Maureen Groppe, writing for Gannett News Service, reports that Democratic challenger Nels Ackerson has outspent incumbent Republican Steve Buyer in the race to represent Indiana’s Fourth Congressional District. Buyer could be planning a massive advertising campaign since he apparently has $800,000 left in the bank versus Ackerson’s $51,000. (Assuming that is, Obama and Daniels have left any ad time unpurchased — here at Masson’s Blog, we can quote you a very reasonable fee.)
Ackerson spent about $137,000 during the first two weeks of this month and about $564,000 this election cycle. Buyer has spent about $56,000 for the first two weeks of the month and about $438,000 this cycle.
So at the very, very least, Ackerson has run a credible campaign. He has some hurdles in this District, not least of which is that it’s a big, sprawling mess of a District that historically has been very Republican. Whether he can overcome those hurdles is hard to say. But, for those in the Fourth District who happen to come across this, I would suggest very seriously considering a vote for Ackerson. He is an accomplished Hoosier and a smart, thoughtful guy who has earned a reputation as a distinguished lawyer in private practice. He is not primarily a conservative or a liberal; rather he is a pragmatist who appears ready, willing, and able to work with anybody who has good ideas about how to fix a given problem.
Meanwhile, Representative Buyer has been in office for 16 years without standing out in any notable way. He seems to be out of central casting from the Gingrich revolution except that he came into office two years prior to 1994. I was actually kind of excited back in 1994 when they swept into power. I was probably more conservative then than I am now, and I certainly knew less about politics. But, generally, I figured we’d see smaller government, lower budgets, and more attention to civil liberties. My expectations, obviously, did not come to pass. My disillusionment with the Republican House became complete upon the impeachment of Bill Clinton for actions which, while not commendable, were only impeachable in the sense that the House Republicans had enough votes and sufficient disdain for the Constitution to cast them. Buyer was one of the House prosecutors pushing the Clinton impeachment. But, even my anger at that has faded. Now that era has passed. Those who have shown talent aside from being movement conservatives from that time perhaps have something to offer yet. But Buyer has not shown himself to be one of those people, and, in my humble opinion, Indiana’s Fourth District should send some fresh energy to Congress.
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