Indiana’s Bloody 8th
The Evansville Courier and Press‘s headline article today reads, “Ellsworth to test Hostettler: Sheriff joins race for 8th District congressman.” Indiana’s 8th Congressional district, typically one of the most competitive in the country, will once again see a “bloody” battle between two formidable contenders. The young, attractive Brad Ellsworth has as good of a shot as anyone to unseat John Hostettler, the district’s strong social conservative.
But if Ellsworth’s coming out party is any indication of his campaign to follow, Hostettler may hold on to his job for at least two more years. The C&P reports Ellsworth “did not mention Hostettler by name but repeatedly hammered home the message that lobbyists and special interests have co-opted Congress and that he will fight them if elected.” Ellsworth’s message then is the one chartered by the national Democratic party – influence peddling in Congress must stop. “We can pass all the new laws we want, but until we replace the people committed to breaking them, we’ll never have real reform,” he said.
But in Hostettler’s district such charges should ring hollow. Hostettler doesn’t accept political action committee money and doesn’t play the fundraising game like others. Indeed, Hostettler is often out spent and underfunded, yet always comes out on top. Ellsworth’s inplicit attacks just don’t stick. As Indiana political guru and ITA friend Brian Howey noted, “Hostettler, who has not been linked to Abramoff, may have the only kind of political organization that can withstand a Democratic tide – issues-oriented true believers who will work tirelessly for their candidate and who will mount a sophisticated get-out-the-vote campaign.”
Without ethics charges what will Ellsworth rely on? His website trumpets a call for tougher immigration reform, an issue Hostettler has already championed. Ultimately Ellsworth will have to rely on his strongest assets – an attractive face, a fresh perspective, and a controversy-free tenure. Hostettler has won the battle of issues in Indiana’s 8th and firmly stands in the winning corner. For Ellsworth to win he will need to appear sane, sensible, and dashingly fresh, all while making sure his smiling face is seen by every woman voter.
