The Latest: Dems use attacks by GOP rivals against Braun

INDIANAPOLIS – The Latest on Indiana’s Senate race (all times local):

3:15 p.m.

Democrats are already using harsh rhetoric from Indiana’s nasty GOP Senate primary against wealthy former state lawmaker Mike Braun, just hours after he won the nomination.

Whether that will prove effective in a general election campaign is far from certain. But an online ad by the Democrat-affiliated group American Bridge, released shortly after Braun clinched the nomination previewed what could be a major line of attack.

Titled “Can’t Trust Mike Braun,” the ad repackages blistering criticisms from GOP Reps. Todd Rokita and Luke Messer, who were defeated Tuesday.

The clip includes everything from their attacks on Braun’s vote in the Indiana Legislature to raise taxes, to Chinese goods imported by his national auto parts distribution business.

Braun’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

___

12:16 a.m.

Indiana Republicans who picked wealthy former state lawmaker Mike Braun as their Senate candidate now are hoping he’s not too battered from a grueling primary to mount an effective challenge against a vulnerable Democratic incumbent.

President Donald Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence have scheduled a campaign rally on Thursday — just two days after the primary. It’s a signal the GOP is trying to unify behind their nominee ahead of a pivotal fall campaign against Sen. Joe Donnelly.

If Braun’s concerned, he wasn’t showing it Tuesday while basking in the glow of supporters after his double-digit victory over two congressmen — Todd Rokita and Luke Messer.

Braun, the owner of a national auto parts distributor, says his victory is a sign voters are disenchanted with “business as usual.”