Richard Lugar loss could open Senate seat to Democrats

Richard Lugar loss could open Senate seat to Democrats

By Lisa Mascaro

May 8, 2012, 1:04 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- One of the Democrats’ top Senate campaign strategists said a “tea party” victory over Republican Sen. Richard Lugar in Indiana’s primary would present an opening for Democrats to take the seat this fall.

The outlook from Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) reflected the growing enthusiasm among Democrats over Tuesday’s elections in Indiana, where Lugar, the veteran Republican senator, is in the fight of his political life against the state’s two-term treasurer, Richard Mourdock, a “tea party” favorite.

“If Mr. Mourdock emerges in the Indiana primary, it’s only going to give Democrats another pick up opportunity,” said Schumer, who led his party to the Senate majority in past election cycles. “The more the Republicans embrace the ‘tea party’ agenda and its candidates, the more they damage their chances in November.”

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Republicans have dismissed such predictions from Democrats as overblown, saying Mourdock is a public official in a state that leans heavily Republican and is unlikely to choose a Democrat as its next senator.

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