Chris Sautter: A Democratic year taking shape in Indiana

MIAMI 
– Indiana’s 9th Congressional district is a bellwether race. That
according to Chuck Todd, moderator of NBC’s Meet the Press, who named
the race between Democrat Shelli Yoder and Republican Trey Hollingsworth
as one of his top three House races to watch for a wave election for
House Democrats.  A year ago, the 9th district was labeled
“safe Republican” by respected handicappers Charlie Cook and Stuart
Rothenberg. Republicans have a built-in 9-point advantage in the 9th as a
result of redistricting before the 2012 election. In fact, Yoder lost
to incumbent and current U.S. Senate candidate Todd Young by 10% four
years ago. Very few observers gave Yoder a chance this time. Now
polling shows the race between Yoder and Hollingsworth tied. Yoder is
clearly the superior candidate. She has learned from her first race and
is generating intense enthusiasm among the Democratic faithful in
Southern Indiana. She is a natural with a unique way to connect to
everyday Hoosiers. Her campaign commercials tout that “Shelli is one of
us” — a claim Hollingsworth has no way of making credibly.

    

Source: Howey Politics