Lugar Could Have Gone Without Help From New York's Bloomberg

I realize Sen. Richard Lugar is in a fight for his political life in his Republican primary race against Indiana State Treasurer Richard Mourdock, but did his well-financed re-election campaign really need the baggage of being aided by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg? Politico's David Catanese takes notice:

More ammunition for Richard Mourdock emanating out of the Big Apple as Sen. Dick Lugar gets ready for a fundraiser being hosted by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Quoting from a press release from Mourdock's campaign:

Indiana State Treasurer and U.S. Senate Candidate Richard Mourdock expressed his disbelief after learning that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who bolted from the GOP in 2007 to become an independent, will be hosting a fundraiser at his upscale Manhattan residence for Senator Dick Lugar on December 5th. The price to "Chair" the event is $10,000.

Bloomberg turned heads in Indianapolis during the recent mayoral election when he kicked in $10,000 to help Democrat Melina Kennedy unseat Mayor Greg Ballard. Bloomberg, of course, hired former Indianapolis Mayor Steve Goldsmith, who regularly offers political advice to Ballard, as a deputy mayor in his administration before Goldsmith stepped down earlier this year in the wake of his arrest following a domestic dispute with his wife. Given the large campaign war chest he already has, this is one donation Lugar would have been wise to have passed up.