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

INDIANA 02 (D/SOUTH BEND -- DONNELLY)

Oh, Puckett!

Wed. May 7, 2008


Businessman Luke Puckett (R), who defeated Joseph Roush (R) and '04/'06 candidate Tony Zirkle (R), will face Rep. Joe Donnelly (D) in the general. Results with 100% of precincts reporting (AP, 5/6).

IN 02 GOP Primary
                 votes         %age
Puckett          17,366        48%
Roush            13,060        36
Zirkle            5,958        16

Puckett sailed to an "easy victory" last p.m., and in his acceptance speech, "focused" on Donnelly, "criticizing" him and the D.C. establishment. Puckett: "What our current leadership in Washington lacks is the vision, the courage and the leadership to demand common-sense solutions to the challenges facing us today."

Puckett "focused a large portion" of his remarks on Donnelly's efforts to lower gas prices. Donnelly has called on Pres. Bush to "release" 20M barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, something Puckett calls a "one-day solution." Donnelly: "There's short-term things we can work on and long-term things we can work on. Apparently Mr. Puckett forgot to mention those things."

Zirkle "issued a concession statement" on his Web site, saying he had "trouble getting his message out but now he can enjoy his summer (Ronco, South Bend Tribune, 5/7).