IN-Sen: Sen Mike Lee (R-UT) endorses Marlin Stutzman (R-IN) for Senate

[standwrand]

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/mike-lee-backs-stutzman-in-gop-senate-race/article/2588207

[ElectionsGuy]

Won't make a difference. I wonder what would be better for Republicans: Nominating Young in 2016 and Stutzman running against Donnelly in 2018 or Stutzman in 2016 and Young running against Donnelly in 2018? Probably the latter.

Yeah, can't risk Stutzman against a Democratic incumbent.

[Heisenberg]

Though I like Young better than Stutzman, I think either will beat Hill (assuming they don't screw up like (Mourdock did), and I think it's best for Stutzman to run and win this open seat, then Young, having gained statewide recognition, can run against Donnelly next year.  Young is much stronger against Donnelly than Stutzman.

[/]

Isn't Stutzman the (relative) moderate?

[ElectionsGuy]

Isn't Stutzman the (relative) moderate?

No, he's like a Cruz-like conservative.

[100% pro-life no matter what]

Carly Fiorina also just endorsed Stutzman (and Toomey and Lee).

[Vosem]

Is the primary on May 3? Cruz's coattails may carry Stutzman across the finish line.

[Kingpoleon]

Young should probably win now so either Stutzman loses to Donnelly in 2018, or someone more moderate beats Donnelly in 2018.

[Bismarck]

I'm 2018 there's a decent chance Rokita or Brooks run for the senate seat as well I think. Young should win this although lately there have been many articles thing him to the "establishment" which may help Stutzman. Young is killing Stutzman in terms of tv and radio ads and has more local endorsements, while they both have decent ground games with an edge toward Stutzman. Young has been pushing his military experience and has been very on message.

[Heisenberg]

I'm 2018 there's a decent chance Rokita or Brooks run for the senate seat as well I think. Young should win this although lately there have been many articles thing him to the "establishment" which may help Stutzman. Young is killing Stutzman in terms of tv and radio ads and has more local endorsements, while they both have decent ground games with an edge toward Stutzman. Young has been pushing his military experience and has been very on message.

I'm rooting for Young.  I have heard rumors of Todd Rokita running in 2018.  If both are Senators, then Indiana would have two Senators named Todd.  There are also tumors that Ballard may challenge Donnelly in 2018.  Indiana is clearly a top target for GOP pickup in 2018 (along with MO, MT and ND), but against an incumbent they need a strong recruit.  Ballard would be a good candidate, IMO.  I can see Stutzman blowing a Senate race.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

I'm 2018 there's a decent chance Rokita or Brooks run for the senate seat as well I think. Young should win this although lately there have been many articles thing him to the "establishment" which may help Stutzman. Young is killing Stutzman in terms of tv and radio ads and has more local endorsements, while they both have decent ground games with an edge toward Stutzman. Young has been pushing his military experience and has been very on message.

I'm rooting for Young.  I have heard rumors of Todd Rokita running in 2018.  If both are Senators, then Indiana would have two Senators named Todd.  There are also tumors that Ballard may challenge Donnelly in 2018.  Indiana is clearly a top target for GOP pickup in 2018 (along with MO, MT and ND), but against an incumbent they need a strong recruit.  Ballard would be a good candidate, IMO.  I can see Stutzman blowing a Senate race.

Stutzman isn't gonna lose this one. The establishment wing will not get both seats. They can take the one in 2018. We (the grassroots) get this one. Meaning the grassroots will have the distinction of being the senior senator.

[BuckeyeNut]

Risking Stuzman against Donnelly would be risky, as others have said, so I guess this makes sense. Ballard would probably be the best guy to put up against Donnelly in 2018. He's no Lugar, but I'd take him over most anyone else.

Kind of sad Bayh didn't pull a Coats and run, but he was an ineffectual Senator, so whatever. If the pro-business, anti-Pence vote crosses over into the Senate race, and Clinton makes a strong showing like Obama did in '08, Hill winning would be possible. Unlikely, but possible.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Fiorina endorses Stutzman.

[Bismarck]

Don't have the link but Stutzman was just found to have used campaign money for personal trips.

[Heisenberg]

Don't have the link but Stutzman was just found to have used campaign money for personal trips.

Yep, you're right.  This may be the end for him.
http://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2016/04/20/ap-rep-marlin-stutzman-bills-campaign-family-trip/83286420/

[standwrand]

It will never be the end of Stutzman, apparently, because Sen Rand Paul just endorsed Stutzman:

http://www.tristatehomepage.com/election/ylehq/rand-paul-endorses-marlin-stutzman-in-senate-race

I wonder how this is affecting McConnell and Rand's relationship...

[Heisenberg]

He repaid his campaign.  Still rooting for Young, I prefer the less extreme candidates. http://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2016/04/20/stutzman-repays-campaign-family-trip/83306038/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

He repaid his campaign.  Still rooting for Young, I prefer the less extreme candidates. http://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2016/04/20/stutzman-repays-campaign-family-trip/83306038/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=

Young is a squish and towed the Boehner/establishment line. Stutzman is the states best representative in the house currently. Why do you call him more extreme? Because the Senate Conservatives (Lee Paul, likely Cruz etc) are rallying to him.

[bore]

He repaid his campaign.  Still rooting for Young, I prefer the less extreme candidates. http://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2016/04/20/stutzman-repays-campaign-family-trip/83306038/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=

Young is a squish and towed the Boehner/establishment line. Stutzman is the states best representative in the house currently. Why do you call him more extreme? Because the Senate Conservatives (Lee Paul, likely Cruz etc) are rallying to him.

Because the Senate Conservatives (Lee Paul, likely Cruz etc) are rallying to him.

[Bismarck]

I know his thread isn't about who we support, but I like Young better because he's more solution focused and pragmatic. Probably the opposite trait of what the Stutzman people are looking for. I happened to talk to Abdul Hakeem Shabazz who mentioned he had seen polling that wasn't public showing Young ahead by just a little more than the margin of error.

[Heisenberg]

I know his thread isn't about who we support, but I like Young better because he's more solution focused and pragmatic. Probably the opposite trait of what the Stutzman people are looking for. I happened to talk to Abdul Hakeem Shabazz who mentioned he had seen polling that wasn't public showing Young ahead by just a little more than the margin of error.

I totally agree.  Any publicly released polls?