David McIntosh is under attack in his bid to return to Congress.  However, his opponents are using mail pieces rather than TV ads to launch those attacks.

One of the mailers going out in the 5th District show David McIntosh in the shadows as they suggest he’s not fit to represent Indiana in Congress because he lives in Virginia.  It comes from the John McGoff campaign.  Why not use TV instead?  “On TV you can come across very negative,” says McGoff campaign manager Lou Quinto.  McGoff’s TV ads are entirely positive, telling voters to support him with no suggestion that they should oppose someone else.

Susan Brooks has a backhanded compliment in her TV ads.  “I’m running against some good guys,” she says, “but they’re career politicians.”  But that’s nothing like the message in her campaign mailers.  They suggest that David McIntosh sold his values working as a lobbyist.

Both campaigns defend the messages in their mail pieces.  “We don’t think we distorted any truth,” says Quinto.  “He (McIntosh) lives in Washington.  He works in Washington.  His children go to school  in Washington. He’s been living in Washington.   He’s not an Indiana resident and so that’s the basis behind that mailer.”

And the mailer is targeted.  It only goes to voters in the 5th District.

The Susan Brooks campaign declined an interview request for this story.  But one thing you can draw from the strategies here is that McIntosh is in the lead and, if he loses, it will be because the mailers worked.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christies was in Fishers today campaigning for Congressional candidate Susan Brooks.
The visit came on the same day that campaign finance reports show Brooks and David McIntosh pulling away from a crowded field in the money race.

Christie is a former federal prosecutor and so is Brooks.  It’s the basis of a relationship that prompted this endorsement, and if Susan Brooks is to win election she will have to defeat David McIntosh, a former Congressman turned lobbyist. “You’re not going to change Congress by sending a K Street lobbyist back to Congress,” said Christie in an obvious reference to McIntosh.

McIntosh stands out in a seven candidate primary race because he is the leading fundraiser.  Reports due at midnight Sunday and made public today show McIntosh with over $346,000 dollars in the bank.  Brooks has $328,000 in the bank and that explains why she has her sites set on McIntosh.  “He just happens to be the one that has not lived here,” said Brooks, “and has not been here for a long time and who has been a Washington insider.”

“What I’m saying is that he’s not the best choice in this race,” said Christie.  “And the fact is if you want to change Washington, you don’t send the same people back there who’ve been a part of the problem in Congress all along.”

5th District Republican John McGoff has just $90,000 in the bank and Wayne Seybold $31,000.  The fact that the Christie visit raised a hundred thousand or more for Brooks could help make them underdogs.  Endorsements don’t always help much but Christie is the most popular Republican governor in the country.

But David McIntosh is getting big name help, too.  Actor and former Presidential candidate Fred Thompson will be in Indiana for a McIntosh fundraiser next week.

First there was Charlie White, then it was Richard Lugar.  Now a third Indiana Republican is facing residency questions.  It’s Congressional candidate David McIntosh.

McIntosh is a former Indiana Congressman who now lives and works in the Washington, DC area.  He also has a home in Anderson, but his Virginia drivers license is now an issue.  Critics point out that the application form for a Virginia drivers license requires you to declare that you are a Virginia resident.

A spokesman for the McIntosh campaign says the former Indiana congressman was forced to acquire the Virginia license.  One of his GOP primary opponents, former federal prosecutor Susan Brooks, sees a bigger problem.  “I call on David McIntosh to tell us where has he sworn under the penalty of perjury that he is a resident of which state?” says Brooks.

McIntosh. we’re told, was unavailable to discuss the matter, even on the telephone.  His campaign did share a letter it sought from Madison County Prosecutor Rodney Cummings that says he may vote and seek office here.  But another opponent, Dr. John McGoff, wants to supply voters with the facts.  “When I heard that he’s not living here and not working here,” said McGoff, “I think that is an important issue for voters in the 5th district to know.”

We showed McGoff the electronic version of the the Cummings letter and he said he sees the matter as a political issue more than a legal question.  “People need to know that we’ve got to stop this revolving door of people who are in Congress, become lobbyists and then want to come back to Congress again,” said McGoff.

The campaign spokesman says McIntosh has never voted in Virginia.

Longtime Central Indiana Congressman Dan Burton is calling it quits.  The Republican will retire at the end of his current term.

Rep. Burton (R-5th District) made a surprise appearance on the floor of the Indiana House escorted by his brother, state Representative Woody Burton.  Then he took the microphone to drop a bombshell.  “I’m planning to not run for Congress again,” he said.

Even though former Burton aides stood in the background, it was a low-key announcement with Burton saying that he wanted to make it in the chamber where he first served as an elected official.  “It’s been an experience that I cherish,” he said.  “I’m probably the luckiest man on the face of the earth with what we’ve been able to see and do.”

