A Washington-based Republican super PAC that supports incumbent members of Congress has dropped Indiana Sen. Dick Lugar in the final days of his bitter campaign for re-election.
The move by the American Action Network suggests it realizes that Lugar is fighting a losing battle against the tea-party-backed state treasurer Richard Mourdock, reports
Politico.
AAN spokesman Dan Conston said, “"We've decided we're going to let this race play out."
According to Politico, AAN ads have helped Lugar in the state capital Indianapolis, but Mourdock seemed to be far ahead in other parts of the Hoosier State.
“For a group like AAN, that would raise the question of whether it makes sense to keep going after a man who looks likely to be the Republican candidate against Democratic Rep. Joe Donnelly,” said Politico.
“Lugar may have been the GOP's strongest general election candidate, but if he is beyond recovery — or close — then the next-best thing is a relatively undamaged Mourdock.”
Just two weeks ago, AAN issued an attack ad on Mourdock, calling the state treasurer “a risk we can’t afford,” and saying if he won the primary against six-term incumbent Lugar it “would only embolden Harry Reid and his liberal allies.” Now though, the TV ads will be pulled and no more will take their place.
AAN, which is chaired by Minnesota Republican Sen. Norm Coleman, describes itself as an “action tank” to encourage and promote center-right policies based on the principles of freedom, limited government, American exceptionalism, and strong national security.
The primary in Indiana will be held on Tuesday next week.
© 2013 Newsmax. All rights reserved.