Well Isn't That Special

Today is a special election in Indiana's 7th Congressional District. Due to the passing of the colorful Julia Carson, we are having an election to fill her seat. This is interesting for several reasons:

• This is the first of three elections we will be holding for the 7th district in the next 8 months. In May, we'll be holding a primary (to elect someone to run---who may or may not be the current Congressman at that time). Then, in November, we'll elect a Congressman--who may or may not be the incumbent, or even someone who was in the first of the three elections. Confusing? Heck, yeah. I need a flowchart.
  
• The DNC has been throwing GOBS of money towards D candidate and heir apparent Andre Carson (Julia's grandson). I've been seeing ads during all sorts of different time spots and have received no less than four mailings (Note: this is 100% more than I've seen or received from presidential primary candidates).
• In comparison, I've seen nothing from R John Elrod. Rumor on the politico blogs is that they had a spot ready to go...and funding, but had to yank it at the last second due to inaccuracies. Haven't heard or seen anything in the meantime, so I'm guessing he's pretty much screwed on that. I haven't seen any mailings, either, although I've heard that they are out there (and pretty in pink, at that).

If votes follow the money and ads, then Andre is a shoe-in. If voters continue to express their malcontent over property taxes and Iraq by voting against anything that seems "government," then Elrod may squeak out a V. I'm hopeful that Andre wins with a record voter turnout for a special election. With an engaged electorate due to the presidential primaries, we may just actually have a Congressman elected by the many rather than the few.

And this concludes today's lesson on Indiana politics...snark.