INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Two top Indiana Republicans said Thursday they were surprised U.S. Senate candidate Todd Young may have failed to gather enough signatures to qualify for the ballot, and the GOP state Senate leader said if the allegation against the congressman is true it may be “one of the most colossal mistakes I’ve ever seen.”
“I suspect that congressman Young thought he had all the signatures wrapped up weeks ago,” said Senate President Pro Tem David Long. “All I can say is I’m amazed that he’s in that situation.”
Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma said that it is the job of political candidates to “be sure you beat the hurdle.”
“I don’t know that one particular candidate should get an exemption,” he added.
If Young is not allowed on the ballot, U.S. Rep Marlin Stutzman’s would be the only GOP candidate left in the field – a possibility that has many Democrats gleeful. They have made little secret of their desire to face Stutzman, who they view as extremely conservative with an outspoken nature that could turn off general election voters. They compared him to former GOP Senate candidate Richard Mourdock, who made incendiary comments about abortion and rape and lost the 2012 Senate race to Democrat Joe Donnelly.