Rep. Mark Souder, R-3rd, brushed aside three opponents Tuesday, winning the chance to stay in office for a ninth two-year term. He will go head-to-head with Democrat Tom Hayhurst, who unsuccessfully challenged Souder four years ago.

Auto dealer and political novice Bob Thomas poured at least $251,000 of his own cash into hard-hitting commercials, but Souder won 49 percent of the vote in the eight-county northeast Indiana district.

It was Souder’s worst showing in a primary and the first time a Republican opponent tried to paint Souder as not conservative enough.

Thomas’ “pure negative” campaign “obviously tapped into an anti-incumbent trend,” Souder said from Washington.

Thomas won 34 percent; attorney Phil Troyer got 14 percent; and Auburn mobile home park owner Greg Dickman got 3 percent.

Like Souder, all the other Hoosier congressional incumbents on the primary ballot won their parties’ nominations, including Rep. Dan Burton, R-5th, who had six opponents. Rep. Mike Pence, R-6th, was unopposed.

Thomas spent more money than any other primary challenger Souder has faced. His campaign was largely self-financed and relied on strongly worded TV and radio ads.

Thomas called Souder a “special-interest yes man” and a “big-government type” who is “owned by the lobbyists and PACs in Washington, D.C.”

The ads bought Thomas recognition but backfired with some Republican voters.

“I’m not the greatest Souder fan, but I voted (absentee) for him,” said Avilla resident Patricia Corbat. “Why? Because I detested Thomas’ attack ads. They only ‘attacked’ and did not give in any of them his way of fixing Congress.”

Corbat said she also “didn’t like his carpetbagger candidacy.”

Thomas has lived near Indianapolis for the past 25 years, renting an apartment off Dupont Road in March after deciding to challenge Souder. Souder used a photo of Thomas’ Carmel mansion in a flier he sent to GOP voters, telling them: “Don’t be misled by someone who doesn’t live here!”

Thomas and Troyer hit Souder on what they said was his liberal-style support of government spending. Souder voted for the auto industry loans and the financial industry bailout, both proposed by the Bush administration. He also voted for Cash for Clunkers. Souder said all were important to the economic well-being of the country and especially northeast Indiana, which is heavily dependent on the auto and manufacturing industries.

Thomas argued that Souder was a career politician who should be recalled by Hoosier voters.

“He threw the kitchen sink at me,” Souder said.

Thomas’ anti-incumbent argument may have been aimed at members of the tea party movement, who generally oppose the status quo in Washington.

But since last summer, Souder has courted the tea party groups, going to dozens of meetings with them as a way to neutralize their anti-establishment viewpoint.

Monica Boyer, a co-founder of the Kosciusko County tea party group Silent No More, said Souder seemed to defuse the opposition to his spending votes when he explained them.

“When he explains,” she said, “there’s a shift in the room and an understanding of why he votes as he does.”

Dennis Brown, who votes in northern Allen County, said Thomas didn’t persuade him to hand Souder a pink slip.

“He’s never done anything to disappoint me,” he said of Souder, who has been in office since 1995. “Like he said in his ad, when you cast as many votes as he has, you can’t please everybody.”

Although Souder beat Thomas by 11,400 votes, he behaved as though Thomas was a strong threat. He spent more money, bought more advertising and sought more donations from political action committees – which can give more than individuals – than in past primary elections.

“Typically, fewer than a handful of congressional incumbents lose their primaries,” said Indiana University political science professor Marjorie Hershey, who studies incumbency.

Souder ran several commercials that jabbed at Thomas, including one that reminded listeners of the Billy Currington song with the refrain of “God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy.” Souder changed the lyrics to “God is great, beer is good, and Bob Thomas is a little bit crazy.”

Hayhurst, a former city councilman, handily won the Democratic primary against Thomas Schrader.

The Souder-Hayhurst contest in November will be the second time the two have run against each other. Souder won the 2006 race with 54 percent of the vote.

Thomas issued a statement saying he’d support Souder in the fall campaign.

Elsewhere in House races:

•Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-1st, won re-nomination. Republicans were choosing among eight candidates.

•Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-2nd, was unopposed. Republicans nominated Jackie Walorski.

•Democrats nominated David Sanders, and Republicans nominated Secretary of State Todd Rokita to run for the seat being vacated by Rep. Steve Buyer, R-4th.

•Democrats selected Tim Crawford to run against Burton.

•Pence will have a re-match in November with Democratic nominee Barry Welsh.

•Rep. Andre Carson, D-7th, was re-nominated. Republicans chose Marvin Scott.

•Trent VanHaaften was unopposed for the Democratic nomination for the seat held by Rep. Brad Ellsworth, D-8th, who did not run for re-election. Republicans chose Larry Bucshon from among eight candidates.

•Rep. Baron Hill, D-9th, won re-nomination. Bloomington attorney Todd Young won the Republican nomination.

sylviasmith@jg.net