Rep. Burton goes on 2010 fundraising kick

Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) is stepping up his fundraising efforts in the face of four possible 2010 primary challengers.

Burton’s office told The Hill that the “is serious about meeting this head on” and has “set an ambitious fundraising agenda.” Burton held two fundraisers at the end of last week and raked in approximately $60,000.

The Hill reported in the middle of February that several Indiana Republicans are considering challenging Burton in the 2010 primary. Burton, who is serving his fourteenth term, have never been a favorite of the state party, several GOP insiders in the state contend.

In 2008, Republican John McGoff ran against Burton and surprised many by nearly beating him. Burton won that race 52 percent to 45 percent, leading party insiders to believe that Burton is vulnerable.

{mosads}Among those considering runs are state Rep. Mike Murphy, former Indiana GOP executive director Luke Messer, Brose McVey, who ran for Congress in Indiana’s 7^th District in 2002 and McGoff. Several of these candidates have already filed paperwork to form exploratory committees and some have already put polls into the field, The Hill has learned.

Burton was adamant in a previous interview with The Hill that he plans to seek re-election and his recent fundraising spree underscores that statement. The Republican will ad these recent funds to the $330,000 in his war chest at the end of last year.

The candidate emerging from the Republican primary would be favored in the reliably red district.