Lugar Voters in Play in November, May Back Donnelly

The Indianapolis Star exposes the divide in the Republican Party this morning, interviewing moderate Republicans who are either undecided or voting for Joe Donnelly in November. Richard Mourdock, a TEA Party candidate who has called for more confrontation and less bipartisanship in Washington, has turned off moderate Hoosiers with his divisive rhetoric.

While Lugar's history of working across party lines became an anchor in the primary, it would have been an asset in a general election race, he argued.

Mourdock has stressed that he'll make electing more Republicans his top priority in the Senate so his party doesn't have to compromise with Democrats.

Parker pointed to another number from a Howey/DePauw poll: 60 percent of the Republican primary voters want a candidate who will work across party lines to solve problems.



Kate Snedeker, a 44-year-old Westfield communications consultant, said she's a moderate Republican who backed Lugar on Tuesday and isn't sure now whom she'll back in November.

"One of the biggest stumbling blocks that I've had is the talk that we need less compromise," she said. "That's what's been most troubling to me."

Leah Byer, a 32-year-old Flat Rock mother and farmer, also voted for Lugar and, with Mourdock as her party's nominee, will vote for Donnelly in November.

She cited Donnelly's willingness to "meet and discuss issues with Republicans."

 

Comments

[Ryan Farmer]

This "party of no" nonsense is starting to come home to roost.

I voted as a Republican yesterday in favor of Ron Paul and Richard Lugar. Looks like I'm going to have to turn around and go with Obama and Donnelly.

I've voted for Lugar before in the general elections even though I usually vote for the Democratic candidates.

With Mourdock being another one of those arrogant teabaggers that won't even sit down and do his job, I can't support him.

Since the 2010 election, Congress has been gridlocked because the Republicans refuse to do the job they were sent there to do, and the last thing we need is more of this.

[JW Dant]

Ryan, just how much of OUR money would they have to be spending for you to decide they were "doing their job"? Because despite this tortuous gridlock, the US government is doling out dollars-and printing them-as never before.