My morning e-mail included an announcement that Republican Marvin Scott will run for the 7th District seat held by André Carson next year.  It’s an unusual way to launch a campaign (a missive sent in the middle of the night) but then Scott is becoming known for running unusual campaigns.

His challenge to Sen. Evan Bayh in 2004 is remembered because he raised significant amounts of money from out of state but never got on television on the way to 37% showing on Election day.  He got very little support from Indiana Republicans in the meantime.

Scott has run unsuccessfully in he 7th before against both Andy Jacobs and Julia Carson.

Center Township Trustee Carl Drummer becomes a lobbyist for Ice Miller next month leaving the post he inherited from Julia Carson.

Drummer has been trustee for 12 years and currently serves as president of the United Township Association.  He says his departure is all about opportunity for himself and has nothing to do with recent calls to eliminate township government.

Sam Carson, son of the late Congresswoman Julia Carson, is a volunteer for the Mitch Daniels re-election campaign.

Carson is a Democrat who came to the Republican campaign telling staffers that he admires the governor.  He also had an idea to place boxes in African American barber and beauty shops with forms so that customers can leave a question for the governor to answer.

The campaign delivered 300 boxes today with Carson’s help.

André Carson endorsed Barack Obama this morning in a move that may affect his own primary bid in the 7th District more than Obama’s.

So, why would Congressman Carson back Obama over Hillary Clinton, especially when Bill Clinton came to Indianapolis to campaign for his grandmother, Julia Carson?

Here are some answers:

-André feels vulnerable on May 6th .

-Obama will carry the 7th district.  On a conference call Rep. Carson labeled Obama “more popular” than Hillary in the 7th.

-Obama promised to campaign for Carson.

-Woody Myers is in position to pick up much of the new vote attracted by Obama based on TV ads that echo Obama’s key issues, unless André can persuade those same voters to support him.

Now let’s see if other 7th District candidates follow suit to limit the effects of Carson endorsement.

Republican Jon Elrod now benefits from a radio ad purchased by the National Federation of Independent Business in his bid to win the March 11th special election in the 7th Congressional District. 

Compare that, however, with Democrat Andre Carson’s TV campaign and you can easily understand what Elrod is up against.  Carson’s campaign has ads paid for and produced by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and a new one that hits the air as soon as tomorrow features the endorsement of U.S. Senator Evan Bayh.

And, this just in, the NFIB ad was pulled this afternoon because of an apparent factual error.

Andre Carson ads hit the air tomorrow.

If you’re looking for images or references to Julia Carson, you will be disappointed.