McConnell to campaign for Mourdock in Indiana's Senate race

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will campaign for Republican Senate candidate Richard Mourdock in Indiana on Monday.

The Associated Press reported that McConnell would join Mourdock in Indianapolis on Monday night to raise money and watch the final presidential debate between President Obama and GOP nominee Mitt Romney.

Mourdock beat incumbent Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) in the Republican primary earlier this year and is facing a tougher than expected challenge from Democratic Rep. Joe Donnelly (Ind.). Lugar decided not to help or campaign for Mourdock after he was defeated in the primary.

Donnelly has argued that Mourdock, a Tea Party favorite, is too extreme and conservative for the centrist voters in Indiana, who had elected Lugar by a landslide in the past.

Other Republican senators, such as John McCain (Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham (S.C.), have gone to Indiana to campaign for Mourdock. 

The Indiana seat is viewed as a critical win in order for Republicans to get control of the Senate.

Democrats are defending 23 Senate seats compared to just 10 Republican seats, but thanks to good recruiting and a few GOP fumbles, Democrats have been able to stay competitive in states — such as Indiana, Missouri, North Dakota and Maine — that were once thought of as potentially easy pick-ups for Republicans.

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