May 9, 2012

In a landslide primary vote, Republican United States Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana lost his bid for a seventh term to state Treasurer Richard Mourdock, who was backed by Tea Party activists and other highly conservative groups. Lugar, who had maintained a solidly conservative record since first being elected to the Senate in 1976, was highly regarded for his knowledge of foreign policy and international affairs.

Lugar proved vulnerable to Mourdock’s charges that he was not conservative enough on cutting federal spending and on immigration and had compromised with Democrats, particularly President Barack Obama. Mourdock had been particularly critical of Lugar’s vote for the federal rescue of the auto industry, which has plants in Indiana. Lugar, who has a home near Washington, D.C., suffered as well from an extended debate about whether he was still an official resident of Indiana. Political experts noted that Lugar had also failed to recognize the seriousness of Mourdock’s challenge and to forcefully counter his opponent’s attacks.

Richard G. Lugar of Indiana. (U.S. Senate)

After the results of the primary were announced, Lugar released a statement that was highly critical of the country’s polarized political climate, especially in Congress. It said, in part, “I also knew from the races in 2010 that I was a likely target of Club for Growth, FreedomWorks and other Super Pacs dedicated to defeating at least one Republican as a purification exercise to enhance their influence over other Republican legislators.” Lugar also accused Mourdock of promising a “rigid opposition to the actions and proposals of the other party. This is not conducive to problem solving and governance.” In addition, Lugar praised bipartisanship (working with political opponents) and predicted that, “unless [Mourdock] modifies his approach, he will achieve little as a legislator.  Worse, he will help delay solutions that are totally beyond the capacity of partisan majorities to achieve.”

Additional World Book articles:

• Republican Party 2010 (Back in Time article)
• Tempest in a Tea Party (a special report)