13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |Hostettler keeps low profile

Hostettler keeps low profile

Kevin Rader/Eyewitness News

Political campaigns are normally very public efforts to get a candidate into office, but one Indiana congressman is running an unusually quiet campaign.

Rep John Hostettler has survived in the so-called "Bloody Eighth" district by running a below the radar campaign that has served him well for twelve years but his quest for a seventh term is proving elusive. He is still holding town meetings but he was a no-show on Labor Day, giving his Democratic opponent the spotlight. That prompted the Evansville Courier to run an editorial with the headline "Hostettler Inactivity Curious."

Hostettler did surface for what is expected to be the one and only debate of the campaign earlier this month in Vincennes.

"Now liberals from all over the country are pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into the eighth district, into Brad Ellsworth's campaign," he said.

Hostettler has raised $461,111 for his congressional campaign so far, but the National Republican Congressional Committee has chipped in $1.66 million.

His Democratic challenger Brad Ellsworth has raised $1.46 million while the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has chimed in with $1.41 million.

"His campaigns have been non-traditional. He prides himself on a grass routes organization that supposedly is there to whip up his vote but personally I don't think it will happen this time," said Robin Winston (D-WTHR political analyst).

"It's hard to take a guy seriously when you can't find him. The candidate owes the public the courtesy of saying here is what I am doing. Here is where you can see me if you have a question about my stances or my positions. To his own party - you talk to members of his own party in Republican circles and even they will say I honestly don't know whether this guy is campaigning, whether this guy is serious," said Matt Tully, Indianapolis Star.

Earlier this week a Evansville Courier poll showed the Democrat touting a 55-32 percent lead with eleven percent undecided. Then on Tuesday a web-based report said Hostettler is pulling the plug on his campaign, a point Hostettler quickly responded to with this statement: "If I could buy either of them for what they are worth and sell them for what they think they are worth, I would never have to hold another fundraiser."

Decision 2006 Election Guide