A prominent conservative group is endorsing Indiana State Treasurer Richard Mourdock in his campaign to unseat a longtime Republican US Senator. Mourdock represents a challenge from the right against Senator Richard Lugar, who is seeking a seventh term this fall.
The Club For Growth has previously run TV attack ads against Lugar, but hadn’t previously endorsed Mourdock’s primary challenge. Now, the Mourdock campaign hopes the endorsement will lead to momentum and increased campaign contributions.
Club For Growth President Chris Chocola—a former Indiana Congressman—says Lugar has angered conservatives with his votes to increase the debt ceiling, grant bailouts to private companies, and give earmarks to pet projects.
Lugar supporters say he’s been a reliable vote on the issues most important to conservatives. They also fear a GOP primary challenge will only benefit the man considered the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, Congressman Joe Donnelly.
A spokesman for the Donnelly campaign says the Republican in-fighting shows it’s a good environment for Democrats in Indiana.
