From the House Race Hotline for Wednesday, May 7,2008

INDIANA 05 (R/INDIANAPOLIS -- BURTON)

Dan, Forget About Calling The Coroner

Wed. May 7, 2008


Rep. Dan Burton (R) pushed back ex-Marion County Coroner John McGoff (R) and Clayton Alfred (R), and will face ex-Cong. aide Mary Etta Ruley (D) in the general. Ruley defeated Chester Kelsey (D) and Kenny Stall (D). Results with 99% of precincts reporting (AP, 5/6).

IN 05 GOP Primary            IN 05 Dem Primary
             votes     %age               votes     %age
Burton      45,378     52%   Ruley        45,963    47%
McGoff      39,305     45    Stall        29,128    30
Alfred       2,729      3    Kelsey       23,531    24

McGoff "waged a furious campaign" against Burton, but in the end, "it was not enough." Burton, who earned his lowest %age in 26 years: "We ran against a very, very tough opponent. It was a difficult race." McGoff: "We gave it our best shot, but we came up short."

The race "might have been swayed" by thousands of GOPers who crossed party lines to vote in the Dem WH race, but "who did they hurt?" McGoff: "I think the crossover will be one of those variables we'll never be able to measure." But Burton said he thought the crossovers "hurt him." Burton: "Most of them were conservative voters who I believe would have supported me."

McGoff had "hammered" Burton on ethics and believed he had "a good shot to dethrone" Burton, but Burton "proved he is still unbeatable despite criticism from the press" and opponents. Burton: "We ran against other factors you normally don't have to face -- some of the news media" (McFeely, Indianapolis Star, 5/7).

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