Indiana’s Lugar to seek another term in Senate

By CityRoom, AP Wires
Indiana’s Lugar to seek another term in Senate
(Getty/File) Sen. Richard Lugar R-IN answers questions at a press conference with Sen. John Kerry D-MA following the ratification of the new START treaty in December 2010.
Indiana’s Lugar to seek another term in Senate
(Getty/File) Sen. Richard Lugar R-IN answers questions at a press conference with Sen. John Kerry D-MA following the ratification of the new START treaty in December 2010.

Indiana’s Lugar to seek another term in Senate

By CityRoom, AP Wires
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Indiana’s senior senator, Richard Lugar (R-IN), plans to seek a re-election in 2012.

Lugar spokesman Mark Helmke said Tuesday that Lugar plans to run a vigorous campaign and is committed to winning a seventh term representing Indiana in the Senate.

That effort has already begun. Lugar plans to return to Indiana on Friday for a major fundraiser in Carmel, outside of Indianapolis. Helmke says the six-term senator has already raised more than $320,000.

Lugar has carved out a bipartisan reputation during his years in Washington, working with Democrats including then-Senator Barack Obama on a variety of issues, particularly foreign policy initiatives. That could make him vulnerable to a potential challenge from a Tea Party challenger on the right.

Lugar sought the Republican nomination for President in 1996 and most recently has served as the ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.