State Representative Mike Murphy (R-Indianapolis) began fundraising this week for a potential challenge to Republican Congressman Dan Burton.  He follows Republican Brose McVey who earlier filed his own exploratory committee. 

We talked earlier how this could be a big field but clearly the there is an effort to by Murphy and McVey (look for Luke Messer to follow suit soon) to scare off others with fundraising success.

The inauguration of Governor Mitch Daniels would be big news on another day but Tony Dungy’s retirement stole the headlines.  Can Daniels win back top billing with the State of the State tomorrow?

Congressman Dan Burton had a high profile, appearing with his wife at the Statehouse ceremony.  Meantime, GOP circles are buzzing about prospective opponents to Burton in the 2010 primary.  Names tossed around include Brose McVey, John McGoff, Luke Messer, Suellen Reed, Wayne Seybold, and I’m sure I left someone out.  Mike Delph wants to be in line when Burton steps down but something tells me the interest in his future will discourage any retirement plans.

Only two former governors were in attendance, Otis Bowen and Evan Bayh.  Ed Whitcomb and Joe Kernan didn’t make it.

California Congressman Henry Waxman made big news by winning the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee supplanting John Dingell.  What’s missing in the national reporting is the fact that, by giving up the House Oversight Committee, Waxman will no longer face off with Indiana Congressman Dan Burton on a regular basis.

The Burton vs. Waxman confrontations lasted through both Republican and Democratic control and really were deserving of a Saturday Night Live routine at times.

Its time to revisit my election predictions and, since I took the rap for missing the Greg Ballard win last November, point out how well I did this time.

-President:  I first said it leans Clinton, and then hedged by saying it was too close to call.  It was close but I learned in grade school to go with your first inclination and for some reason forgot.  Either way, I wasn’t wrong.

-Governor:  I picked Jill Long Thompson and its Jill Long Thompson.  Don’t trouble me with margins.

-7th District (D):  I said André Carson and he ran away with it.

-5th District (R):   That Dan Burton pick was a good one even if John McGoff exceeded expectations (mine anyway.)

-Incumbent Lawmaker (D&R):  I said nobody falls due to the property tax furor.   No one did.

Its my normal practice to give my read on the races that matter on the day before, so here goes with my predictions for the Indiana Primary:

-President:  I said on Indiana Week in Review Friday that it leans Clinton.  I think it did.. on Friday.  I no longer do.  I think its up for grabs.  I don’t know who will win.

-Governor (D):  Jill Long Thompson.  She didn’t run much of a campaign and read (repeat: read) a terrible speech at the Jefferson Jackson Day Dinner but I still think she wins.  Infer what you like about how that reflects on Jim Schellinger’s campaign.

-7th District (D):  I think André Carson gets through.  Woody Myers needed to go negative to get over the top and didn’t.  The fact that he and David Orentlicher did battle with one another over the final weekend is good for André.

-5th District (R):  John McGoff’s effort to take out Dan Burton fails.  McGoff fell short on money and the attention given to the Presidential race hurts him.

-Incumbent Lawmaker (D&R):  Nobody falls due to the property tax furor.  Check back in the fall.

It’s a busy day in Congressman Dan Burton’s Washington office as staffers deal with reaction to yesterday’s committee hearing on steroid use in baseball.  

Press Secretary Clark Rehme says, “We hear good and bad,” about Burton’s grilling of Roger Clemens accuser Brian McNamee.  “Some people say we’re wasting our time on this,” says Rehme.

Some of those people called Burton’s Republican primary opponent.  John McGoff says he received calls today from New York and Texas from people who don’t know who he is. 

They do know he’s running against Burton and they promised to send campaign contributions.

 Indiana Congressman Dan Burton has his mind made up with regard to the scandal surrounding baseball pitcher Roger Clemens.  At today’s Capitol Hill hearing on steroid abuse, Burton declared his support for Clemens while attacking his accuser, Brian McNamee.

   Here’s what Burton said at one point in the hearing, “You know, Roger Clemens, unless it’s proven that he used steroids, and so far I haven’t seen it, if he did, he ought to be held accountable, but Roger Clemens is a titan in baseball, and you and — and with all these lies if they are not true are destroying him and his reputation. Now how does he get his reputation back if this is not true? And how can we believe you because you’ve lied and lied and lied. “

Does David McIntosh’s warmed over endorsement of Mitt Romney (McIntosh was on the Fred Thompson team previously) carry any weight?

How does it match up to Ted Kennedy’s endorsement of Barack Obama?

Could Marion County Clerk Beth White come up with a special election plan that won’t cause Republicans to object? 

Is White’s reputation on the line again on March 11th?

Congressman Dan Burton posted a campaign ad on YouTube.  Does that mean John McGoff has him worried?