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IN-9: Hill v. Sodrel, Round 4

Mike Sodrel (R) has announced that he will challenge U.S. Rep. Baron Hill (D-IN) for his House seat. It will be the fourth consecutive race between the two men with Hill winning in 2002 and 2006 and Sodrel winning in 2004.

Given that Sodrel's lone victory came during the GOP's high-water mark in 2004 and he won by the slimmest of margins (1,400 votes) -- losing the other two times by 5 points each -- it's hard to see Hill losing his seat, though it will certainly be a bruising battle and their ads will litter the Louisville media market once again.

The Indianapolis Star has the story.

U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D) Joins With 18 Freshmen Democrats To Oppose Iraq Surge In Letter To President Bush

Yesterday, U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D) released the contents of a letter that he and 18 other freshmen House Democrats sent to President Bush opposing the escalation in Iraq. (The Courier-Journal has a story as well).

Click jump-link below for the text of the letter:

US Rep. Baron Hill (D) To Run For Indiana Governor?

Political Wire caught this item:

Hill to Run for Indiana Governor?
From the Evans-Novak Political Report: "While some discuss a fourth election contest between" Rep. Baron Hill (D-IN) and former Rep. Mike Sodrel (R-IN) in Indiana’s 9th congressional district, "Hill may actually be preparing for a run against Gov. Mitch Daniels (R). For Hill, the equation is simple: a weakened Republican governor in a mostly conservative state, with no other obviously strong Democratic candidates in the wings..."

Anyone hearing anything about this?

In IN-09, Sodrel Eyeing Fourth Rematch (Political Wire)

Political Wire has the scoop on one of neighboring congressional district:

In IN-09, Sodrel Eyeing Fourth Rematch
According to The Hotline, in Indiana’s 9th congressional district, former Rep. Mike Sodrel (R-IN) "is apparently pondering a re-re-re-rematch with" Rep. Baron Hill (D-IN)...

KY3, KY4, KY2 and IN9

James Carroll takes a good look at the four hotly contested Republican-held House seats in the Louisville market in today's Courier-Journal.

The whole piece is worth a read, but Senator McConnell (R) again shows us all he thinks matters about politics:

Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he does not think any GOP House members in Kentucky will be looking for new jobs Wednesday morning.

"I think you can stipulate that the atmosphere is not great this year for Republicans -- what you don't know in advance of the election is whether there is a (Democratic) wave or not," McConnell said.

"These three races down here have raised enough money and have defined the incumbents well enough to the point I believe they can resist the atmosphere," he said.

It's sad that politics so often comes down to who has enough money to "define" themselves and opponents, not about a vision or issues. I don't disagree with McConnell. I just lament it.

However, this does appear to be one election cycle when money is making a lot less of a difference considering that incumbents in KY2, KY3 and KY4 have spent about three times the money as their challengers but trail in the polls with just two days to go.

Poll: In IN-9, Hill Leading Sodrel 46-40

Political Wire is reporting that "a new Research 2000 poll shows Baron Hill (D) leading incumbent Rep. Mike Sodrel (R), 46% to 40% with 14% undecided."

Good news for Democrats. How great will it be to watch two former Reps. -- Hill and Ken Lucas -- get sworn-in once again?