Tag Archives: Joe Donnelly

Joe Donnelly releases first campaign ad

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Indiana’s May primary is two weeks from today. However, while Republicans Luke Messer, Mike Braun and Todd Rokita are locked in a contentious race, not all candidates will be sweating it out the next 14 days.

Democrat Joe Donnelly, who has no primary challenger, is one of those candidates who has nothing to worry about – at least now, anyway. Despite this fact, that doesn’t mean Donnelly can’t get a jump of the general election.  In fact, the Donnelly campaign has been sending out campaign emails, mainly those seeking money, like crazy.  Now, the campaign has decided to release their first campaign ad.

It’s an extremely positive, get to know you ad. In an attempt to bring up memories of Mitch Daniels, Donnelly rides along in an RV. He proceeds to talk about cutting regulation, helping service members and “being the second most bipartisan senator.” Oh, he also mentions that he doesn’t work for either political party, but instead for the voters.

Anyway, Donnelly is sure to be locked in a very tight, contentious race, but he starts things off on a positive note.

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BREAKING: Trump-Pence Leadership Team Endorses Indiana Senate Candidate Todd Rokita

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This endorsement is sure to make the Indiana GOP Primary even more interesting.

Rex Early, from Trump’s 2016 general election campaign in Indiana endorsed US Senate hopeful Todd Rokita a few minutes ago. Stating that Rokita “wholeheartedly” supported Trump, Early criticized fellow candidates Luke Messer and Mike Braun for not doing enough in 2016 to support Trump’s campaign.

Indiana voters will decide on their GOP candidate May 8th and that person will go on to face incumbent Joe Donnelly this fall in the general election.

Instead of issues, Rokita campaign sets up anti-Messer website…because?

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Indiana’s primary is set for May 8 and easily, the biggest race to be decided will the Republican U.S. Senate Primary.

Sitting Indiana Congressmen Todd Rokita and Luke Messer as well as businessman Mike Braun are all vying to become the Republican to take on Democrat Joe Donnelly in the fall.

So, far the race has been about who can tie themselves to Trump the most, as all three have emphatically said they are wholeheartedly “Pro-Trump” on multiple occasions. That’s fine and dandy, but voters want to hear original ideas. What are your solutions to problems? Why are you the best Republican to take on Donnelly? You know, talk about the issues.

Well, instead of talking about anything really substantive, the Rokita campaign found it necessary to set up a website dedicated entirely to “finding Luke Messer.” 

The site is in reference to Messer having a residence in Virginia and not keeping a house in Indiana, selling it in 2012 when elected to Congress. In addition to this coming out early in the campaign, Messer has since been reelected to Congress multiple times. Doesn’t really sound like his constituents have a problem with it, but it didn’t stop the Rokita campaign from throwing something at the wall and hope it sticks.

The website also says “Last seen in the Swamp,” referring to Messer with a form to fill out in order to get updates on “his whereabouts.”

It’s also funny coming from a guy who uses public money to fund his campaigns, when he screams about draining the swamp and whose slogan is “Defeat the Elite.” Oh, there’s also the multi-page dossier that came out this past summer which states everything Rokita “requires” and how he is to be treated when being driven around his district.

It’s because of that kind of stuff that people don’t like politics and politicians. Instead of talking about real substantive differences between the candidates, campaigns and candidates stoop to this level of nonsense.

Hey Todd,  if you want to talk about a candidate’s “whereabouts,” please let voters know where you’ll be instead of the statewide televised Republican debate on April 30.

Please, please get back to the real issues. Voters deserve it.

-BZ

Rokita to skip televised Republican primary debate due to ‘leftist propaganda’

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“Then I’m just gonna take my ball and go home!”  That’s basically the attitude of the Rokita campaign.

In the political world, name recognition and ID are invaluable to candidates running for office. Before someone officially announces a run for office, especially a statewide office, that’s usually one of the first things discussed by a potential candidate and/or campaign. Because if people don’t know who you are, they aren’t likely to vote for you come Election Day.

Raising a candidate’s name ID is the main reason why campaigns spend so much money on television/radio ads. Well, that and attempting to differentiate yourself from your opponents.

Debates among the candidates is an excellent and free opportunity to achieve both of those goals simultaneously, especially when that debate is going to be televised across the state.  That’s why a recently announced decision from the Todd Rokita campaign is so utterly mystifying.

The campaign announced Friday that they will not participate in a statewide televised debate on April 30. And what rationale did the campaign give for their decision to skip the debate?

Well, apparently they have other things planned that day, citing scheduling conflicts. Oh, and they also don’t want to deal with “leftist propaganda” and “gotcha questions from liberal media figures, liberal college professors, or other parties interested in attacking Republicans and re-electing Joe Donnelly.”  

