An update on Mike Murphy’s 5th CD Congressional Campaign:
D’OH!!
(H/T Indianapolis Times)
Seen on State Representative Mike Murphy’s Twitter:
Today I announced legislation to make info on gun carry permit apps protected from public disclosure. Publication endangers all Hoosiers
In response to databases published by the Bloomington Herald-Times and Indianapolis Star after compiling statistics of publicly disclosed information from the State on firearm carry permits.
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.
Last night, Indy Star Columnist Matt Tully addressed the Hancock County Young Republicans group. He received (in my humble opinion) an unfortunate chilly reception, but he did throw out one line I thought was pretty funny. In a room that included two 5th CD primary challengers in Luke Messer and Brose McVey to incumbent (and regular Tully punching bag) Dan Burton, Tully jokingly asked the group, “Is there anyone here not running for the 5th District?” He followed up those comments by mentioning that the man who lost to Burton last year, John McGoff, would be formally announcing this morning he was running again.
And so it was…(Via the Indy Star)
Dr. John McGoff, who came close to beating U.S. Rep. Dan Burton in the 2008 primary election, will make a second try at unseating the long-time Republican incumbent.
McGoff, an Indianapolis physician and former Marion County coroner, announced his candidacy this morning. Unlike two years, ago, though, he’s got plenty of competition.
At least two other Republicans also are challenging Burton — Brose McVey of Carmel, who ran against Democrat Julia Carson for Congress in 2002, and Luke Messer of Shelbyville, a former state representative and former executive director of the Indiana Republican Party. In addition, State Rep. Mike Murphy of Indianapolis has said he will enter the race.
That is a pretty deep and well qualified field, but let’s be honest. The more people jump into the race, the better the chances are that Burton wins another term. Especially if the contenders come from the areas where Burton in not exactly well liked. And right now, that’s where all the contenders are coming from. That’s not to say this race won’t be interesting. It will be. It will also be very very brutal. Make no mistake, the 5th CD race will show just how deep the divide in the party really is as state establishment Republicans take on a Congressman not well like by the State Party. Think I’m joking, just read Frugal Hoosiers. The guys at FH and us get along on most issues, but with the 5th CD race, they practically fall over themselves at the prospect of anyone with a pulse running against the Dean of the Indiana Congressional Delegation. So it should be no surprise they were quick to support John McGoff last year and no doubt will be trumpeting Luke Messer, with his direct ties to the State Party as the former Executive Director, as their candidate of choice should the field narrow.
But for political junkies with little to no ties to the 5th CD race, it will be one heck of a fight. Let’s just hope there aren’t many political casualties of this congressional war.
Someone once said that variety is the spice of life. In many ways I would agree with that statement, which is why I like to read sites featuring sane and reasoned Democrats. That would include Chris Worden’s excellent “IPOPA” blog.
On Friday, Chris had a post calling out Republican State Rep. (and former Marion County GOP chair) Mike Murphy, for raising money for his pointless primary challenge to Congressman Dan Burton.
So, the RNC is unexpectedly outpacing the DNC in fundraising so far. Who else is outpacing his opponents?
Burton, who faced his first serious primary challenger last year, is preparing for another battle by stepping up his fundraising efforts, according to first-quarter campaign finance reports.
Burton took in $100,904, the most he has collected in a similar time period for the past three election cycles.
State Rep. Mike Murphy, Indianapolis, who has not officially announced a challenge to Burton, raised $41,000. Carmel resident Brose McVey, who announced his candidacy last month, raised $21,666.
Marion Country Prosecutor Carl Brizzi, who has said he would run only if Burton decides not to, raised $24,698.
John McGoff wasn’t mentioned because the Star is saying he “hasn’t decided” whether he’s running again. This despite what he and a few other McGoff supporters told me and the Lincoln Day dinners he’s showed up to to actually campaign. It also doesn’t mention Luke Messer because he only announced a few weeks ago he was running.
A few things do jump out in those numbers. First, that’s the best first quarter that the Congressman has had in a long time. This despite having four other challengers rather than one and more than doubling the amount raised by the next closest challenger. Second, how surprisingly well State Rep. Mike Murphy did in the first quarter outpacing by almost double the only “official” challenger, Brose McVey, at the time of the reporting. That said, Murphy has always been known as a good fundraiser. Third, how well Carl Brizzi did despite declaring he’s not going to challenge Dan Burton. I’m sure that could be read a number of ways. But he too outpaced McVey.
Yeah, I know it’s 2009 and nothing should really be going on election wise, but as we’re beginning to see more and more, there is no off season when it comes to elections, especially when the incumbant is Dan Burton.
