Roll Call: Indiana: Dick Lugar’s Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week
On March 22, 2012, Roll Call reported:
Sen. Dick Lugar’s (R-Ind.) re-election campaign has seen better days, even this cycle. The six-term Senator faces a tough primary against state Treasurer Richard Mourdock on May 8, but this must be Lugar’s worst week yet for his prospects. A request for response from Lugar’s team was not immediately returned this afternoon.
NY Times: Romney Campaign Gaffe Steps On Good News, Again
On March 22, 2012, the New York Times reported:
nd they will be aided in the coming months by liberal allies who are literally tracking every word Mr. Romney and his associates say. The idea behind groups like American Bridge 21st Century and others is to catch the Republicans in misstatements, flip-flops, embarrassing moments and gaffes.
POLITICO: For Romney, It Could Be Worse
On March 15, 2012, POLITICO reported:
“Every campaign has to make decisions about what type of organization they want to build and what their priorities will be. Mitt Romney has been very fortunate that none of his opponents, from Perry to Newt to Santorum to [Tim] Pawlenty, have seemed to place a high value on research. He is an incredibly flawed candidate and every day we see opportunity after opportunity to highlight his hypocrisy,” said Democratic strategist Ty Matsdorf, war room director for the research-savvy group American Bridge. “Yet it seems his Republican opponents can’t even muster the simplest of pushback.”
Dick Lugar: The Jet Set Senator
It's not just that Dick Lugar has gone Washington. He's gone everywhere -- except Indiana.
Huffington Post: Tommy Thompson, Senate Hopeful And Former Governor, Says He's Not A 'Professional Politician'
On March 13, 2012, the Huffington Post reported:
In all, Thompson has served 35 years in public office and another four years as a Cabinet official, not counting the time he spent running for office. Thompson is 70 years old, meaning that he has spent at least half his life in politics. Nevertheless, on Tuesday, Thompson insisted that he is not a "professional politician."
BREAKING: Washington Acquires Indianapolis Legend
It is the end of an era in Indianapolis.
In just the latest example of Washington spending big money to bring in a player who may well be past his prime, their newest acquisition leaves behind Indianapolis to continue his career in the nation’s capital. Many are questioning a six-year commitment this late into his career, but those involved feel his track record is worth the big bucks being shelled out.
A source close to him had this to say: “Of course he’s upset to be leaving Indianapolis. He had a great career there. But quite simply, Washington is a much better fit for him at this point.”
Though shocking to the casual observer, the move was a long time coming…
… as it actually happened in 1977. That was the year Dick Lugar sold his home in Indiana and moved to the Washington, DC suburb of McLean, Virginia. Being that he no longer represents the people of Indiana, Washington’s big spenders are eager to fork over the money to put him on their team.
Lugar’s thoughts on the Colts releasing Peyton Manning are unknown.
Huffington Post: 'Virginia Is For Lugars' Website Unveiled Attacking Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar
On March 2, 2012, the Huffington Post reported:
Democrats are almost as entertained by Indiana Sen. Dick Lugar's residency questions as Lugar's Republican primary opponent, state Treasurer Richard Mourdock, and have whipped up a new website called Virginia Is for Lugars" mocking the fact that Lugar lives in the Washington, D.C., suburbs.
Josh Mandel's Series Of Unfortunate Events
Despite starting his Senate campaign just weeks after taking office as Ohio's Treasurer, Josh Mandel is making his campaign "official" at the Akron Press Club today - an event he initially refused to attend because he was "too busy." The story of his campaign to this point has been nothing but embarrassing; here is a look back at some of his greatest hits:
- Mandel "Aggressively Worked" Fundraising And Speaking Tours As State Treasurer While Office Schedule Was Neglected. [AP, 1/14/12]
- Mandel's First Senate Campaign Flight Occurred Less Than One Month After Taking Office As State Treasurer. [AP, 1/14/12]
- February 2012: Mandel Skipped 14th Consecutive Board Of Deposit Meeting, Still Failed To Attend A Single Meeting Since Taking Office. [Columbus Dispatch, 2/23/12]
- Mandel Disclosed His Personal Finances 177 Days Late. [Cleveland Plain Dealer, 11/4/11; Mandel Personal Financial Disclosure]
- Mandel Released Official Schedules, Did Not Include Out-Of-State Fundraising Trips. [Cleveland Plain Dealer, 1/20/12]
- Mandel Attack On Sherrod Brown Rated "Pants On Fire" By PolitiFact. [PolitiFact Ohio, 11/18/11]
ABC News: Mitt Romney's Surrogate Headache: Can't Live With 'Em, Can't Live Without 'Em
On February 27, 2012, ABC News reported:
[Jim] Talent, a senior adviser to the Romney campaign and former senator from Missouri, recently spoke on a conference call to call Rick Santorum out as an over-spender. But as the Democratic super PAC, American Bridge, was only too pleased to point out, the conservative Club for Growth once called Talent out for exactly the same kind of spending behavior. "In his previous time in the Senate, prior to losing to [Sen. Claire] McCaskill in 2006, Talent voted to raid the Social Security Trust Fund, for the infamous 'Bridge to Nowhere' earmark, and for other pork-laden budget busters," the Club wrote in a 2010 news release, unearthed by American Bridge.
NY Times: Santorum Makes Case For Religion In Public Sphere
On February 26, 2012, the New York Times reported:
But the crowd initially booed Mr. Romney, who occasionally struck a discordant note, as when he approached a group of fans wearing plastic ponchos. “I like those fancy raincoats you bought,” he said. “Really sprung for the big bucks.” And when asked if he was a fan of the sport, he mentioned that “I have some great friends who are Nascar team owners.”