With the announcement from former 8th District Congressman John Hostettler that he’s jumping in the race to challenge Evan Bayh for his senate seat, the 2010 Republican Senate primary is looking crowded (that is if each of the four announced challengers can get the 5,000 signatures needed to get on the ballot).  Hostettler already joins State Senator Marlin Stutzman, and businessmen Don Bates Jr. and Richard Behney as Republicans who hope to be Indiana’s new junior senator.

But the $12 Million dollar question remains.  Will any of these guys raise the kind of money needed to challenge Senator Bayh in a meaningful election?  It’s true that money doesn’t necessarily make the campaign.  Just ask Greg Ballard.  But for every Greg Ballard, there is a Marvin Scott, Andy Horning, Greg Goode, Luke Puckett, ect.  Candidates that can’t raise the cash to run meaningful or successful campaigns.

Read more after the leap.

Hostettler has never been a prolific fundraiser.  He never routinely took PAC money, but had a motivated and solid volunteer base that won him race after race in a district known for throwing out Congressmen like scrap paper.  And while he probably doesn’t have statewide name ID, he certainly has more than the three other entrants in the race.  Name ID could be the deal breaker in this race.  Marlin Stutzman has been traveling around the state in his own bus.  He’s well liked and is as conservative as any other guy in the race.  He has legislative experience that can somewhat compete with Hostettler’s legislative knowledge.  Hostettler was first elected to congress in the Republican Revolution of 1994 and served their till 2006.  Stutzman has served at the state house, first as a State Legislator then as a State Senator, since 2002.

This may sound as if I think the race is now between Hostettler and Stutzman.  With no offense to the other two candidates, I think that it could be.   It’s going to come down to the grassroots to get the names on the ballot and ID that puts Hostettler or Stutzman over the top.  Hostettler getting into this race changes the campaigns for each of three existing candidates.  Whereas Stutzman had to be concerned about a dark horse like Don Bates, all three must now contend with a candidate with national contacts and a proven conservative voting record (including a controversial vote against the Iraq war).

Sure Democrats will mock and scorn as yet another name has been added to the mix who can’t raise Bayh’s millions.  But as they sit on Evan’s money, Republicans remember another congressman named Dan Quayle who took out the elder Bayh.  Does 2010 have the chance to do the same?  Until that time comes, Republicans must first deal with an interesting Senate primary ahead.