Most of the action in terms of the 2010 Congressional elections in Indiana is happening in the safest seat of all, the hyper-Republican 5th District. Up in the 5th, Republicans have already raised almost half a million dollars to fight over whether Dan Burton will keep his Congressional seat (and, if he doesn’t, who will get it).

The initial reporting on the district has focused on Luke Messer’s haul of around two hundred thousand dollars. I would say that the bigger story is not how much money Messer raised, but how much money the other candidates raised. Namely, enough to keep themselves in the race. Virtually all of the candidates raised enough money to ensure that they will remain around; the field will not be narrowing any time soon.

In the sense that a divided field will never knock-off the incumbent (which is such conventional wisdom that Messer’s allies have been trying to devise a scheme to pick a lone challenger), this is good news for Dan Burton.

“Winners” are in italics, after the leap.

Starting Cash-on-Hand:
Carl Brizzi: $16,917.35
Dan Burton: $353,651.32
John McGoff: $2,348.72
Brose McVey: $20,486.12
Luke Messer: $0.00
Mike Murphy: $41,000.00

Q2 Net Receipts (Contributions):
Carl Brizzi: $7,218.00
Dan Burton: $152,498.30
John McGoff: $38,659.00
Brose McVey: $76,346.10
Luke Messer: $205,282.62
Mike Murphy: $62,252.00

Burton’s net receipts (separate of strict contributions) include interest on his existing cash-on-hand (strangely enough). Messer gave his campaign about five thousand dollars. Murphy gave his campaign over $800.

Q2 Individual Receipts:
Carl Brizzi: $1,218.00
Dan Burton: $88,406.35
John McGoff: $38,659.00
Brose McVey: $76,346.10
Luke Messer: $199,959.55
Mike Murphy: $58,887.00

Q2 Committee Receipts (from PACs and special interests):
Carl Brizzi: $6,000.00
Dan Burton: $52,250.00
John McGoff: $0.00
Brose McVey: $0.00
Luke Messer: $0.00
Mike Murphy: $2,500.00

Q2 Disbursements (Expenditures):
Carl Brizzi: $4,581.82
Dan Burton: $87,751.82
John McGoff: $7,890.44
Brose McVey: $14,191.36
Luke Messer: $29,939.94
Mike Murphy: $22,496.41

Ending Cash-on-Hand:
Carl Brizzi: $19,553.53
Dan Burton: $418,397.80
John McGoff: $33,117.28
Brose McVey: $82,640.86
Luke Messer: $175,342.68
Mike Murphy: $80,755.59

Lots of money is going to be expended in this primary. Lots and lots of money. Not being from the 5th District, I find the whole thing a sort of distant rumble over the horizon and I can’t help but wonder why that money can’t be spent to, say, beat Democrats elsewhere in Indiana (since Burton is probably retiring after this cycle anyway).

This post is also available at Hoosierpundit.