CQ Politics on Hoosier Congressional Races.

Congressional Quarterly Politics did a round-up of key Mid-West congressional races today and here is what they had to say about Indiana:

Democrat Favored:

Indiana 2 — Joe Donnelly , D

2006: Donnelly 54%, Rep. Chris Chocola (R) 46%

Donnelly ousted Chocola from this GOP-leaning seat, which stretches from South Bend to Kokomo, after losing to him in 2004. And so far Donnelly’s amassed one of the least-liberal voting records among his party’s freshmen. Republicans will be unable to capitalize on presidential coattails unless they find a candidate; two would-be challengers have terminated short-lived bids.

Indiana 8 — Brad Ellsworth , D

2006: Ellsworth 61%, Rep. John Hostettler (R) 39%

Ellsworth leans to the right on social and fiscal policy, and that — along with experience as a county sheriff and his telegenic appearance — helped him defeat six-term Republican Hostettler by an outsize margin. But Ellsworth is still a Democrat, and the state’s southwestern corner, from Terre Haute to Evansville, usually exhibits strong GOP tendencies. Republican Greg Goode, a former House aide, is running.

Leans Democrat:

 Indiana 7 — Julia Carson , D

2006: Carson 54%, Eric Dickerson (R) 46%

Indianapolis is decidedly Democratic, but Carson has had health problems and hasn’t voted in the House since Sept. 20; a series of underwhelming electoral showings by Carson — she’s never topped 60 percent in six wins — and the defeat of Democratic Mayor Bart Peterson this month keep this district on the watch list. Wayne Harmon, a Marine Corps veteran, and state Rep. Jon Elrod want to be the Republican challenger. 

Indiana 9 — Baron P. Hill , D

2006: Hill 50%, Rep. Mike Sodrel (R) 46%

The state’s southeastern corner has seen nothing but Hill vs. Sodrel since 2002, with Hill winning twice (as the incumbent in 2002 and the challenger in 2006). After wavering for months, Sodrel announced in October that he’s in for Round 4. GOP strategists hope the presidential election, which almost certainly will favor the GOP nominee in this part of the state, will boost Sodrel in 2008 as it did in 2004. (Bush, his popularity sagging in so many parts of the country, has made two trips to the district this year.) Democrats say Hill has proved he knows how to win this matchup.

In looking at these opinions keep in mind that this is the view from 30,000 feet and in each case the incumbent is a Democrat.  Incumbents generally have a natural advantage and any early review of a race is probably going to favor them. 

One of the districts I’m very concerned about is the 2nd.  Donnelly has played very carefully and without any challenger emerging on the Republican side he will probably win a second term.  In each of the other districts the races could be getting very hot with the Hill vs. Sodrel race being of special interest because of it’s historical 4th match-up status.