Return of the Stache!

So it looks like Mike Sodrel is the go-to Republican to challenge our Congressman, Baron Hill. That would make Round 4 of Hill-Sodrel (and maybe Round 2 of Hill-Sodrel-Schansberg).

Because let face it: why should the RNC/NRCC/IRP spend the money when Mike has truck-loads of his own? No one else can build the name-recognition to challenge Baron for this seat.

And apparently these random people in N. Rockwell-esque photos want Sodrel to run again!

But is Sodrel ready to tough it out with Baron Hill again? Well, it depends on whose coat-tails he can try to ride in on:

9TH CD HORSE RACE: SODREL WILL WAIT FOR FEB. 5 PREZ PRIMARIES BEFORE DECIDING...

Sodrel was elected in 2004 on the Daniels-Bush coat-tails at a time when the Presdient had above-50% approval ratings; and Bush and Daniels didnt each have the worst case of anti-King Midas touch since Herbert Hoover. In 2002 and 2006 Sodrel lost the district outside of Monroe County, the heavily Democratic seed. And the margin in Monore grows every 2 years (from ~900 votes in 02 to around 8k votes in 2006)

Sodrel is probably painfully aware that no one looks for his name on a ballot - so his only hope is for a strong Presidential matchup that will favor the recent historical trend for Indiana in Presidential races. So Sodrel's thinking: Clinton vs. McCain, eh not bad; Edwards vs. Guliani, not so good; Bayh a likely VP, you gotta be kidding me.

Mike Sodrel - offering to be the ceremonial place holder on the IN-09 ballot in 2008... granted its in his favor to do so. He doesn't want to be running on any issues.