Monday, February 01, 2010

Rokita To Seek Buyer's Seat

Howey Politics is reporting that Secretary of State Todd Rokita will enter the 4th District Republican primary race to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN). Rokita had considered entering the race for the U.S. Senate against Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN). State Sen. Brandt Hershman, a double-dipper who not only draws a state paycheck as a senator but also draws a federal paycheck as a paid staffer for Buyer, is also expected to enter the race. Democratic operatives in Washington are salivating over the prospect of taking on Hershman in November. The abortion controversy with his first wife simply doesn't match his "family values" mantra he has touted as a state lawmaker. His first wife has publicly claimed that he forced her to have an abortion and then filed for divorce one week later. Democrats would destroy him over that issue. Rokita should have no problem defeating Hershman in a primary race.

14 comments:

Cato said...

Will Rokita do the right thing and resign his Secretary of State seat, immediately, so he can run for office?

Gary R. Welsh said...

Why should he resign his office? Did Joe Hogsett resign the office when he ran for the U.S. Senate against Dan Coats?

Cato said...

That's one whopper of a non sequitur, Gary.

What does Joe Hogsett have to do with Todd Rokita? Is Joe Hogsett Todd Rokita's benchmark?

Are the Republicans are merely a party that takes its lead from the Democrats?

This binary political thinking is not terribly imaginative or accurate.

Gary R. Welsh said...

Give me some examples of Indiana politicians who resigned an office they hold to run for another office?

Cato said...

Gary, seriously, let's talk about right and wrong, rather than unctuous politicking.

Gary R. Welsh said...

He is not under any legal obligation to resign his office. Further, he will not be vacating an office to which he is elected. His term ends at the end of the year. I have more of a problem with people who run for one office and seek another office before their term ends, which results in someone getting appointed to fill their term.

Unknown said...

Funny how immediately Democrats want a Republican to resign to run for office ... but when the Governor of Alaska did the same to write a book and make a bunch of money ... well that was just terrible.

Todd looks solid and should have a good chance of winning the seat. This also clears the way for Lt Gov Skillman to automatically become the front runner for Governor in 2012.

Gary R. Welsh said...

briefs, I don't see Becky Skillman as gubernatorial material. If we can't find someone better than her to run next time, then we should be prepared to turn the office over to the Democrats.

M Theory said...

Gary? Do you think you would have voted for Sarah Palin for Governor? She didn't have experience either, but using common sense and sticking to her moral compass as a guide, she helped get Alaska back on the right track.

There's something about Becky Skillman that I really like at a gut level.

Gary R. Welsh said...

Becky doesn't have a college degree, Melyssa. I've observed her enough to know she doesn't have what you expect from a governor. Most Republicans were shocked when Daniels put her on the ticket with him. He doesn't seem that enthused about her succeeding him. I personally cannot stand to hear her speak. She speaks like she is speaking to a first grade class. Even worse, Melyssa, she totally sucks up to Bob Grand. If she becomes governor, Bob Grand will lead her around just like he does Greg Ballard.

Diana Vice said...

Anyone with close ties to Barnes & Thornburg is disqualified for my support.

M Theory said...

I didn't know about Skillman's relationship with Grand.

Carlos F. Lam said...

Look, there are going to be A LOT more people jumping into the race for Buyer's seat AND for the governorship in '12. Brent Waltz, Brent Steele, and more state legislators have allegedly been considering jumping into the race for the Buyer seat. As for Guv, there's talk of Richard Mourdock, Mike Pence, and Tony Bennett running for Guv. Who knows? In politics, 2012 is a lifetime away.

Covenant60 said...

Bayh was elected SoS in 1986. Two years later he was elected Governor. I dont recall that he resigned as SoS to do so. After he won, he appointed Joe Hogsett to replace him.

Then, in 1990, Bill Hudnut ran against Hogsett for SoS. Hudnut did not resign as Mayor of Indianapolis to do so.