INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Gov. Mitch Daniels' political action committee has spent nearly $1 million to get more than two dozen Republican candidates elected as the GOP seeks to regain control of the Indiana House.
Much of the money Daniels' Aiming Higher PAC has spent has gone toward television ads for at least 11 candidates, The Indianapolis Star reported Wednesday. The money shows the importance Daniels has placed on overturning the 52-48 Democratic House majority and regaining control for his party during the last two years of his term.
The PAC has contributed to 27 House candidates and one Senate candidate, but it's spent about 40 percent of the money on two candidates.
Nearly $200,000 has gone to Kyle Hupfer, a former director of the Department of Natural Resources under Daniels who is trying to defeat Democratic Rep. Scott Reske of Pendleton, with about $185,000 to Bob Heaton, a Terre Haute insurance agent running for an open seat being given up by Democratic Rep. Vern Tincher.
Brian McGrath, executive director of Aiming Higher, said the PAC targeted races, particularly Hupfer's and Heaton's, where it believed Republicans had good candidates whose views matched Daniels' and also "the right environment to win."
Republican House Minority Leader Brian Bosma of Indianapolis said the governor's assistance is significant and offsets spending by pro-Democratic groups such as the Indiana State Teachers Association.
The teachers union's PAC has raised and spent about $1.5 million, much of it to help House Democrats. Reske, Hupfer's opponent, has gotten $50,000 from the teachers PAC this year.
Democratic House Speaker Pat Bauer of South Bend said his party might be outspent, with Republican candidates also being helped by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and Hoosiers for Economic Growth, a PAC run by Luke Messer, a former GOP lawmaker and state party director, and businessman Fred Klipsch. That PAC has given more than $425,000 to House candidates this year.
Bauer said he believed Democrats have the better candidates and better message, arguing against one-party rule in the Statehouse since Republicans already have a large majority in the Senate.
Daniels has held fundraising events in cities such as Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C., for his PAC, raising speculation about his presidential aspirations along with cash. Among the biggest contributors are Merrillville hotel developer Dean White, who has given $200,000, and investment firm owner Jeff Yass, of Haverford, Pa., who has given $50,000.
Other candidates getting big boosts from Daniels' PAC are:
— Matt Ubelhor, who's received about $98,000 for his race against Rep. Sandra Blanton, D-Orleans.
— Rhonda Rhoads, $78,000 for race against Rep. Paul Robertson, D-Depauw.
— Steve Davisson, $73,000 for campaign with Democrat Ryan Bower for seat being given up by Rep. Dennie Oxley Sr., D-Taswell.
— Wendy McNamara, $51,000 for race against Sen. Bob Deig, D-Mount Vernon, for seat given up by Rep. Trent Van Haaften, D-Mount Vernon.
— Ron Bacon, $49,000 for race against Democrat Mike Goebel to replace retiring Rep. Dennis Avery, D-Evansville.
— Former state Department of Local Government Finance director Cheryl Musgrave, $49,0000 in campaign against Rep. Gail Riecken, D-Evansville.
Reske, the Pendleton Democrat trying to keep his seat against Hupfer, said voters have told him they don't like all the TV ads aired by Republicans in his race.
"It shows that Indianapolis is trying to buy the seat," he said. "It is classic grass roots versus big money."
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