Isn't one of the incumbent Democrat Congressman involved in an investigation having to do with his ties to Murtha? There is another one with the Arrogance Award for Indiana, too. I'd think the R chances are looking better every day since so far, the D's have been a disaster and it's a bit thin to blame all their miscues on Bush.

I think Pence wants to get elected to something, relatively soon. No Indiana US attorney has been able to do that in the last 60 years. Hoosiers don't view the job as well as our neigboring states' residents do.

It is a plum job.

Paul, I'm not under-estimating the partnership track at good Indy firms. I am very familiar with one. A partner there just got notice that the next three retiring partners would not be replaced, and he'll see his partnership share increase by attrition. Of cours,e his potential liability increases, too...but that particular firm has cut costs jusidiciously (no pun intended).

My partner friend at that firm made about $300K last year. Times are tough. He thinks he's down 10% this year.

Sign me up. $270 large, and an ownership interest in a silver-spoon firm that increased by attrition. If you love the work, that's a bonus. My friend works 50 hour weeks, longer if there's a large trial coming up (he's a litigator...business layers live a different life, I'm told).

Pascal--the metro area is in the Southern US District in federla terms.

US Attorneys and higher "elected office"? perhaps not, but they sure do parlay it into nice gigs. Miller (Ind. court of Appeals), Young (Ind Court of Appeals), McCarty, Barker (Disctrict Ct) Tinder (7th circuit), Daniels, Brooks......just to name a few since 1968.

I think Pence would have been an excellent selection and she would have gone after corruption. Southern District? Where is Evan from? Oh. Sorry.

OK, James and Paul--name me one US attorney in Indiana who's propelled to higher elected office. Go ahead. I'll wait over---------------------------here.

Dick Stein thought about it in the 70s after Carter appoitned him USA for southern Indiana. Dick decided he couldn't win a higher office, and becmae a high-paid voicebox for Public Service Indiana.

Linda is finely qualified. That's not the point.

Now, the Curry-shove-aside angle is interesting. That might just work.

I can tell you this--the precinct folks, for the most part, don't give a hoot about the prosecutor's office. Build your own joke around that, but in our party, that's the truth.

I really don't think there will be any reason to "shove aside" Curry. It's not like last time when the D's ran someone very underqualified for prosecutor. The D's should win that office easily next time around. I still say the Rs best shot will be for Sheriff, but even that will be an uphill climb.

Boy if the D PCs feel that way, then I feel really sorry for them. Marion County prosecutor is one of the most powerful offices in the state. In fact any county prosecutor has tremendous power under Indiana law. The decisions made by the prosecutor on whether to prosecute or not cannot be questioned by anyone. The Marion County prosecutor also has the power to prosecute state officials for misconduct. Not like that's actually happened under Brizzi.

Well, since you managed to shrink the pool by making me list only Hoosiers, that might be hard. Nothing in my comment said I was speaking only of those from Indiana. Several members of Congress are former US Attorneys, James Thompson as Abdul mentions, not to mention Guiliani.

Oh wait, how about William Hendricks, who was US Attorney under James Madison? No shouting about how long ago it, I did exactly what you asked.

TA,

Jim Thompson, former Governor of Illinois from 1976-1990 was U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. His claim to fame was putting a predecessor in jail. I love my home state.

I'm not sure any have had the political ambitiions, TA. Clearly Linda Pence has the ambitions and in other jurisidcitions being U.S. Attorney is a huge stepping stone to elected office.

I think TA though you're underestimating the drudgery of practicing law, even at the partnership level. To instead get a nice federal job, with a good salary and great benefits, not to mention the power associated with the office, yep she'd leave her practice to take that in a heartbeat as would most attorneys.

So do you think Ed might reward Pence for her loyalty by pushing Terry Curry aside for Marion County Prosecutor? Pence has a lot more name recognition than Curry, and having a woman at the top of the ticket won't hurt.

I agree with Paul-a woman like Pence would have given up her partnership in an instant. The pay isn't too bad, the benefits even better, and it's a springboard to higher office, or an immediate partnership in another big firm the instant you leave. Plus, she is a born prosecutor. I can't imagine what she is doing now is particularly thrilling her.

Abdul, you're way off on the Bayh angle. Pence was selected, was through the vetting process. Apparently the White House wants to get Hamilton confirmed to the 7th Circuit and announce the replacement District Court Judge, US Atty and US Marshall.

It's a shame, Pence is (still) the best choice for that office.

I think Linda Pence would have given up her law partner gig in a heartbeat to be U.S. Attorney. The other reasons are probably accurate though.

Your sources are quite correct. In fact, they're under-stated.

When the same party has the White House and a US Senator's seat, that senator's US Atty recommendation is usually solid gold. Obama is so actively courting Evan on multiple issues right now, that they've nearly become Tweeter buds. Obama will do nothing to risk Bayh's ire, particularly something like the US Atty's job. It's not worth it.

Also, Linda would have been forfetting a nice law partner's gig. In this town, at a major firm, that's still a silver-spoon lifestyle.

This is about Evan controlling the state party 100% through his re-election campaign next year.

The Vorheis challenge was really out of left field. Bob's a nice guy. He got used, big-time. But here's a thought: it's difficult to launch a state chairmanship bid via your spouse's down-ticket Marion County elected office. No coattails are that long, especially when you're bucking a two-tern senator and former two-term governor.

The highest-ranking statewide official of each party is the titular head of that party. The Parker challenge was a dierct slap at Bayh. He swatted it down.

Everyone lives to fight another day. And they will fight. Right through Evan's overwhelming re-election and the re-election of every Democratic Congressman in Indiana.

"re-election of every Democratic Congressman in Indiana."

Where do you buy the dope that you are smoking TA? and can I get some?