Roemer Accepts Reality

No, he hasn't become a Republican, but former Rep. Tim Roemer has finally realized what everyone else has known for some time, that Sen. Richard Lugar is safe no matter who runs against him. Democrats recently commissioned a push poll, giving results showing Roemer trailing Lugar by only 2 points. A Lugar poll, however, gave a slightly (sic.) more realistic view, showing Lugar with a 20+ point lead. Even Bayh aside, Indiana remains a bastion of conservativatism. Fortunately, though, Bayh's ill-fated Presidential ambitions suggest that Republicans could yet again pick up another seat that belongs to us.

Roemer, of course, came under heavy fire from Democrats for his pro-life position when he ran for DNC Chair. Democrats decided to give Republicans the gift of people-powered Howard. Apparently, Dean had not sufficiently embarassed the Democrats during the campaign and continues to give and give and give. Fortunately for the country and the Democrats, whether they know it or not, this saves Roemer's chances for office in the future should his Party decide to throw in the towel on abortion at the national level.

Lugar is no conservative. He has frustrated conservatives on stem-cell research, gun control, and hate crimes. Even so, he leans right and toes the line on other important issues, including abortion. Republicans in Indiana should do better in the future and put real conservatives in office. Even so, Lugar is much better than true RINOs like Chafee and Snowe. Conservatives need to turn up the heat on Lugar when he's in office, but all things considered, we have to be happy that Lugar will get reelected without an even remotely serious challenge. Hopefully six years down the road, though, this deep red state can upgrade.