The DSCC has given us another preview of how they will run against the GOP Senate Candidate from Indiana and there is much to learn from their statement (press release shown far below – I don’t want to give the Dems much above-the-fold coverage).

Here are a few things to take notice of, since the DSCC is:

- avoiding targeting GOP candidates with talk about the Government Health Care Bill (it’s still a losing idea, folks!)
- still comfortable with ignoring fiscal conservatism (one thing Brad Ellsworth will try to claim he believes in)
- exposing their own soft underbelly, as it was policies from liberals and DC elites’ that have exasperated unemployment
- not afraid to target a candidate for politicizing, or giving a non-answer (Sorry, Dan Coats, but you’ve got to answer the question)
- eager to paint the GOP as “out of touch”
- anxious to push an issue where one GOP Indiana senate candidate has a distinct advantage

We must realize that with pre-primary statements like this, the Dems are showing their hand, especially with the last two items on that list. They are afraid of the GOP candidates, as they should be, even though they get to hand-pick their new candidate and deny the average Democrat voter a choice. Most of all, we must recognize that the Dems want to paint us as out of touch, and it is my firm belief we must elect a candidate who has the best armor against that.

Marlin Stutzman has distinct advantages in this area:

1) Stutzman’s district has a pulse on unemployment, since Elkhart is one of Obama and the liberals favorite places to look down on. The Democrats (and liberal Republicans) ruined the RV industry with bad spending policy and bad energy policy that was bad for manufacturing. People know and respect Marlin Stutzman there and he has the unique ability to prevent it from becoming a talking point.

2) Stutzman has shown personal compassion for the unemployed and support for them at the state level. Marlin is a charitable person and he has a record of showing that, but he has wisely drawn a line in the sand when it comes to federal spending, where we just cannot afford to keep printing money. Marlin has the best shot at making the case for helping the unemployed at the local level, while focusing national attention toward cutting spending and promoting the growth of business that will actually lead to hiring in the private sector again.

3) Marlin Stutzman is clearly NOT part of DC crowd. Say what you will about funding connections, it will take multiple times more funding to run ads that defend against those very connections that get you money. At best, it’s a catch-22 when the Dems really start hammering on our candidate. There are major issues on our side and we must not neutralize them with an out of touch candidate.

Now the DSCC Press Release:

>IT’S OFFICIAL: NEW VIDEO SHOWS JOHN HOSTETTLER, DAN COATS, AND MARLIN STUTZMAN DON’T CARE ABOUT HELPING OUT OF WORK HOOSIERS

Hostettler – Bunning “Was Right On”

Coats – Refused To Directly Answer Question

Stutzman – Bunning “Did The Right Thing”

Kentucky Senator Jim Bunning’s block late last week on extending unemployment benefits for 1.2 million out of work Americans drew criticism from across the political spectrum, but found three cheerleaders in Indiana, according to a new video report. Republican Senate candidates John Hostettler, Dan Coats, and Marlin Stutzman all refused to criticize Bunning when asked by a reporter about Bunning’s block on unemployment benefits. Hostettler said Bunning “was right on,” Coats refused to directly answer the question, and Stutzman agreed that Bunning “did the right thing.”

“John Hostettler, Dan Coats, and Marlin Stutzman are all asking Hoosiers to send them to the Senate, but judging by their support of a block on extending jobless benefits, it looks like none of them are up to the job,” said DSCC National Press Secretary Deirdre Murphy. “With Indiana having a high unemployment rate and thousands of Hoosiers unemployed, it’s baffling that John Hostettler, Dan Coats, and Marlin Stutzman would endorse this policy and still be able to look hard-hit Hoosiers in the eyes.”

Despite Indiana’s 9.7% unemployment rate and with 300,834 unemployed Hoosiers, John Hostettler, Dan Coats, and Marlin Stutzman all supported Bunning’s out of touch block on extending unemployment benefits to out of work Hoosiers.

Available at: http://www.dscc.org/news?type=press_release&press_release_KEY=1158