No-drama Indiana

We're adding coverage of Senate and gubernatorial campaigns on state at a time: today, Indiana.

There are no absolutely sure things in politics - just ask George Allen. But there are outcomes that you would not, while sober and lucid, bet against. One of those is probably Democrat Evan Bayh winning re-election as US Senator for Indiana. Perhaps it is not quite as foregone a conclusion as, say, Richard Shelby holding onto Alabama. But is is not far off. Bayh - a former Governor of the Hoosier state and someone who was often talked about before 2006 as a prospective Presidential candidate - won 62% of the vote in 2004, and remains popular in a state that narrowly backed Barack Obama for President last year. Bayh has no primary challengers, a large financial war chest and, according to one report back in April, is unlikely to face much concerted opposition from the Republican Party.

I'm aware of three Republicans who plan to fight over their party's nomination in the primary on 4 May. They are: businessman Don Bates Jr; businessman and Tea Party movement activist Richard Behney; and state senator Marlin Stutzman.

We'll add those names to our coverage tomorrow. And we'll also introduce our next state: North Carolina.