Dick Lugar's Indiana Loss Is a Win for Democrats

ABC ^ | 5/9/12 | Chris Good

[central_va]

In a tough year for Senate campaigns, Democrats will take everything they can get.

This year's map of Senate races heavily favors the GOP, which will defend only 10 seats to Democrats' 23. Six Democratic incumbents have declined to run, and Democrats will have to defend seats in 11 competitive races, while Republicans will only defend in five.

All of which makes Sen. Dick Lugar's loss welcome news for Democrats, who seem to have figured all along that their candidate, Blue Dog Rep. Joe Donnelly, would fare better against Tea Party-backed, Saran Palin-endorsed state Treasurer Richard Mourdock in November.

Now that Mourdock has defeated the six-term senator, Democrats might have a chance at winning a seat they had otherwise written off.

[hoosiermama]

Not a good move on his part. He’ll need the financial backing of the national party.

OTOH got an email request from Mourdock: He’s at 0 having spent all his funds to beat Lugar. Donnelly has $800,000 to start. Hopefully Tea Parties will get the word out to raise some funds for DM.

[fieldmarshaldj]

You’re confusing Donnelly’s district with Pete Visclosky in the 1st. Visclosky has Gary & the most of the IN side Chicago suburbs. Donnelly has the 2nd, centered on South Bend & Elkhart and stretching down to Kokomo.

[wordsofearnest]

Amen to that.