9th District campaign doesn't need to get nasty

Several people lately, Republicans and Democrats alike, have mentioned how happy they are that the 9th District congressional race between perennial foes Baron Hill of Seymour and Mike Sodrel of New Albany hadn't gone negative this year.

I, too, had noticed  that the race this year, which also includes Libertarian Eric Schansberg for the second time, was staying on the high road.

But to some that changed last week, when the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee  broadcast what in the eyes of some beholders could be seen as a negative ad. It resurrects the "Millionaire Mike" mon-iker from the 2006 campaign and wrongly accuses Sodrel of wanting to take away Social Security benefits. I've yet to figure out what's wrong with being a millionaire; I also don't expect to learn firsthand.

The commercial also takes Sodrel to task for a September statement that the U.S. economy "fundamentally is in good shape." Sounds a little like GOP presidential hopeful John McCain shortly before suspending his campaign to deal with the financial markets bailout, eh?

Before that, the only television advertising had been from Hill, the incumbent. He's aired several TV spots that talk about issues. Again, Republicans and Democrats alike have mentioned to me in recent days that they liked the ads because they were focused on the candidate airing them and issues and not filled with attacks on the opposition.

I've got to imagine those folks may not say the same about the DCCC ad.

Ryan Reger of Sodrel's campaign staff said he's been running radio ads for a couple weeks and should start running what he described as "positive ads" on TV this week.

Reger said the DCCC commercial is "blatantly false."

"At no point has Sodrel ever supported cutting benefits for retirees or gambling Social Security on Wall Street," Reger said. He said Hill should repudiate the ad.

Hill has made it clear that he had nothing to do with the commercial.

"I had no part in either crafting the ad or consulting about its contents," Hill said in a statement. "I am very pleased that I have been able to run a positive campaign so far, evident by my three issue-oriented television ads."

However, Hill also said the commercial is on target in terms of its criticism of Sodrel's take on the economy.

"During this time of economic uncertainly and turmoil, I do believe the message of the ad is both important and timely," Hill said. "Hoosiers have been hit hard by the mortgage crisis, faltering economy and subsequent job losses. As of August of this year, our great state had more than 200,000 unemployed workers, and we are consistently rated among the top 10 states with the highest home foreclosures. To say, or even suggest, that the fundamentals of our economy are strong is a complete affront to Hoosier families who are struggling day in and day out."

I don't know whether the campaigns have been cleaner this year because 9th District voters made it clear they were unhappy with the ever-nastier ads of the last two election cycles, but I doubt it.

More likely it's a result of the Republican and Democratic congressional campaign groups and others that financed, produced and broadcast the most despicable ads are spending their money in other races deemed more winnable, or less safe, depending on who's horse you're riding.

Whatever the cause, I hope the DCCC commercial isn't a sign of more mudslinging to come.

We don't need it.
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Dan Davis is editor of The Tribune. You may reach him by phone at 523-7051 or by e-mail at ddavis@tribtown.com.