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WASHINGTON - Rep. Mark Souder, R-3rd, faced his toughest re-election ever but pulled out a solid victory Tuesday.
With about half the precincts in the eight-county district counted, Souder had a substantial lead over Democrat Michael Montagano in a race that involved harsh accusations from both sides and that may hit the $3 million mark.
Although northeast Indiana is typically a reliable Republican region, Souder found himself out-spent and out-maneuvered. In addition, his "yes" vote for the financial rescue plan was deeply unpopular.
Immediately after the vote, Souder said, polls showed his support plummeting among Republicans. But those voters didn't switch their allegiance to Montagano, which was key to Souder's victory.
Of all the races he has run every two years since 1994, Souder said, "this took the most out of me."
Montagano raised nearly as much money as Souder, and national Democrats poured more than $600,000 into the race that drew national attention as Democrats sought to unseat incumbent Republicans who were considered safe re-election bets as recently as a year ago.
Despite polls that showed the two candidates nearly tied, Montagano couldn't convince enough voters to back him, even though many voters said Souder had disappointed them over one issue or anther.
Calling Souder the "lesser of two evils," lifelong independent Tom Heiny said Montagano's ads left a bad taste in his mouth.
"He's too young and smart-alecky," Heiny said of Montagano.
The race drew national interest - and national money - after Montagano's initial fundraising was exceptionally strong.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign plowed more than $600,000 into TV commercials and mailed fliers that portrayed Souder as going to bat for an Elkhart orthopedics firm he owned stock in and then profiting from the sale of the stock.
Souder said the ad was particularly frustrating because the earmark the commercial highlighted was for the University of Notre Dame, not the orthopedics company
In the last week of the race, however, the DCCC pulled out of the Souder-Montagano race and concentrated its spending in races the Democrat appeared more likely to beat a GOP incumbent.
National Republicans, who had far less money this election than the Democrats, responded with about $300,000 in ads that said Montagano is unprepared and broke federal campaign laws.
Souder said he was not happy that the campaign took that turn.
"I just don't know how anybody's reputation survives $1 million worth of advertising. It discouraged me more than any race I ever had," he said. "I agree (that he ran negative ads). Because what shows up in polling is that negative ads stick.
"Negative ads from both sides - Republican and Democrat - it's a question of whether any kind of public trust and public confidence can survive because the only way to win elections is to run negatives," he said.
Fort Wayne voter Milton Shuey voted for Souder and was glad he won.
"He's done a pretty good job" he said. Besides, Shuey said, "all I know about his opponent is what Souder said in his ads - which obviously was not complimentary."
Souder said it was clear to him that people split their tickets more than in other elections.
One ticket-splitter, Fort Wayne resident Dan Cutaia, said he voted for Democrat Barakc Obama and Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels. But when it came to the congressional race, "I voted for the Libertarian."
He said he respects Souder's intellect but doesn't share his values, and found Montagano "a bit pandering" to extreme conservatives. So he voted for Libertarian William Larsen "as a protest vote."
sylviasmith@jg.net
