus of ours,” Club for Growth President Chris Chocola told The Hill.

[Clintonfatigued]

This is conservatives’ #1 chance to knock off a RINO and it’s in a strongly Republican state.

RICHARD MOURDOCK FOR SENATE!!!!!!!!!!!!

[fieldmarshaldj]

Kick out the RINO Morlock and vote for Richard Mourdock. ;-D

[muawiyah]

Having already explained how Conservatives can get control of the currently very elderly Richard Lugar, let me point out what happens if Lugar is no longer in the Senate.

First of all, that will make McConnell of Kentucky the senior most Senator in the ruling party (assuming that it's the Republicans)

Can I say that the campaign against Lugar is going to drop the Senate like a ripe banana into the waiting paws of McConnell?

I thought folks here didn't care for McConnell, but here they are campaigning against Lugar ~ with McConnell the biggest beneficiary of that campaign.

I doubt the sincerity of the institutional folks going after Lugar.

[hinckley buzzard]

So what? The Senate republicans have already given McConnell their leadership rather than to Lugar, so what will change? Would you rather the Senate fall into the hands of senile Lugar who has no clout apparently, even among his own peers?

[fieldmarshaldj]

Huh ? McConnell doesn’t become the “seniormost Republican” if Lugar is defeated. That would be Orrin Hatch. And if Hatch is defeated, the next up is Thad Cochran. What are you talking about ?

[ModelBreaker]

“I thought folks here didn’t care for McConnell, but here they are campaigning against Lugar ~ with McConnell the biggest beneficiary of that campaign. I doubt the sincerity of the institutional folks going after Lugar.”

Lugar is a terrible Senator. One of the worst RINO’s of all time. He needs to go and the Senate R’n need to sort out their leadership. But that’s no excuse not to dump Lugar.

[Clintonfatigued]

This is the biggest conservative opportunity in the primaries.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Clintonfatigued.

[muawiyah]

McConnell combines seniority with the fact that there are a good number of other Senators who like him ~ which is why he's minority leader.

He benefits far more than the others with Lugar out of the way.

Regarding the benefits to Conservatives, what about the benefits to the voters of Indiana who would stand in line at the front of the federal feed lot.

BTW, my proposal for Lugar is to subvert his staffers so that you can have Conservatives guide his bidding.

[MplsSteve]

“Mourdock remains largely unknown to voters...”

Admittedly, he’s State Treasurer. That’s not a high profile office where everyone knows his name. But I find it hard to believe that he’s “largely unknown”.

Anyways, I sent him $25.00 two weeks ago. Hopefully, that’ll help.

[MplsSteve]

http://richardmourdock.com/

[muawiyah]

A NOTE: Not that I'm a Lugar supporter, just trying to figure out how the primary voters are going to go ~ BUT ~ when Lugar was Indianapolis Mayor he began a process that led the city from a modest standing in the top 10 Midwestern cities to a ranking next to that of Chicago (which is just a huge place).

When things like that happen it's hard to keep folks from liking you anyway.

[House Atreides]

“McConnell combines seniority with the fact that there are a good number of other Senators who like him ~ which is why he’s minority leader.

He benefits far more than the others with Lugar out of the way.”
*************************************************************
You sound like the Chairman of the RINO Preservation League.

The ONLY reason McConnell is currently the Republican Minority Leader in the Senate is because the Republican RINOs & CINOs outnumber the true conservatives in the Senate. That balance is changing (for the better) and with the new conservative Republican Senators elected in 2010 plus the new one to be elected this November, the conservatives will likely have sufficient numbers to replace McConnell with a conservative. Oh happy day!!

Support Mourdock in the primary however you can!

[digger48]

Lugar hasn’t owned home or lived in Indiana for 30 years. DC has been his home.

And he has the gall to run outrageously nasty ads accusing Mourdocks “DC pals” funding his campaign.

RETIRE LUGAR

[okie01]

Can I say that the campaign against Lugar is going to drop the Senate like a ripe banana into the waiting paws of McConnell?

Psssssssssst. Muahwiyah. McConnell is already the Senate Minority Leader. Defeating Lugar won't change that...but it will remove one of his allies.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Lugar’s expiration date was 1988. 24 years past. Time for him to go.

[teg_76]

LOL...what twisted logic. Nice try.

[terycarl]

I like mourdock but I’m concerned as to whether or not he can beat Donnelly....and we sure don’t need a democrap as senator!!!

[Paleo Conservative]

Looks like the RINO hunters may get at trophy.