The Indiana Republican primary for Senate has been rather brutal. From the beginning, candidates have accused each other of carpetbagging, switching political parties, and improperly using taxpayer money.
It’s rough, but the reason is straightforward: the winner challenges incumbent Sen. Joe Donnelly—the fourth most vulnerable Senate Democrat up for re-election in 2018. Winning the primary could end up the biggest and only real hurdle.
Send voters to the polls today and Donnelly loses to an unnamed, faceless Republican named John Doe according to an Axios/Survey Monkey joint poll showing Donnelly would lose with 45 to 51 points.
Granted, a political eternity stands between today and Election Day. An entire universe of possibilities exist and anything could happen, including a counterproductive and damaging tariff on aluminum and steel. But sans disaster, Trump will remain popular in the Hoosier State which he won by double digits. That’s a problem for Donnelly and a huge opportunity for the Republican who wins the May primary.
