Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/former-incumbent-takes-on-seat-holder-in-indiana-rematch Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript In Indiana's rural 9th District, Republican Rep. Mike Sodrel knows he faces strong anti-incumbent sentiments this fall and is campaigning hard to keep his seat. His opponent Baron Hill, who served three terms before Sodrel defeated him in 2004, is fighting to win back his seat. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. JIM LEHRER: Now, a Choices `06 report. It`s on Indiana`s Ninth House District. NewsHour congressional correspondent Kwame Holman reports. KWAME HOLMAN: The fall festival in Comisky (ph) brings out hundreds from the local communities of southern Indiana, but this also is one of the most closely contested congressional districts in the country, so the festival also brings out the major party candidates, even though it`s only September. INDIANA CITIZEN: Hi there. Hi. KWAME HOLMAN: Republican Mike Sodrel, a local businessman who built a large trucking company from the ground up, is finishing his first-term representing Indiana`s Ninth District, after winning a razor-thin victory two years ago.REP. MIKE SODREL (R), Indiana: I think the average person here in the Ninth District is just starting to become a little interested. KWAME HOLMAN: So Sodrel already is running hard, knowing that polls nationally show that voters focus most of their displeasure about the Iraq war, gas prices, health care, and a not-so-great economy on President Bush and the Republican majority in Congress. HELEN HASHMAN, Indiana Citizen: It`s a worrisome time. There`s just so much going on, with the car bombings and all of that, that it just worries me. BILL KENDRICK, Indiana Citizen: I don`t think the economy is good. The stock market`s going up, but I still don`t think the economy is good. And I think the Democrats could do a better job with it. REP. MIKE SODREL: The problem I have with both of these programs is they draw a bright line some place and say, "Well, if you`re over here, you get something. And if you`re over here, you get nothing." KWAME HOLMAN: Sodrel says he knows the anti-incumbent feelings will make his job a little harder this time. REP. MIKE SODREL: I trust the voters will make the right decision in November. I think they`re just kind of starting this process right now thinking about, "Well, is this the fault of this president, this Congress, or, you know, what about my member? Is he part of the solution or part of the problem?" You know what I mean? I think they`re just now starting to go through that process. KWAME HOLMAN: The people of the Ninth District inhabit mostly small town and rural agricultural communities along Indiana`s border with Kentucky.