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(Update #2) Mike Pence to challenge Evan Bayh for Senate?

By: RealQuiet (Diary)  |  January 20th, 2010 at 12:06 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

There has been some talk of this for some time.  Check out this Politico article from December.  Bill Kristol floated this possibility and I think it is one that should be entertained.  Pence or Mitch Daniels announcing would likely have Bayh go the way of Byron Dorgan.  Now Pence is quite high on the House leadership ladder and this would seem to push this into the unlikely realm.  However, after tonight’s results in Massachusetts, there would never be a better time for the GOP to field top tier candidates to take on entrenched red state Dems like Bayh on.  Pence should seriously consider a run now. 

A very interesting political whirlwind is shaping up from now until November.

UPDATE:  (H/T) Hedgehog Report  — NBC’s Chuck Todd is tweeting that the GOP is recruiting Pence to challenge Bayh.  Pence is pondering it. 

Update #2 — This must be getting serious.  Politico is running with this on their Morningscore this morning. 

COMMENTS

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  • proudgop

    The filing date in Indiana is very soon though

    Bayh is a liberal but has great image. Imagery is very important in politics and he does have huge COH

    that said he is beatable. I don’t think Hostetler is bad candidate ( he just needs to fundraise and accept PAC money). He could run a very populist campaign I believe

  • acat

    A number of problems in the last couple years for Bayh.

    The Obama election pulled Bayh into a number of discussions.

    Bayh voted for the entire Dem package.

    Bayh’s mask, that is, his practice of conservative-ish press releases at home and liberal votes in D.C., is gone.

    He’s vulnerable. Pence has good name recognition (although not great…) and his calm personality will make him a very good candidate. Hope Mike runs…

    Mew

  • scarlos

    Feingold should be a decent target, seeing as he only won 55% of the vote last time around and is a rather hardcore liberal in a swing state.

    If we can take those two down, we have a decent chance of being able to flip the Senate outright in November.

    • proudgop

      Love to see Ryan run

      Heck, even Tommy Thompson would be good

      • zbigreddogz

        Not Senate.

        Don’t get me wrong, I’d support him 100% if he ran, but I think he or Cantor should be speaker after ’10. Then Pence.

        But if they all run for Senate? Well…I wouldn’t complain,but I think they might be more valuable in the house where they can focus on legislation. Their senate seats would be more moderate then their house seats. Currently, they don’t have to worry about their political futures and they can vote however they want. That wouldn’t be the case in the Senate.

  • redpens

    Sounds good to me. Time to tell Evan Bayh-Bayh!

  • zbigreddogz

    1. HE COULD win, but it would still be a big uphill battle. We can’t and won’t win every battle. And Pence is a very valuable house member who might be Speaker of the House one day.

    2. He could run for Governor in ’12 and be in a much better position to run for President.

    3. There are other R’s that could beat Bahy in Indiana. Steve Buyer could do it too…and frankly he’s more dispensable in the House.

    Bottom line: I’d rather have Speaker Pence or President Pence then Senator Pence and it’s not worth the risk.

    • Maggie_in_Indiana

      would be a shoe in. If the property tax caps go through ,he’d win by a landslide against Bayh.

      I’ve heard Mike Pence be asked about the run in 2012 for the POTUS and he avoided talking about it for the sake of just concentrating on the issues facing us now. and those are huge . He’s be a good one.

      The group of possibles are debating in a few days,with one Tea Party hat in the mix,not going to be a big draw. The names are household enough to get Hoosiers excited.

      • zbigreddogz

        He should run for President in ’12 instead. He’s far and away my favorite choice.

  • bk

    “Bye Bye Bayh”

  • renny

    Somewhere it was reported Lugar was seen going to a special WH conference on the interminable Obamanationcare.

    So, eventually, both should be deep sixed.

    • Maggie_in_Indiana

      it’s long over due. New conservative blood would take Indiana off the Blue list. buyers remorse is the tone here,where ever you go in the state.

  • JadedByPolitics

    ALL SEATS are there for the taking, Americans are PO’d and its time for CHANGE!

  • RealQuiet

    Pence would be a much more formidable opponent for Bayh than Hostettler. I hope he runs. I think John Boehner gets the Speakership.

  • zbigreddogz

    I realize Pence won’t be the next speaker, but he’s young, only 50 I think.

    Anyhow, I don’t think Boehner is inevitable. I’d much prefer Cantor or Paul Ryan.