Tim Ping has announced that he will oppose Mike Speedy in the GOP primary in House District 90 on the south side.  It’s the seat being vacated by Mike Murphy.

That’s a compound headache for Republicans.  Murphy leaves a safe seat to take part in a contested Congressional primary (5th CD) and a contested primary pops up in his wake.

You can make the case that Luke Messer and Mike Murphy are pulling away from the other Dan Burton challengers in the 5th District GOP primary battle.  Their actions in the past two days also create a contrast.

Messer called a news conference yesterday to announce that he has attracted 500 endorsements.  Murphy sent out a news release today to spell out his energy policy.  Murphy endorses clean coal technology and nuclear power among other things in his third policy statement. 

What matters most?

Republican City County Councillor Mike Speedy wants to be in the General Assembly.

Speedy announced his candidacy today for the seat being vacated by Republican Mike Murphy.   Murphy is running for Congress.  In a news release Speedy promised to pursue a constitutional cap on property taxes and an increase in funding for “responsible” schools.

Mike Murphy has won the endorsement of former GOP Lt. Governor John Mutz in his bid to oust Dan Burton.

The state Representative running for Congress in the 5th District once worked for Mutz but the endorsement still carries weight in a Republican primary.

Plus, it signals one more party regular leaving the ranks of Burton supporters.      #fb

5th District Congressional Candidate Mike Murphy sent out an e-mail message today with a small error that he may want to correct.

The electronic flyer says the Republican Murphy helped “spurn” $1.5 billion dollars in new investment as a state Representative.  I think he meant “spur.”

The dictionary says spurn means “to reject with disdain; scorn.”   That’s what Murphy wants voters to do to incumbent GOP Congressman Dan Burton. 

#fb

Quarterly fundraising numbers are in for the Republican candidates looking to oust incumbent Dan Burton in the 5th Congressional District and Luke Messer is out front by a considerable distance.

Messer has $175,000 on hand.  Mike Murphy has almost $81,000.  Brose McVey has $80,000 and John McGoff $33,000.

Dan Burton has $418,000.

Mike Murphy issued a news release today to announce that three Shelby County Republicans support his opponent.  Really, he did.

The Murphy release states that Shelbyville Mayor Scott Furgeson and two others…, well, just read what the release said:

“All three officials continue in their support of Congressman Dan Burton, but each said if voters are looking for an alternative, Rep. Mike Murphy would be the clear choice.”

Today’s IWIR topics:

The state budget (revenue forecast and related matters), the Obama Administration’s auto dealer loan plan, Richard Mourdock’s challenge to the Chrysler bankruptcy, the Energy Summit, Mike Murphy for Congress and Tony George on the hot seat.

The battle to unseat GOP Congressman Dan Burton officially gets more crowded on Thursday.

Look for former state Representative Luke Messer to be in Shelbyville to make a formal announcement of his Republican candidacy in the 5th. 

He joins Brose McVey in that field with Rep. Mike Murphy and John McGoff also giving the race serious consideration.

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.