The polls were right. Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) lost his primary to state Treasurer Richard Mourdock by nearly 20 percentage points.
Voters rejected Lugar because of qualities that had been his strengths during his long political career; in particular, his ability to reach across party lines was cited as a turn-off for voters this year.
Lugar had held his Senate seat for 36 years, a run that had earned him the title of most senior Republican senator.
In the process, credit unions lost a long-time supporter. In addition to supporting credit union legislation, he served as an honorary race director for the credit union-sponsored Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run.
CUNA said Tuesday its PAC had donated $5,000, the maximum amount allowable, to Lugar’s re-election campaign.
