Senator Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) is fighting for survival in his contentious Republican primary with state treasurer Richard Mourdock, a conservative with broad Tea Party support. Speaking with reporters in the Capitol on Tuesday afternoon, Lugar seemed to be unsure about whether or not the Tea Party has been a force for good in the GOP.

Things are mixed for the 6-term incumbent senator, who was actually outraised by Mourdock in the first quarter of 2012 (Lugar, however, maintains a financial advantage overall). A recent Mourdock campaign poll shows Mourdock edging out Lugar, 42 percent to 41 percent, though independent polling has been infrequent and usually shows Lugar leading.