Three credible candidates, former U.S. Attorney Susan Brooks, former Congressman David McIntosh, and repeat candidate John McGoff are aleady running for Burton’s seat in the May GOP primary in a new district that was going to be tougher for Burton to win.  When asked why he is retiring now, Burton said, “Well, I don’t want to go into the personal problems with my family’s health but I’ve been in government… for 46 years now.”

Don’t be surprised if other Republicans get in the race now.  Insiders expect a handpicked Burton choice to emerge, and state Senator Mike Delph is the most likely prospect.  Delph said that this is a day to respect Congressman Burton.

GOP Congressman Dan Burton is seeking his 16th term in Congress in 2012 but for the third election in a row he will face a high dollar challenge from within his own party.   Burton is currently losing the fundraising battle.

Former U.S. Attorney and first-time candidate Susan Brooks is is the top fundraiser in the 5th Congressional District in the third quarter.  Dan Burton comes in third.  Brooks was just getting started and had only 75 days to raise money in the third quarter but she still raised over $340,000.  “It shows that people are ready for a change,” says Brooks.

Reports filed with the Federal Election Commission show Brooks raised $341,127.  Former Congressman David McIntosh raised $322,628 with Burton well behind at $269,472.

McIntosh has dropped the exploratory label from his campaign.  “He’s in, he says, and he exceed his fundraising goal of a quarter million.  But it’s Brooks who is turning heads.  “She’s a woman, she’s first on the ballot at this point and she has a good reputation in town,” says former Burton challenger Mike Murphy.  “She looks great on paper,” he says.  “Can she transfer that into votes?  We’ll have to wait and see.”

In the meantime, money is the best measuring stick available.  “It is difficult in this day and age to run a really high energy, aggressive campaign without substantial financial support,” says Brooks.  And John McGoff,a three time candidate, appears to be losing support to Brooks.  He raised just $172,316.

Still Burton’s incumbent status makes him tough to beat and the Congressman has access to Washington money that the others may not.  It’s worth pointing out that Brooks had 400 Indiana donors and Burton had fewer than 10.

We made calls to the Congressman for his take on the finance reports and they were not returned.

Congressman Dan Burton insists that donations he received from Dr. Syed Fai are legal.  Fai is under arrest, accused making political donations without disclosing connections to the Pakistani government.   Burton received contributions from Fai in 2004, 2008, and 2010.

Burton opponent John McGoff called on the congressman to return the money, but Burton says, in a statement, that he doesn’t take contributions from unauthorized donors.  “If there is any doubt about the origin of these contributions,” he says, I will donate those funds to the Boy Scouts of America.

Former Congressman David McIntosh is back in Indiana laying the groundwork for a challenge to Rep. Dan Burton in the 2012 GOP primary, on the same day that Susan Brooks will formally launch her 5th District GOP bid.

Brooks indicated an interest two weeks ago and will do a low key launch today.   John McGoff’s hopes of a one-on-one confrontation with Burton are our the window.

Former U.S. Attorney Susan Brooks confirms that she is exploring a run for Congress.  Brooks says she has been making calls for the last several days and the response, she says, is encouraging.

If she runs, it will be in the 5th Congressional District where, as a Republican, she would mount a primary challenge to incumbent Dan Burton.  John McGoff is already in the GOP race and David McIntosh is considering it.

Brooks says will make up her mind in 2 or 3 weeks.

Dr. John McGoff has challenged Congressman Dan Burton twice unsuccessfully and is now prepared to attempt unseating Burton a third time.  McGoff announced his 2012 bid for Congress today saying the 5th District GOP primary should be a referendum on Burton, a 30 year incumbent.

“Take a look what’s going on in the last few years,” said McGoff.  “We’re drowning in debt and what has he done.  He’s worried more about baseball and steroids, wrapping the House floor in plexiglass, and not running this country and that’s why I’m getting back into this race.”

McGoff was third in the 2010 primary behind Burton and Luke Messer, who is now running in the 6th District.

Maybe you heard there was a fire at WISH today.  If not go to wishtv.com for full coverage.  Either way I’m a little late posting today because of the unexpected need to return to early ’90′s technology on short notice.  So…

-Mitch Daniels faced reporters today for the first time since he dropped out of the race for the White House.  He was low key, upbeat, and seemed comfortable with the decision.  Also seemed unwilling to offer advice to others who are still in the running.

-Vi Simpson formally announced she is out of the race for governor.  John Gregg made the announcement for her last week so her social media splash is not what it could have been.

-Luke Messer is running for Congress.  Oh, I told you that weeks ago?  He really means it.  Bad day for a formal announcement, though, with the governor talking for the first time since leaving the national spotlight and all.  He’s still the favorite in the 6th District.

-Look for John McGoff to step up in the 5th District against Dan Burton.  Like Messer, he thinks the 3rd time running for Congress is the charm.

Finally, the newscast was smooth.   Do we need computers?