Socially Moderate Indiana Republican Seeks Empty Congressional Seat

Andre Carson would appear to have everything going for him in Tuesday's special election to choose a successor to his late grandmother, Julia Carson, in Congress.

He has the name recognition she built over more than three decades in political offices, including 11 years in Congress before her death in December. Carson also holds a big fund-raising advantage over Republican candidate Jon Elrod and is a Democrat in a district that backed John Kerry with 585 of the vote in 2004.

But Carson also faces several obstacles in the election to hold the seat representing most of Indianapolis for the rest of this year. They include expected low voter turnout, potential backlash over complaints of political nepotism, and a possible divided base because of a crowded field for the Democratic nomination in the May primary.

Carson has campaigned on a platform similar to that of his liberal grandmother. He opposes keeping U.S. troops in Iraq and any privatization of Social Security, and backs adoption of a universal health care system.

Elrod has promoted himself as a moderate focused on fiscal reforms, such as eliminating most earmark funding for projects sought by members of Congress. He's also refused to join the other 48 Indiana house Republicans in backing a state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages.

Elrod hopes to ride a wave of voter discontent over property tax increases and crime that helped Republican Greg Ballard upset two-term incumbent Bart Peterson in the Indianapolis mayoral race four months ago.

''I think people are tired of politics as usual, tired of the status quo,'' Elrod said. ''Congress has a 19% approval rating, and that clearly shows they're not pleased with the way the country's heading.''

Carson, 33, said while he shared his grandmother's values, he places more emphasis than she did on issues such as lessening the country's reliance on oil and protecting the environment.

''I think I'm showing every day that I'm my own man,'' he said. ''People are starting to see that distinction very clearly.''

Carson has been a member of the Indianapolis City-County Council since August. He has yet to face a contested race; he was picked by a caucus of precinct committeemen to fill a vacant council seat and then was unopposed in the November election

Elrod, 30, is a first-term state representative from a predominantly Democratic district on the south side of Indianapolis, which he won in 2006 by eight votes over a five-term incumbent.

Carson faces seven challengers in the May 6 primary, including state representatives David Orentlicher and Carolene Mays, leading into the November election to a full two-year term. Two political unknowns have filed against Elrod for the GOP nomination. (Tom Davies, AP)