The Indiana Senate primary continues to look like a scene reminiscent of middle school gym class. On Thursday, the three Republican frontrunners started arguing over who would get to hang out with the vice president’s older, but still littler brother, Greg Pence.
Pence is running for the seat once held by his brother, Indiana’s 6th Congressional District. Meanwhile Reps. Luke Messer and Todd Rokita along with wealthy businessman, Mike Braun, are desperately trying to distinguish themselves and win an opportunity to take on vulnerable Democrat, Sen. Joe Donnelly.
Perhaps because the support of Pence could be taken as an endorsement from his vice president older brother, that candidate has become a hot commodity.
Messer tried scoring points Thursday by blasting Braun for campaigning with Jonathan Lamb, a little-known candidate most prominent for loaning himself money and claiming he had out-fundraised Pence:
I’m disappointed to see @braun4indiana campaigning against the @VP‘s brother, @GregPenceIN. Greg Pence is immensely qualified and will serve our district well. It’s clear Mike Braun wouldn’t be a trusted Trump-Pence ally in the U.S. Senate.
— Luke Messer (@LukeMesserIN) March 22, 2018
Braun shot back, trying to paint Messer as political opportunist:
I’d love to campaign with @VP’s brother @GregPenceIN . Just tell us when we can join you guys on the trail! PS – I will make sure not to mention how @LukeMesserIN was a #NeverTrumper #insen
— Mike Braun (@braun4indiana) March 22, 2018
And Rokita got the last word by knocking Braun over the fact that he voted Democrat until 2012:
Mike, I don’t know if 6th District Republicans want to be campaigning with a Democrat like yourself, who voted for Obama or Hillary? #INsen
— Todd Rokita (@ToddRokitaIN) March 22, 2018
Three tweets from three candidates offer one simple conclusion: Republicans in Indiana look like a bunch of bickering kids — and they aren’t going to start behaving anytime ahead of the May 8 primary. But Messer may come out on top of this exchange. Before launching his own bid, Pence chaired Messer’s campaign. The two are close and will appear side-by-side at three different events Friday.
