[campaignPete R-CT]

dj, this district is within shouting distance of TN - R+9

[fieldmarshaldj]

Well, about 3 hours away. I haven’t been to Indiana in about 16 or 17 years. Hill has always voted well to the left of his constituents. I’m sorry Mike Sodrel wasn’t able to hold onto the district. I don’t know if the current candidates will be able to match Hill’s $$, as they aren’t first tier challengers.

[Darren McCarty]

I think R+9 is overrating it a bit, but Sodrel beat Hill in 04. He lost in 02 and 06 as well. It's winnable, but not easy. Lee Hamilton won there for years.

Southern Indiana is locally democrat and nationally Republican outside of Bloomington and Evansville. (Obama won by running up big margins in Chicago suburbs and Indianapolis)

The best shot at this seat and others seats with a lot of conservative small d democrat or ticket splitting voters like Hill, Ellsworth, Shuler, Childers, Schauer, Stupak, and the Dakotas is to give them the Tom Dashchle treatment. They have gone national and forgot where they came from. I'd go after Harry Reid as well.