Vulnerable Dem senator, foe find one commonality

INDIANAPOLIS — Democratic Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly and Republican businessman Mike Braun don’t agree on much. But both conceded one point Monday night, during their first debate: They support President Donald Trump.

“I go against my party all the time,” Donnelly said from the debate stage in Westville. “I’ve been with president 62 percent of the time. That’s what we’re supposed to do.”

Unlike many Democratic campaigns across the U.S. that have been galvanized by Trump opposition, Donnelly touted his support for Trump’s priorities.

That’s not entirely a surprise. The vulnerable incumbent is one of a handful of Democrats running for re-election in states Trump won. But Donnelly has cast several high-profile votes against Trump and in line with Democrats, including his “no” vote this weekend on Trump’s Supreme Court pick Brett Kavanaugh and the GOP led tax cut bill.

That gave Braun an opening to attack.

“He never sticks his neck out,” Braun said. “He blows with the wind.”

Donnelly entered the debate wanting to sow doubts about Braun’s trustworthiness while raising concern that the Republican would try to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which is sometimes referred to as Obamacare.

Braun, on the other hand, hoped to focus on his own record as a “job creator” and political “outsider” while going after Donnelly for being a “career politician” who voted for the health care law.

Braun said that after several terms in the House of Representatives and six years in the Senate, Donnelly needs to have his record scrutinized.

“He never speaks up. Doesn’t want to shake things up,” Braun said. “You got to be willing to buck your party boss, (Senate Minority Leader) Chuck Schumer, who tells the senator what to do on all the important legislation.”