Mike Pence to run against Sen. Evan Bayh?

[IndianaGreen]

The Brown Shirt against the empty suit.

Pence To Meet With NRSC

January 20, 2010 11:32 AM

By Reid Wilson

In the wake of winning MA, GOPers are looking to put 1 more state in play if they can convince House GOP Conference chair Mike Pence to run against Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN).

Pence and his aides will meet with top staffers at the NRSC tomorrow, several sources tell Hotline OnCall, where they will discuss a possible bid. The NRSC has polled IN, and their survey shows Pence in a competitive position, though he trails Bayh in initial matchups.

GOPers have failed to recruit a top-tier challenger against the popular 2-term incumbent, thanks largely to Bayh's bankroll. He had $12.7M in the bank as of Sept. 30, and GOPers expect he would be able to raise many more millions before Election Day.

But Pence has a base, especially as the number 3 GOPer in the House, and top Senate strategists believe he would be able to raise the money to compete with Bayh. He also has the national ambition, and Senate strategists plan to point out those ambitions are difficult to achieve without a Senate seat.

Yet Pence's team is acutely aware of the financial challenge such a race would pose, and he had just $462K CoH at the end of the 3rd quarter. Pence's decision will rest heavily on whether the NRSC would make a financial commitment to help make up the early difference, a source close to Pence said. The source also said Pence is unlikely to turn down the offer soon, indicating he is taking the notion seriously.

http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2010/01/pence_to_meet_w.php

[democraticinsurgent]

1. A good thing?

In a strange way, I welcome this.

Bayh has become almost Lieberman like, and he never was a progressive or a liberal. I think he's vulnerable to a challenge from someone like Pence.

However, Pence--despite the fact that he looks good and sounds intelligent--is so ridiculously right wing that I don't think he will play so well in Indiana once people find out what he really stands for.

In the best case, Bayh wins but is damaged to the point of being vulnerable in future elections and/or pushed to take more liberal stands, and Pence shows his true colors while losing his House seat.

[IndianaGreen]

2. Tamyra d'Ippolito is running against Bayh in primary

Here is link to campaign website:

Tamyra d'Ippolito for Senate



On twitter:

http://twitter.com/tamyraforsenate

Bloomington, IN Nov. 15,2009- Tamyra d’Ipollito has announced that she will independently mount a campaign against Senator Evan Bayh in the 2010 election. A tireless community organizer, and small business entrepreneur of Bloominton, Indiana, she has announced her candidacy through social networking on facebook, twitter, and Indiana’s political blogs. The candidates website acts as an information portal for her biographical information and political platform. Registered voters can become active supporters by printing and signing the document of petition linked to the website. Her current challenge will be acquiring 4500 signatures before Jan 4. 2010 to qualify for May primaries. She is self-funded, and her campaign acts as proof that state reform can subsist through personal labor, determined citizen advocacy, and community networking.

For d’Ippolito the campaign is about bringing power back to the people.”I am running for Senate as a citizen not as a politician. To make change one has to become change,” Tamyra pronounces, encouraging citizens to be the active role toward progressive Indiana. “My mission is to bring awareness to the fact that it is the people who participate that have a voice.”
Her plans for Indiana, include raising awareness of the states increasing poverty levels and the web of issues that created it such as healthcare and government lobbying. “Poverty in Indiana is prevalent, and I want it eradicated,” states Tamyra.

About Tamyra D’Ippolito

Tamyra d’Ipollito was born and raised in Indiana by a single working mother. The United States government financed her education with a B.E.O.G, which she is forever grateful. D’Ipollito is proud to say that as a world traveler she has obtained three college degrees. Through her studies abroad she was represented as a U.S. ambassador for peace and became an originator of the Peace Corps. D’Ipollito currently owns and operates Ragazzi Arté Café in Bloomington, Indiana, where she supports local artists in displaying their works at the café. As a small business owner and cancer survivor d’Ippolito understands first hand the struggles of living without healthcare. At the present time she is on the board of the Advisory Committee at Volunteers in Medicine, located in Bloomington.

http://www.bloomingtononline.net/forum/showthread.php?t=6206

[Yurovsky]

3. Does she have a realistic chance?

I don't know a great deal about Indiana politics but I'm seriously pissed about Bayh's behavior/comments following the "election" of the tea-bagger in Mass.

Move to the center... great. We'll just be more like the repug-lick'ems, and that'll fix EVERYTHING ...

Can Bayh count? 59 is still an enormous majority in the Senate, and the house is lopsided to our party as well. And the WH is in safe hands. Why are folks like Bayh waving a white flag, grabbing their ankles and shouting "THANK YOU SIR, MAY I HAVE ANOTHER?"

Just makes me sick. If the good people in Indiana can send a REAL Democrat to the Senate, it would sure help.

[IndianaGreen]

4. The only thing that is not for sale are our votes

I will vote for Tamyra in the primary because her opposition to Bayh's corporatism has earned my vote. When November comes, I will abstain from voting for the office of US Senate if Mr. Bayh's name is on the ballot.

We are going to have our hands full as it is trying to salvage our deserving Democratic Congresspersons and local officials.

[Yurovsky]

5. thanks, I'll keep an eye on this race...

sounds like the primary is the only real chance of him getting beat. He's got the brand name that independents will flock to in November, so even a 3rd party challenge would have a tough time.

Thanks for fighting the good fight...

[Voltaire]

7. I will be following your lead

Under no circumstances will I ever give another vote to Evan Bayh. Even if my life depended on it.

[Opie Umden]

6. Mike Pence to run against Sen. Evan Bayh?

How will we know the difference?