Fifth District Congress Race Already Has Many Challengers

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(INDIANAPOLIS) - The field of next year’s primary challengers to Fifth District Congressman Dan Burton keeps growing.

Former Marion County Coroner John McGoff lost to Burton last year by seven points, a loss he blames on an estimated 11,000 republicans skipping the GOP primary to vote in the hotly contested democratic presidential race between then-senators.

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Former Shelbyville State Representative Luke Messer has already joined the 2010 race, along with Brose McVey, who ran for congress in 2002 against democrat Julia Carson.

Indianapolis State Representative Mike Murphy says he'll announce his plans in a week or two.

McGoff says he hopes other republicans already running will step aside.

McGoff argues he's the best qualified of the challengers, he's been to Iraq and Afghanistan with the national guard, and says his medical practice gives him firsthand experience with running a small business and with the health care system.

And he contends his case against Burton has only gotten stronger, he paints the 14-term congressman as a symbol of a republican status quo that's cost the party 54 house seats and 15 senate seats in the last two elections.

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