Robert Winningham a long way from winning Indiana congressional seat

Maybe less than five minutes into our talk, Lee Hamilton was mentioned. It would happen again and again, in a rather rushed morning conversation.

It must keep happening, with whomever he talks, for Robert Winningham to stand much chance of winning Hamilton’s old congressional seat, from Indiana’s 9th District. That’s my assumption.

The seat is currently held by Todd Young, a Republican, who is defending it for the first time.

Winningham, 50, of Charlestown, is among four Democratic challengers and is a former Hamilton aide. Winningham’s credibility is at least loosely linked to Hamilton’s. As advantages go, that’s a dandy.

“My background with Lee certainly doesn’t hurt,” Winningham said.

Hamilton served 34 years before retiring. He well might still be in office, had he wanted.

Winningham is neither a Hoosier by birth nor by relatively recent residency, however. He moved back here, from his native Texas, and promptly took on the campaign. “I consider this to be home,” Winningham said.

After what he calls his best-ever job review, Winningham gave up an economic developer’s post in the Dallas suburbs to go Quixotic. “I was restless,” he said.

Young is not invincible and, for that matter, has opposition in the GOP primary. Congress tends to be about as popular as hemorrhoids. And in his brief stint, Young has not found much chance to impact Southern Indiana beyond a reasonable doubt.

The district’s boundaries have been dramatically altered, as well. It now is more a north-south district than an east-west one. It is appreciably more Republican. But in some spots, Young is probably little better known than his opponents.

That said, Young will have all the campaign cash he needs and probably an anti-President Barack Obama wind at his back. Republicans could dominate the top of the 2012 ticket in Indiana.

Relentlessly upbeat, Winningham must know all this. He also trusts people’s encouragement and reconnects with everyone he can with whom his ties are not just political.

Winningham coached swimming in Jeffersonville, including at the high school. Bob Bottorff, who swam for Winningham and is now a lawyer, is chairing this campaign.

Bottorff says Winningham’s success in bringing jobs to Texas sets him apart. “That is the key,” he said. “Whether that is successful, it is what our district needs.”

Adam Dickey, a former aide for Young’s predecessor, Baron Hill, is Winningham’s political director. He echoes the idea that Winningham is the best-experienced guy for the troubled economy.

Dickey also said Winningham, despite having been gone more than a decade, remains impressively familiar. “It amazes me, how many people he stayed in contact with and knows,” Dickey said.

Winningham visited Hamilton last summer and the old boss ticked off the challenges Winningham accepts. Hamilton has not endorsed Winningham. If one comes, that’s obviously great, Winningham said.

As director of the Center on Congress, though, Hamilton tries to stay above the fray. But Hamilton predicted Winningham will have fun.

It’s obviously a lot more fun to win.

Winningham’s Democratic foes are Jonathan George of Bedford, John Griffin Miller of Corydon and John Tilford of Bloomington.