Premise: Romney's nomination will hurt Republican candidates. Could Lugar be the first casualty?

[grantcart]

If you see the excerpts from FR or understand how the Tea Party wing of the Republican Party despises Romney then you can see how his nomination will free those that are unhappy to take it out and punish other 'moderates' in the Republican Party to show their frustration.

The premise is that the Santorum side of the party will be eager not to kiss and make up but to express their feelings in the races that are left as they are no longer able to express it on the Presidential ticket.

The first test of this theory is the Republican Primary in Indiana. If the Tea Party faction was happy with the ticket then you could expect them to cut some slack with clearly identified establishment candidates. If they are not you could see a continuation of 'throw the baby out with the bathwater" strategy that cost the Republicans seats in Nevada and Deleware.

Latest polls show Lugar falling behind in Indiana

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/mourdock-claims-small-lead-over-lugar-in-indiana-poll/2012/04/26/gIQALvk2iT_blog.html

Mourdock claims lead over Lugar in Indiana poll by Citizens United
Indiana state Treasurer Richard Mourdock has taken a slight lead on Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) in the state’s Republican Senate primary, according to a new poll from a Mourdock-aligned group.

The poll, conducted by GOP pollster Fritz Wenzel for Mourdock-supporting group Citizens United, shows Mourdock at 44 percent and Lugar at 39 percent. The poll has a margin of error of about 4 percent.

Not surprisingly, the poll shows Mourdock relying heavily on tea party conservatives, winning their vote by a margin of 63 percent to 24 percent. Those voters comprised just more than one-third of the polls respondents.

Lugar, meanwhile, leads among moderates 61 percent to 27 percent.

The poll also shows Lugar’s favorability among Republican primary voters dropping below 50 percent — to 44 percent — for the first time. His unfavorable rating has risen as well, but the polling memorandum doesn’t say precisely what it is.

The poll is part of what seems to be a steady trend in Mourdock’s favor.

The establishment will come to curse the day that they lined up behind a man without a core center, who alienates almost every group represented in the country and is one of the worst campaigners at the national level.

Keep it up Mitt, we really really appreciate all that you are doing to tear the Republican Party in two.

[WI_DEM]

1. maybe, but I think Lugar would be in trouble anyhow despite Romney.

[Robbins]

2. Lugar

I am hoping he loses.I think with a teapartyer as senate candiate could hep this senate race become competive.I think Indiana should
be called a tossup since we don't have much polling on state.Since Lugar has been going along with the let's fillerbuster Obama's
agenda It Isn't like there will be a huge difference with a teapartyer In senate.

[Indydem]

3. This is ridiculous logic

Luger has been in trouble for quite some time. The least of which centers around the fact he hasn't even lived in Indiana for 30 years.

Unfortunately, regardless of who wins, I doubt a Democrat can flip that seat in this state at this time. It has only gotten more republican in the past 4 years.