Um…ok? Except for the fact that the debate is being organized by the nonpartisan Indiana Debate Commission and it’s being moderate dby Indy Politics reporter and WIBC radio host Abdul-Hakim Shabazz. Sure, he may not be as conservative as Tony Katz ( the moderator of the first Republican Senate debate in January) but Abdul is anything but a liberal. I mean, the conservative WIBC doesn’t usually give shows to liberals.

Anyway, the Rokita campaign says “He (Rokita)  looks forward to sharing his message with as many Hoosier conservatives as possible between now and election day.”

That statement kind of rings hollow given Friday’s mystifyingly dumb decision to skip an April 30 debate, especially considering Election Day is May 8.

Oh well, more time for Messer and Braun to shine.

-BZ

Messer campaign releases first TV ad

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After Braun and Rokita released television ads, you knew it was only a matter of time until the third Republican in the race, Luke Messer, also joined the club and put out one himself.

Well, the inevitable has finally happened. Messer’s campaign sent out the ad set to begin running on television Thursday morning.

The ad introduces voters to one of the men hoping to replace Democrat Joe Donnelly in the U.S. Senate. His two daughters talk about their father’s commitment to his faith and the pro-life agenda. But, like everything else in this race, the ad makes sure you’re well aware that Messer will do anything and everything necessary to pass President’s Trump agenda.

“He’s a strong advocate for President Trump’s agenda.” It’s basically the first thing out of their mouths.

Between this ad and Rokita’s where he donned a MAGA hat and emphatically told us he’s “pro-Trump,” the whole “I’m gonna be President Trump’s best friend” is wearing pretty thing.

Differentiate yourself, put forward an original idea. Why are you better than the next guy?

-BZ

Braun campaign releases controversial ad on immigration

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In Indiana, the race to replace Democrat Joe Donnelly in the United States Senate is underway.  Donnelly’s future in the Senate is shaky, to say the least. Donald Trump won Indiana by nearly 20 points, and if you don’t believe he’s still extremely popular in the Hoosier state all you had to do was tune into the Indiana Republican Senate debate this past Tuesday.

The three Republicans seeking the nomination – U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita, U.S. Rep. Luke Messer and businessman and former Indiana state senator Mike Braun –  all tried to tie themselves to Pres. Trump. Several times throughout the debate, all three of the candidates said they were the best person for the job because they will support Trump’s stance on this issue and on this issue, on that issue.

Thanks in large part to Pres. Trump, immigration has become a hot-button issue. Also, in Indiana, immigration has also taken on an added significance. Several weeks ago, a drunk driver hit and killed two people, one of which was a Colts player.  Come to find out the driver in the fatal crash was an illegal immigrant, who had been deported twice and had several driving violations.

With that being said, Braun recently released an ad mentioning this particular case, using pictures of both deceased individuals.

The widow of one of the men said stated her outrage over the ad and said she wants her husband’s photo removed from the ad.

And to be honest, can you really blame her? Regardless of political opinion, why would anyone want a painful memory, that is still fresh and raw brought in order to score political points.

Yes, something needs to be done on the immigration, a lot of things. However, the point the Braun campaign was hoping to make about our immigration system could’ve been made without doing this.  Put yourself, in the widow’s shoes for a second, you would’ve reacted the same way.

The ad was in poor taste. Immigration is an issue, yes but this ad was probably not the best way to go about it.

Indiana Senator Donnelly heads to Texas with Schumer

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Two to three times a week Indiana Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly’s campaign sends out frantic emails about the state of his race.  Generally, these frenzied emails start off quoting some poll showing the race leaning Republican. Continue reading and you soon spot the real reason for the mass mailing, it’s an ask to donate, generously, to the incumbent Democrat’s campaign.

Sure, campaign’s ask for money all the time. They need lots and lots of your money in order to continue…working for you?

But, this past weekend the Indiana Senator, whose campaign openly admits  – several times a week- that the race is leaning Republican, wasn’t in Indiana. Well, was he in Washington D.C.? Nah. But where was he then?

Well, Donnelly was in Texas…raising money...with New York Senator Chuck Schumer.

If you’re wondering what connection Donnelly has to Texas, so are we. Must’ve been that Schumer said “money” and then Donnelly likely sent his RSVP in moments in later.

The optics of this are absolutely terrible. Donnelly likes to position himself as a blue dog, conservative Democrat, but palling around with the liberal Senator from New York, Chuck Schumer is not a good look.

Regardless, Donnelly knows his time in office is coming to a close.

Savor it, Senator!

-BZ

 

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