Hoosier Race

From the WSJ's Political Diary, since James Taranto of Best of the Web is on vacation. Another special election yesterday in the Midwest, this time in Indiana. We lost this one too, though weren't expected to win in a current Dem district, but some interesting results:

Republicans did better than expected in last night's special election to fill the House seat vacated by the death of Democratic Rep. Julia Carson of Indiana. Her Indianapolis district leans left -- as evidenced by John Kerry's 58% showing in 2004. But Andre Carson, the 33-year-old grandson of the deceased incumbent and a local city council member, eked out only a 54% victory, hardly a barnburner for Democrats.

It's not the final match-up for the fall, as the Dems hold their primary in May. But Republican Jon Elrod is unopposed, and won his state rep seat in 2006 (against the tide of that year) by knocking off a Dem incumbent. Should be a good one to watch.